Re: GEOLOGISTS LEARNING URANIUM CONTAINMENT FROM NATURE

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>]

Susan,

    You are absolutely right! As a mattrer of fact, the principle you

suggest provided the basis for a proposed method of HLW disposal ( see:

Cohen, JJ, AE Lewis, and RL Braun, "In-situ Incorporation of  Nuclear Waste

in Deep Molten Silicate Rock", NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY, 13:76, April, 1972). The

idea was to place HLW in a deep underground cavity, allow the decay heat to

melt the surrounding rock, which ,in turn, dissolved the waste. Eventually,

as the rate of decay heat output subsided and was exceeded by the rate of

conductve heat loss, the entire system would solidify in place. Of course.

the heat would also assure no groundwater could contact the waste.

    Unfortunately, although the idea would have worked , it was rejected

because it conjured up visions of volcanos ,etc. As I'm sure you are already

aware, science has never place a significant role in our waste management

policy.             Jerry





- ----- Original Message -----

From: Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>

To: <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>

Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 8:40 AM

Subject: Re: GEOLOGISTS LEARNING URANIUM CONTAINMENT FROM NATURE





> Jerry,

>

> The Yucca Mtn. issue is perplexing to me, in that I can't imagine a

> scenario where the spent fuel would escape and find its way to a

> receptor (except possibly a worker).  I know the anti-nukes really grasp

> at straws to justify their position on it.  For example, I've talked to

> NV regulators who claim there is significant groundwater movement in the

> mountain (despite the arid climate) and also that the repository would

> become so thermally hot that it would be impossible to go back in to fix

> any problems.  It seems to me, if the former is true, then the latter

> would take care of it by creating a pressurized zone of steam (where

> groundwater meets sufficiently hot rock) that would divert groundwater,

> possibly also sealing any fractures in the rock by precipitation of

> dissolved minerals.

>

> Do you have a perspective on these issues?

>

> Regards,

> Susan

> --

> .....................................................

> Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

> Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

>                        -----

> A schedule of meetings on DOE issues is posted on our Web site

> http://www.local-oversight.org/meetings.html - E-mail loc@icx.net

> .....................................................



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