Re: Yucca Mountain articles

[Mike McKinnon <mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us>]

======== Original Message ========
Theodore S Bohn wrote:

> Have any studies ever been conducted on the leakage potential
> of the many underground nuclear tests conducted in the same
>  basic area?  Wouldn't these wastes also have the probability of
>  polluting future underground water supplies or are they considered
>  exempt?  This waste isn't even containerized.  Maybe we ought to
> be digging those tests holes up and sorting those atoms.

Right on.  If those who oppose the Yucca Mtn. site were rational, they
would say the same thing.  But, they are only attacking the burial
site.  Wonder why?  Perhaps some of us on radsafe should ask the DOE to
explain why it is not doing as you suggest (only slightly
tongue-in-cheek).  

About 20 years ago I suggested the use of the Nevada Test Site as a long
term burial site for high level waste exactly because of the existing
contaimiation from the nuclear explosive tests.  At that time the excuse
was that we didn't want to mix weapons with civilian nuclear
activities.  I guess that idea has long since gone away, at least for
this application.  

However, you are correct: there is a lot of radioactive material already
burried without any controls at NTS.  The addition of more, in
essentially the same kind of geological location only adds to what is
already there (although it adds a lot).  It is illogical to requre the
expenditure of billions to contain the additional material while doing
nothing about what is already there.  Logically one would either not
spend so much on the additions, or do something about what is already
there to make it as "safe" as what is being added.  Anyone want to bring
this up to Clinton or the DOE at this time?  Or is there something wrong
with my "logic."  Al Tschaeche antatnsu@pacbell.net
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======== Fwd by: Mike McKinnon ========
The underground contamination problem is being studied at Nevada Test Site
(NTS).  In all, between 1957 and 1992, there were over 800 underground
nuclear tests performed at NTS.  Some of these underground tests were
performed at or below the water table.  Although most of the radioactivity
is contained within the explosion cavity, there is some soluble radionuclide
migration (such as tritium).  I'm not sure that I understand your logic that
if it is already contaminated, let's crap it up some more.  The underground
testing has left the State of Nevada with a legacy from which it will never
be free.  I suspect that if the environmental lobby had been stronger in the
early '50s, the U.S. would have conducted all nuclear testing in the
Pacific. I also suspect that if your job included considering the well being
of the people of Nevada, that you wouldn't be so quick with this proposal. 

Mike McKinnon, PE, CHP
State of Nevada
Division of Environmental Protection
mmckinno.ndep-lv@ndep.carson-city.nv.us
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