High level radioactive waste: Doing something about it

摘要: In addition to a growing inventory of spent power reactor fuel, there are approximately 100 million gallons high-level radioactive waste (HLW) containing more than one billion curies radioactivity stored in the United States today. This has been generated mainly from production plutonium and tritium is primarily located on three federal sites. The most often handled liquid or semi-liquid form placed large underground tanks. Many these tanks past their projected lifetimes consequently, some leaks have developed. Although no injuries radiation occurred as result current practices, this situation longer acceptable. A better way handle needed must be instituted soon possible. strategy for long-term management HLW will shift policy temporarily storing relatively mobile using advanced technology immobilizing radionuclides into inert solid products. program involves removing temporary storage tanks, chemically processing then borosilicate glass. first glassification' vitrification facility US now overmore » 90% complete scheduled begin check-out operations early next year (1990). glass produced disposed deep geologic burial at repository. Once underground, become part multi-barrier isolation system, designed safely effectively isolate potentially hazardous all generations yet come. 132 refs., 32 figs., 2 tabs.« less