DOE report details threats to site

Monday, May 7, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

The Energy Department's 1,000-page "Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering Report," released Friday, summarizes the research on potential problems with water, earthquakes, volcanoes and nuclear reactions in a proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The report does not recommend Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository for 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste from commercial reactors and weapons activities.

Instead, it provides information to the public "on the secretary's consideration of the possible recommendation of the Yucca Mountain site as a potential repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste."

In late summer or fall, the DOE will schedule public hearings on the report.

Some of its highlights include:

Water flow

Water is important to the study of Yucca Mountain because mineral-laden ground water or rainwater that picks up high volumes of minerals can corrode canisters holding nuclear waste. That could allow radiation to escape into the environment. The report found:

Earthquakes

The danger of earthquakes has been studied, because it could disrupt the burial site of the containers, possibly crushing them and allowing radiation to escape. The report found:

Volcanoes

Yucca Mountain is composed of volcanic ash, but it is not a volcano itself. However, an eruption near the site could affect the repository. The report found:

Nuclear criticality

One other danger being studied is the possibility that the nuclear elements would react with each other, creating a chain reaction and contaminating both the air and water. The report found: