Alternative enhanced low-level radioactive waste burial

The author presents background information on low-level radioactive waste disposal. An alternative enhanced low-level radioactive waste burial concept utilizing engineered concrete entombment is presented. Costs of the concrete entombment are estimated as well as costs of the presently NRC required waste form testing and process control programs. The yearly costs for the alternative enhanced low-level radioactive waste burial concept are $500,000 for all United States Class B and C wastes. The present yearly costs for waste form testing, process control programs and other expenses are estimated to be at least $6,000,000. The relative long-term characteristics indicate that the engineered concrete entombment is superior to the dependence on individual waste package buried at the disposal site