In situ testing program at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

This paper discusses the In Situ Testing program at the WIPP site which is providing answers to questions about the efficacy of storing radioactive wastes in the geologic medium of natural salt deposits. The In Situ Testing program is aimed at the total repository system, emphasizing the concepts of waste confinement and isolation. The challenge faced by the In Situ Testing program is to investigate the issues of radioactive waste storage in a salt repository environment well enough to provide dependable predictions of the long-term effects of waste disposal. Design methods, test procedures, and data results are carefully documented to ensure their availability for review by interested organizations and future repository designers