Rocks of ages

Nirex, the United Kingdom Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive, is looking for a suitable repository site for long-lived intermediate-level wastes. They expect to nominate a short list of potential sites by the end of 1988. Concern is expressed that NIREX has chosen to accept a concept of hydrogeological containment and dispersal which departs from earlier guidelines on high level waste repository site selection. The issue is whether ground water circulation underground can be predicted accurately - whether there is an adequate database on which to base the rigorous predictive science necessary for safe and publically acceptable radioactive waste disposal. NIREX seems to be suggesting there is a sufficient database but other articles, papers, etc are quoted which suggest otherwise. (U.K.)