Assuring open-quote end-game close-quote integrity: Testbed approach to deployment of detector systems

Engineered and natural barriers can limit, and possibly eliminate, radionuclide migration to the far field and accessible environment over geologic time scales. Nevertheless, proper deployment of replaceable monitoring systems can inform future operators (1) if radionuclide release or migration occurs, (2) its general location and migration path, and (3) its magnitude and rate of migration. If necessary, corrective action can be taken. The time scale for these monitoring and detector-replacement activities is assumed to be from 10's to possibly 1000's of years. Detector placement would be in a phased approach depending upon the potential loss paths identified in the overall site characterization and possibly other investigations