Technical concept for a greater confinement disposal facility at the Nevada Test Site

A planned demonstration project to investigate the technical, economic, and environmental acceptability of greater confinement disposal of radioactive wastes is reported. This project will include constructing and monitoring of a greater confinement disposal test facility at Area 5 of the Nevada Test Site, located approximately 100 km (60 mi) northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The purpose of the demonstration project will be to: investigate the adequacy of geologic containment of radioactive waste at intermediate depths in thick unsaturated alluvium; define procedures and equipment required for proper operation of a greater confinement disposal facility; and establish the costs of constructing and operating a greater confinement disposal facility. Conceptual design of the demonstration greater confinement disposal facility and the associated instrumentation to monitor facility performance is presented. (As a final report this document reflects the latest as built design parameters and technical considerations for construction of the waste borehole, which was completed just prior to this printing). Also included is a discussion of required support tests, waste handling considerations, project scheduling, factors affecting demonstration test performance, and possible figures-of-merit to gauge project success