Corrective actions

The variety of corrective actions which have been attempted at many radioactive waste disposal sites points to less than ideal performance by present-day standards at many closed and presently-operating sites. In humid regions, most of the problems have encompassed some kind of water intrusion into the buried waste. In arid regions, the problems have centered on trench subsidence and intrusion by plant roots and animals. It is overwhelmingly apparent that any protective barrier for the buried waste, whether for water or biological intrusion, will depend on stable support from the underlying burial trenches. Trench subsidence must be halted, prevented, or circumscribed in some manner to assure this necessary long-term support. Final corrective actions will differ considerably from site to site, depending on unique geological, pedological, and meteorological environments. In the meantime, many of the shorter-term corrective actions described in this chapter can be implemented as immediate needs dictate