Horonobe Underground Research Program. A result report on surveys and researches in fiscal year 2001

Horonobe Underground Research Program is intended to carry out at three steps such as 'Survey research carried out from the earth surface', 'Survey research carried out under excavating levels', and 'Survey research under using boreholes'. In fiscal year 2001, for technical development on geological investigation, on-land physical investigations, geological survey, and trial boring survey to collect geological environment data were carried out, to carry out modelization of geological environment on a base of data obtained by these surveys. And, these data were also used for selection of establishing area on a research institute. Furthermore, development on monitoring technology on geological environment, study on long-term stability on the geological environment, and investigation for design of underground facility were also carried out. For R and D on geological disposal, some investigations to materialize plans carried out at the underground facility after the second step, were carried out. (G.K.)