I Z IW RHOBWSA293 PIWIM DOCKET CONTROLCENTER TESTIMONY BY DR - PDF document

1 I *."Z .IW -;RHO-BW-SA-293 PI'WIM DOCKET
I *."Z .IW -;RHO-BW-SA-293 PI'WIM DOCKET CONTROLCENTER TESTIMONY BY DR. RAUL A. DEJUPBASALT WASTE ISOLATION PROJECT,BEFORE THE083 NOV -4 P2S5&OMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND PRODUCTIONCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY w,$ -.\ RHO-B-SA-293 PAfter these early studies, it was determined that many types ofgeologic media throughout the United States should be studied under asystematic, broader based program. Therefore, in 1976, the National WasteTerminal Storage Program was established by the U.S. Department of Energyto provide the research and development needed to support the assessmentof suitability of several rock formations, including salt, tuff, granite,and basalt, as a nuclear waste repository. Sites containing these rocktypes are located throughout the United States. As part of this Nationalprogram, the basa't studies received additional funding, with emphasis onassessing the feasibility of constructing a nuclear waste repository inbasalt based on a thorough analysis .f technical, economical, and socialfactors.On January 7, 1983, as you know, President Reagan signed into law theNuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. This Act establishes a step-by-stepprocess by which the President, the Congress, the affected individualStates, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other Federal agencies can worktogether in siting, constructing, and operating a high-level nuclear wasterepository. The U.S. Department

2 of Energy is required by Section 116(a)
of Energy is required by Section 116(a)of the Act to identify States having potentially acceptable sites for awaste repository. A potentially acceptable site is defined by the Act as:Many site at which, after geologic studies and fieldmapping but before detailed geologic data gathering, theDepartment undertakes preliminary drilling and geophysicaltesting for the definition of site location.As I have mentioned, site characterization work at Hanford has beenongoing since 1968. Based on the information acquired through the effortto date, we believe that Hanford contains a potentially acceptable site.Secretary of Energy odel notified Governor Spellman of Washington of thisconclusion on February 2, 1983.The studies to date that led to this conclusion have not revealed anytechnological impediment to siting a nuclear waste repository in thebasalts beneath the Hanford Site. In fact, the basalts show manyfavorable attributes.2\~~~~~~~~ '4 - .13RHO-BW-SA-293 PK)The basalt rocks beneath the Hanford Site are unlike any other basaltin the world, in that they are extremely thick. This thickness s.due tothe conditions under which they were formed -- the creation of massivelava flows, one lying directly on top of the previous flow. This processof accumulation continued essentially uninterrupted millions of years agountil more than 10,000 feet of basalt rock had accumulated.The terrain ver the area being consi

3 dered for a potential repositoryis basic
dered for a potential repositoryis basically flat. The deep basalt flows underlying this area are alsoflat lying, and the thickness of individual flows remains uniform overdistances on the order of 40 miles. Such flatness and uniformity enhanceour ability to predict the continuity of these flows and makesconstruction easier.The Hanford Site is also located in a seismically stable area. Thereare no major fault zones in the area being considered for a nuclear wasterepository.The physical and chemical conditions in potential repository layersin these basalts are highly suitable for nuclear waste canisterstability. In addition, the olubility rate of any waste materials, whichthrough premature canister breach could reach the groundwater, isextremely low. Because the solubility is so low, any leaching of thesolid nuclear waste would be extremely slow. The few radionuclides thatwould go into solution in the groundwater also would move very slowly,decreasing in concentration as they decay along the flow path.-1I-:IIn some areas of the world, groundwater can move through fractures inbasalt (i.e., terrain). However, the fractures in the deep basaltsbeneath the Hanford Site are filled with other minerals. Hydrologic~- ~-~testing has shown that these basalts, with their filled fractures, have -permeabilities as much as 1,000 times less pervious than the concrete usedin structures such as major dams.I have

4 P.ntioned a number of favorable attribut
P.ntioned a number of favorable attributes associated with thebasalts underlying the Hanford Site; however, I also want to inform youI.1...._3...B._ .. _._ RHO-BW-SA-293 Pabout concerns that need to be resolved to either confirm or eliminate thebasalts as a potential nuclear waste repository host medium. Three keyconcerns have been identified. They are:* A thorough understanding of the groundwater hydrology beneaththe Hanford Site is needed to assure that a repository in basaltwill not contribute unacceptable amounts of contaminants to theaccessible environment.* Our ability to construct a repository shaft and a network ofunderground tunnels needs to be fully demonstrated through anexploratory shaft program.e Our ability to ultimately seal a repository, such that itsintegrity and the isolation of the waste are guaranteed, needsto be demonstrated.A comprehensive program that addresses these concerns is presentlyunder way. The results of studies to date, as well as a complete descrip-tion of planned programs, have been included in the Site CharacterizationReport that was transmitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inNovember 1982. Two fundamental areas of our program that address themajor issues I just mentioned include:An active program of hydrologic investigations that has involvedexpenditures of approximately seventy million dollars to dateand will require expenditure of an additiona

5 l thirty milliondollars prior to the pot
l thirty milliondollars prior to the potential submittal of a licenseapplication for construction of a repository in basalt. Thesehydrologic studies are coupled with extensive modeling studiesand with the workings of an active task force over the last yearinvolving various National laboratories-as well as the U.S.Geological Survey. This task Force is working toward resolvingdifferent points of view regarding the hydrology of the HanfordSite. Recent meetings of this task force have been veryencouraging.4-, / -.. .l .-...:_ sa& ----! * w^ t .RHO-8W-SA-293 P* An active program of underground exploration that includesconstruction of a 6-foot finished-diameter exploratory shaft torepository depths and a network of underground tunnels toprovide access to the subsurface, such that one can study theactual stratum being considered for a nuclear waste repository.This program would serve to demonstrate the constructibility ofsuch a facility and would provide the space needed to conductvarious scientific and engineering tests prior to the potentialsubmittal of a license application. Sealing tests will likelybe conducted in this facility.In addit on, the Basalt Waste Isolation Project is making progressin the preparation of the various documents required by the Nuclear WastePolicy Act of 1982.The screening guidelines for a nuclear waste repository werepublished in the Federal Register this past month. A Dra

6 ft EnvironmentalAssessment for the Basal
ft EnvironmentalAssessment for the Basalt Waste Isolation Project's site characterizationactivities is being issued this week. Hearings on the siting process arebeing scheduled for March 21 and March 25, 1983, respectively.All elements of the Basalt Waste Isolation Project are aimed atpermitting a siting recommendation regarding a repository in basalt infiscal year 1987, as called for in the Act. However, the programscheduled to achieve this is extremely tight and is going to requireextensive effort to maintain all its components on schedule to achieve thedates called for in the Act. Approximately two hundred twenty-fivemillion dollars will have been spent on the Basalt Waste Isolation Projectthrough the end of this fiscal year, with a total anticipated expenditureof five hundred-fifty million dollars through the potential submittal of a_-- ---license application at the end of fiscal year 987...* -. .- ... ..XRHO-BW-SA-293 PI wll, conclude by reiterating my earlier statement that at this timeno impediment to siting a nuclear waste repository in basalt has beenfound; however, additional work remains to be done to resolve areas ofconcern. I am confident that completion of this work will provide thedata needed to make a sound decision regarding the Hanford basalts.This concludes the text of my prepared statement. I would be happyto answer any questions at this time...~~~II0., _1._ I .... ....I .I