Radioactive waste: Where to put it?
Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 13:30
in Earth & Climate
As the U.S. makes new plans for disposing of spent nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste deep underground, geologists are key to identifying safe burial sites and techniques. Scientists are describing the potential of shale formations; challenges of deep borehole disposal; and their progress in building a computer model to help improve understanding of the geologic processes that are important for safe disposal of high-level waste. In the United States, about 70,000 metric tons of spent commercial nuclear fuel are located at more than 70 sites in 35 states.