January 18, 2012

Volcanic Risk at the Proposed High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site (Yucca Mountain, Nevada)

Speaker: Dr. Greg A. Valentine, University at Buffalo

An important factor in successful implementation of nuclear energy is the disposal of high-level radioactive waste produced within power reactors.  In 1956 the National Academy of Sciences recommended that the best approach for high-level waste, which includes radionuclides with very long half-lives, is permanent geologic disposal.  Following this recommendation, the Federal government conducted studies at several sites around the nation and in 1987 focused specifically on Yucca Mountain, located about 95 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Although Yucca Mountain has several desirable characteristics for isolation of radioactive waste, it does reside in an area that has experienced sporadic, small-scale volcanism.  This talk will review the national context for disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the geologic characteristics of Yucca Mountain, and the assessment of volcanic risk at the site.  Finally, Dr. Valentine will discuss the current status of waste disposal at Yucca Mountain.

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