However, the NWMO recommended keeping a watching brief on the status of the technology internationally, and the potential for change in the fuel cycle in Canada. [...] The impact of these potential new wastes on the NWMO program is evaluated as part of the consideration of the SMR technologies. [...] While reducing the long-lived actinides reduces the “radiotoxicity” of the waste and is clearly favorable, it may not significantly improve the overall safety of a repository because the actinide elements have very low mobility in the repository environment. [...] With the waste placed at this depth, further away from the biosphere than in the mined repository concept, the long-term safety of the system would rest primarily on the separation of the hydrogeological regime at the depth of the waste packages from that near the surface, and on the integrity of the borehole plugs and seals. [...] While the concept of very deep disposal for used fuel is considered to be technically feasible, there are some significant challenges to the approach, such as: » Drilling of boreholes of the required diameter to the required depth; » Controlled emplacement of waste packages at depth (e.g., engineering challenges regarding the limita- tions of the sizes of the used fuel containers/packages, as well.
- Pages
- 24
- Published in
- Canada
