Demonstration of Performance Modeling of a Low-Level Waste Shallow-Land Burial Site: A Comparison of Predictive Radionuclide Transport Modeling Versus Field Observations at the 'A' Disposal Area, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories.

摘要

Before a license can be obtained to construct a facility for the shallow-land burial of low-level waste, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission must be assured that the facilities will meet both performance objectives and prescriptive requirements set forth in 10CFR61, 'Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste.' Subpart D. Section 61.50(a)(2) of 10CFR61 states that a 'disposal site shall be capable of being characterized, modeled, analyzed and monitored.' In order to test the concept of 'site modelability,' a 30-year old low-level radioactive waste disposal site at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories (CRNL), Canada, was used for evaluating the process of site characterization and the subsequent modeling predictions of radionuclide transport from the site by groundwater. This evaluation was performed by comparing the actual measured radionuclide migration with predicted migration estimated from hydrologic/radionuclide transport models. The comparison has provided valuable insights into the applicability of transport modeling.