Comparison of Potential Radiological Consequences from a Spent-Fuel Repository Versus Natural-Uranium Deposits

摘要

On the basis of the intrinsic properties comparison, the long-term hazard from spent fuel in a geologic repository is comparable to that of a large ore deposit, although the specific nuclide concentration in an individual fuel element is not duplicated in nature. On the basis of the second comparison, a repository constructed within reasonable constraints presents no greater hazard than a large ore deposit. Even without such constraints, however, the natural hazard due to some observed radioactive releases to the biosphere in the United States far exceeds any that could reasonably be expected from a spent-fuel repository. While at first intuition it is reasonable to use natural ore deposits as a basis for criteria for nuclear waste repositories, the variability in the natural system is so great that it does not allow a specific criterion to be stated in absolute terms. It is suggested that if the naturally radioactive environment is to be used as a basis for a criterion regarding repositories, the criterion should be based on the radiological quality of the environment in the immediate region of a specific repository, and should be in terms of an acceptable potential increase in that radiological content due to the existence of the repository. This criterion could then be used as a basis for developing, through experimentation and modeling, specific criteria for a repository system design that is reasonably assured of meeting the environmental criteria. (ERA citation 06:031758)