Why Geologic Storage
Can Not Solve The
High-Level Radioactive
Waste Problem
by Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, CCNR,Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibilitywww.ccnr.org [email protected]
(514) 839 7214
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 2 YEARS
ONE REACTOR
Each dot represents one year’s production of nuclear waste
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 4 YEARS
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 8 YEARS
For the first 10 years, irradiated fuel is too hot to move.It must be stored on site and cooled in pools with circulating water.
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 16 YEARS
The changing colour indicates reduced radioactivity & heat output.
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 32 YEARS
The older irradiated fuel can be moved into dry storage containers.
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IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL ACCUMULATION
WITHOUT GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 40 YEARS
But having all this radioactive waste on the surface is a hazard.We need to find an acceptable solution to eliminate the risk . . . .
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AND NOW . . .
WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
According to the nuclear industry and the Harper governmentthe solution is at hand: it is Deep Geologic Storage
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AND NOW . . .
WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 2 YEARS
But for the first 10 years irradiated fuel is too hot.It cannot be moved away from the reactor site.
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 4 YEARS
So the most radioactive and hottest fuel cannot be moved.
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AFTER 8 YEARS
WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
As long as the reactor keeps operating, the problem remains.
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 16 YEARS
Irradiated fuel continues to accumulate at the reactor site.
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
THIS PORTION IS BURIED -- HOORAY !AFTER 16 YEARS
Only the older, less radioactive, less volatile wastes can be buried.
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 32 YEARS
In fact, over 90 % of the total radioactive inventory is in the first ten year’s worth of irradiated fuel. So less than 10 % is buried.
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
AFTER 40 YEARS
Conclusion: The Catastrophe Potential at the Surface Still Remains(Unless the reactor is shut down for 10 years and all the waste is buried)
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
“TIME FOR A NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE ! MORE REACTORS, PLEASE !”
But the nuclear industry doesn’t want to shut reactors down.It wants to build more. With 2 reactors, the problem is doubled.
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
WITH 4 REACTORS
With 4 reactors, the unburied radioactivity is more than 3.5 timesthe radioactivity produced by one reactor without any burial at all!
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
WITH 6 REACTORS
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
WITH 8 REACTORS
> 90 % < 10 %
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WITH GEOLOGIC DISPOSAL
So: WE HAVE AN EVER- GROWING INVENTORY OF UNBURIED WASTE!
> 90 % < 10 %
Geologic Storage
CAN NOT Solve The
High-Level Radioactive
Waste Problem . . .
. . . unless there is a complete phaseout of nuclear power
The Moral of the Story is:
