Safe Storage of Transuranic Waste
Safe Containment
The container, called Transuranic Packaging Transporter Model 2, or TRUPACT-II, is:
- Eight feet in diameter and 10 feet high.
- Doubly-contained, non-vented, and constructed of stainless steel.
- Certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and meets U.S. Department of Transportation safety requirements.
A series of stringent tests conducted on the container included:
- A drop from a height of 30 feet onto an unyielding surface.
- Exposure to jet fuel fire at a temperature of 1,475 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- A drop onto a steel spike from 40 inches to test puncture resistance.
The tests showed that the container would hold its seal and prevent release of radioactivity to the atmosphere.
Safe Storage at WIPP
Why Salt?
Let’s look at storage at the WIPP facility in New Mexico, as an example.
Government officials and scientists chose the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site through a selection process that started in the 1950s. At that time, the National Academy of Sciences conducted a nationwide search for geological formations stable enough to contain wastes for thousands of years. In 1955, after extensive study, salt deposits were recommended as a promising medium for the disposal of radioactive waste. Since then, bedded salt has been one of the leading candidates for the permanent disposal of radioactive waste.
Dr. John D. Johnson has a background in nuclear, experimental & accelerator physics. He worked for Los Alamos National Laboratory in the 1990s and founded Docent Institute to raise awareness about the ethical use of advanced technology.