This volume discusses the readiness of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico, to serve as a geological repository for transuranic radioactive waste. WIPP is located in a Permian-age bedded salt deposit 658 meters below the surface. The committee has long reviewed DOE's readiness efforts, now aimed at demonstrating compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Site characterization studies and performance assessment modeling are among the topics considered in this volume.

Table of Contents


FRONT MATTER
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
2 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND REPOSITORY PERFORMANCE
3 SALADO HYDROGEOLOGY, GAS PRESSURE, AND ROOM CLOSURE
4 ENGINEERING TO IMPROVE PREDICTED REPOSITORY PERFORMANCE
5 ACTINIDE SOURCE TERM
6 NON-SALADO HYDROLOGY
7 PERSPECTIVES
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
A. NATURAL SETTING AND RESOURCES
B. THE COMPLEMENTARY CUMULATIVE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION: THE RISK CURVE
C. BRINE INFLOW TO EXCAVATIONS IN THE SALADO
D. CREEP BEHAVIOR OF WIPP SALT
E. ACTINIDE SOURCE TERM
F. REGIONAL HYDROGEOLOGY
G. AN OVERVIEW OF WIPP COMPLIANCE ISSUES
H. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
I. GLOSSARY
J. LIST OF ACRONYMS AND SYMBOLS
K. BIBLIOGRAPHY