DGR REALITIES U.S. AND EUROPE
At the March 5, 2020 South Bruce CLC open meeting Dr. Erik Kremer, Selection Manager of Siting Safety Assessment, Nuclear Waste Management Organization highlighted to a crowd of nearly 200 people in the Village of Mildmay that the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) in New Mexico "could" be a good example of a DGR. Previous to that comment he indicated that salt was not a good example of a rock formation suitable for a DGR. The WIPP is a salt based DGR and a sedimentary chemical rock similar to the limestone of South Bruce.
The WIPP suffered an underground explosion and release of radioactive particles into the surface environment in February 2014. The WIPP was reopened three years later at a cost of clean up of $500M. We respectfully disagree with Dr. Kremer's assessment of safety. See articles below on the WIPP and other failed DGR's.
SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS - KNOW THE RISKS
This WNWR is the first of its kind to fill a significant research gap. The report focuses on waste from nuclear power for electricity generation. It does not take technical or political positions, but instead provides an overview of the huge uncertainties caused by inconsistencies, contradictions, and data gaps. The group of renowned international experts, therefore, want to draw attention to the reasons why sustainable long-term solutions are lacking. Currently, there is no guarantee for the feasibility of the intended deep geological repositories.
See section on 2014 accident incidents and the release of radioactive material into the surface environment.
January 16, 2017 At the 5 minute 39 second mark of this video the accident at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) in New Mexico U.S.A is described. A must see.
LA Times Aug 22, 2016 - When a drum containing radioactive waste blew up in an underground nuclear dump in New Mexico two years ago, the Energy Department rushed to quell concerns in the Carlsbad desert community and quickly reported progress on resuming operations.
The early federal statements gave no hint that the blast had caused massive long-term damage to the dump, a facility crucial to the nuclear weapons cleanup program that spans the nation, or that it would jeopardize the Energy Department’s credibility in dealing with the tricky problem of radioactive waste.
But the explosion ranks among the costliest nuclear accidents in U.S. history, according to a Times analysis. The long-term cost of the mishap could top $2 billion, an amount roughly in the range of the cleanup after the 1979 partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania.
February 20, 2018. The court said no to the application because it considered that there were problems with the copper canister that had to be resolved now and not later.
There was a total of 21 requirements that the WIPP site had to pass through before proceeding with the pilot dump site in New Mexico. A quick comparison of South Bruce to the environmental considerations required for the WIPP location indicates South Bruce would fail as a preferred site for permanent storage of this waste in the U.S..
Points of concern are 10. Surface Water, 11. Groundwater, 14. Natural Resources 15. Man-Made Penetrations 18. Land Acquisition, 19. Population Density.
February 2014
FAILED TRACK RECORD OF DEEP GEOLOGIC REPOSITORIES (DGR)
March 6, 2017
March 6, 2017 - Abandonment is Forever
Feb 2, 2019 - Germany's environment minister recently visited the Asse mine, where 126,000 barrels of radioactive material are stored. Frustrated locals want the waste disposed of elsewhere — a project that will span decades.
September 8, 2008 -“There is nothing secure to be found in the facility,” said Gabriel. “This is the most problematic facility in Europe.”
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