1.0 Introduction and Background Information
Nuclear power and energy has become very useful in the economics of the modern world. Whereas the energy can help to achieve enormous benefits, it cannot be disputed that the inherent hazards are potentially dangerous (Greenberg 63). These dangers are evoked by the nuclear wastes produced after the energy is produced and utilized (Strandberg 87). In principle, such waste is radioactive in nature implying that it remains active over a long period of time. As such, it becomes fundamentally vital to ensure that the nuclear waste management is concrete and undoubtedly reliable (Miller 84). In other words, there are not chances for trial and error, but rather sound, particulate, and accurate measures. In that light, therefore, this paper proposes the construction of a nuclear waste repository with specific interest in the Yucca Mountain Project. The paper will describe the problem at hand, the solution, and justification for the same.
2.0 Background Problem Description
2.1 Hazardous Nature of Nuclear Waste
As stated above, the nuclear energy is one of the most beneficial and reliable sources of energy in the modern world. This is evident from the fact that almost all countries seek to possess a nuclear plant. Whereas that energy is very useful to the world economies, it is also evident that the waste from these reactors can cause devastating damage. Importantly, the waste remains active over a thousand of years. These emissions can affect the genetic components of human beings and distort their normal functioning. As a result, there is urgent and indisputable need to ensure that the reactors are safe for future generations.
2.2 Political Controversy regarding Yucca Mountain Project
In light of seeking to manage nuclear waste, there are various challenges and problems incurred in the process. First, it is evident that there is political controversy surrounding the appropriateness of such projects. In specific, the Yucca Mountain project has been stalled by severe political opposition. However, America has an obligation to put the political differences aside and focus on the objective to protect the posterity. A case in point is the reservations by the Nevada Senator, Harry Reid, to the effect that the project will be devastating to the environment. Such political opposition cannot be ignored and wished away as an externality because it is part of the problem. This is based on the fact that the region requires a waste management solution thus implying that political supremacy is not the primary objective.
2.3 Earthquake Vulnerability in Yucca Mountain
There have been vast attempts to complete the Yucca Mountains project due the geographical issues relate to it. Earthquakes experienced around the mountains are among the challenges experienced in the process of completing the project. In this regard, the Nevada has been profiled as the fourth most active state as far as earthquake occurrences are concerned. The state has incurred 621 seismic activities, especially earthquakes, since the year 1976 (Bodvarsson 47). These earthquakes were found to have strength of about 2.5 and extended to a distance of about eighty kilometres which is equivalent to fifty miles. Whereas these earthquakes have been theoretically pointed as problematic, an objective analysis by the Department of Energy shows the opposite. In essence, they indicated that there is not substantial hazard that would arise as a result of these seismic activities. This implies that the earthquakes would not affect the performance of the repository significantly. Nonetheless, the seismic activities cannot be ignored due to the discovery made in 2007 showing that there is a fault line passing beneath the facility, this fault was specifically found to be about a few hundred feet from the location of the nuclear repository. While the fault runs such close, it has also been established that the states is an area of constant and gradual seismic transformation. In other words, the seismic experience keeps of changing implying that they are unpredictable. As such, there is every reason to think that the fault line would affect the performance of the repository in future. This sentiment seeks to revoke the decision by DOE arguing that the seismic activities might not affect the repository’s performance because their analysis was based on past experiences and present condition.
2.4 Volcanic Geologic Formation
In addition to earthquakes, the Yucca Mountain was formed as a result of volcanic eruptions. This situation evokes another concern on the safety of the water sources in the state of Nevada. In particular, the volcanic eruptions led to a situation in which the mountain is made of ignimbrite layers that alternate downwards to form stratus (Safety Evaluation Report Related to Disposal of High-level Radioactive Wastes in a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada 56). This geological setting is easily fractured downwards. As such, the surface waters can infiltrate and absorb the radioactive materials bearing in mind that the waste can make a solution with waste. In that case, therefore, the water can then run to the desert water sources and contaminate the water. At this point it is important to remember that the repository is designed to be located close to the Great Basin Desert.
2.0 Proposed Solution
2.1 Proposal in Regard to Construction
In perspective, US cannot afford to ignore the construction of a nuclear waste repository because it has an obligation towards protecting the future. As such, it is time the congress gave approval to the construction of the Yucca Mountain project with a view to ensure proper and safe disposal of the waste. Importantly, preventing the construction is just avoiding the problem rather than solving it. This implies that the congress should seek ways that would take care of the above problems rather than concluding that blocking the project is the ultimate solution. In essence, the congress should summon officials from the Department of Energy and compel them to find ways of taking care of the vulnerabilities. Once the DOE demonstrates a concrete plan of how the vulnerabilities will be prevented, it should then direct the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to give a licence to DOE for the project commencement. In perspective, there are various proposals for DOE on how they would eliminate these vulnerabilities and prevent possible hazards.
2.2 Ensure Container Enhancement
2.3 Ensure Container’s Depth
When building the container, DOE should ensure that it is deeply positioned in the ground. In particular, the container should be at a depth of about 300 meters and it should be designed to have multiple tunnels of about 5 meters (Duquette, Latanision, Bella, and Kirstein 2).
2.4 Ensure the Use of Non-Corrosive Material
The DOE should ensure the use of materials that cannot be corroded by radioactive materials. Indeed, this would ensure that the container holds the waste materials without leaking to the underground soils.
3.0 Justification
The proposals above will have fundamental impact on the positive prevention of leakage and hazard. First, idea of placing the container deep into the ground will ensure that the contamination of water as anticipated earlier does not happen. As such, the threat of water contamination will become a non-issue. In addition to this, the depth may help to eliminate the threat posed by earthquakes. This stipulation is based on the fact that the distance from the earthquake focus would be significantly big to ensure that the magnitude is insignificant by the time it reaches that depth.
Second, the decision to use copper and steel helps to reduce the corrosion of the container. The steel surfaces will be put to enhance the container while copper takes care of the oxidation status of the US climate. As such, the leakage of the radioactive elements will be minimal. This implies that the container can last to 10,000 years allowed before reinforcement.
4.0 Conclusion
It is evident that the nuclear energy has vast benefits as well as high potential for causing hazards. This calls for accurate and diligent actions when it comes to disposing the waste materials. The idea of contracting a nuclear waste repository in the Yucca Mountains has been affected by political controversies, threats of earthquakes, and its volcanic nature. However, the use of enhanced container, copper, and a depth of 300 meters would increase the safety of this repository.
Works Cited
Bodvarsson, Gudmundur Svavar., Clifford Ho, and Bruce A. Robinson. Yucca Mountain Project. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2003. Print.
Duquette, David, Ronald Latanision, Carlos Bella, and Bruce Kirstein. "Corrosion Issues Related to Disposal of High Level Nuclear Waste in the Yucca Mountain Repository." United States Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (2008). Web. 4 Apr. 2016. <http://www.nwtrb.gov/board/p3014.pdf>.
Greenberg, Michael R. Nuclear Waste Management, Nuclear Power, and Energy Choices: Public Preferences, Perceptions, and Trust. London: Springer, 2013. Print.
Miller, Debra A. Nuclear Energy. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2010. Print.
Safety Evaluation Report Related to Disposal of High-level Radioactive Wastes in a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Washington, DC: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, 2010. Print.
Strandberg, Urban, and Mats Andrén. Nuclear Waste Management in a Globalised World. London: Routledge, 2011. Print.
