Deep Geological Disposal Of Nuclear Waste Essay

, Research Paper

The General Problem The generation of energy from nuclear fuel reactors has been a highly controversial issue for the better part of the last century. At one point in the 1960’s, nuclear power was thought to be the energy source of the future because it was considered cleaner than carbon or coal, and much more efficient. After incidents such as the near fatal meltdown at Three Mile Island and the disastrous incident at Chernobyl, many people have been vehemently opposed to nuclear fuel generated power. Recently, in many parts of the world, people have run into other implications associated with the use of nuclear energy. Nuclear wastes have continued to build up and people have desperately been searching for some method of permanent disposal for these wastes. A great deal of nuclear fuel bundles are accumulating and above ground storage facilities continue to be filled. Currently in Canada, Ontario Hydro’s 20 reactors have produced 1 million used fuel bundles. These used fuel bundles are placed in Ontario Hydro’s wet storage facilities, where they are placed in above ground cement structures. Ontario only has enough wet storage to facilitate 1.5 million fuel bundles, and has predicted that these by the year 2025 (the end of the life of the reactors), 3.3 million spent fuel bundles will remain as waste to be disposed. The continually accumulating fuel bundles have prompted Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) to search for a permanent method of disposal for these used fuel bundles. The idea of deep geological disposal began in Canada in 1977 with the Hare Report. This report stated that used fuel waste could not be allowed to “accumulate indefinitely in intern storage.” This report went on to indicate that geological disposal was likely the best disposal option for Canada to pursue. In 1988, both the House of Commons Standing Committees on Environment and Forestry and on Energy, Mines, and Resources agreed on the need for some form of permanent nuclear waste disposal. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited has developed a disposal concept that is currently under review by the Environmental Assessment Panel. AECL has proposed to seal containerized nuclear fuel waste 500 to 1000 metres into the Canadian Shield. AECL feels that “the combination of engineered and natural barriers would protect people without the need for institutional controls.” AECL’s “proposed approach to concept implementation is to proceed in stages” that meet principles such as “environmental protection, voluntarism, shared decision making, openness, and fairness.” They indicate that siting, the first phase of the project, cannot begin until the proposal is passed on the conceptual level. There has been a great deal of concern that the Panel’s terms of reference state that the site selection process cannot be examined until the concept is passed. It seems that by examining the disposal concept without having a particular site in mind that AECL may be “putting the cart before the horse”. Three areas of concern that will addressed regarding the evaluation of a generic disposal concept include political, social, and technical aspects. Specific Issues There are a number of concerns expressed with the proposal for a generic disposal concept. Many people feel that there are various social, economic, and environmental implications that will arise as a result of the proposed plan by AECL. Previous experience with siting large complex facilities in Canada, particularly those involved with the treatment and management of hazardous waste, has shown that the siting process is frequently much more complex than the design of an adequate facility. Many people believe that AECL has proposed a generic disposal concept for evaluation because the multi-millions of dollars spent on research would provide momentum for the siting process. There are a number of key conditions that people have addressed concerning the evaluation of the proposal on the conceptual level. Many people have argued that technical, social, and economic issues of siting a facility in a remote area, near a northern community, or near a developed and industrialized area should be addressed prior to accepting the disposal concept. By examining the disposal on a conceptual level, it would appear that AECL feels that the technical aspects are more important than social aspects. There has also been concern expressed about the equity of the siting process. Concern has been raised by people from remote northern villages, as well as aboriginal communities, as to the equatability of the siting process. The eventual siting of a facility would not only affect the community where it is located, but will also have impacts on communities located along the transportation routes. The issue of transportation involves a number of questions about health and safety. AECL will need to consult with all stakeholders, especially those living along transportation routes to ensure that they accept the site selection. Also, a number of questions have been raised about the types of transportation that will be used, as well as past safety records with the transport of hazardous materials. If a remote site was chosen, there may not be an appropriate transportation route to get to the facility. Roads built to access remote facilities may also have large environmental impacts. If it is decided that the disposal concept is safe and acceptable, the Panel has devised terms of reference for advisin