Radioactive waste storage and disposal

A review of the subject of radioactive waste management is provided, including background information, tutorial material, and a status report on U.S. disposal efforts. Topics discussed are: the radioactive decay process; the steps in the nuclear fuel cycle from the mining of uranium to the disposal of wastes; typical uses of isotopes and radiation in which there are waste byproducts; classification of wastes according to type and origin; the nuclear industry's problem of accumulation of spent fuel; temporary storage systems; transportation; reprocessing," methods of solidification of wastes; the options available for disposing of high-level wastes, including the preferred mined cavity method; the handling of low-level wastes; the purposes of monitored retrievable storage; studies on waste migration in a geologic medium via groundwater; disposal site characterization studies; and the laws and regulations that govern waste management. The need for public understanding of radioactive wastes in the interest of successful development of energy sources is noted.