WorldWide Drilling Resource

Radioactive Wastes - The Public Remains Skeptical, Part One Adapted from World Nuclear Association In the January 2018, issue of WWDR , Amer ica’s Planned Nuclear Waste Repository highlighted part of the United States’ plan for containment and storage of nuclear waste deep underground. To make this possible, the drilling industry was engaged in 1994, to drill and blast a starter tunnel. The custom-built tunnel boring machine (TBM) created a five- mile-long horseshoe-shaped exploratory tunnel, and a smaller TBM bored a two- mile-long diagonal tunnel to test the rock. Unfortunately, due to lack of government funding, the promising nuclear waste stor- age project was suspended indefinitely. Many remain skeptical this repository, when completed, and others will keep nuclear waste contained. Necessarily, the public must know the true nature of hazardous nuclear waste and the measures implemented to ensure its safe, reliable storage. One misconception is the nuclear industry doesn’t have a nuclear waste solution. But technologies for the final disposal of nuclear waste have been implemented, and scientific consensus determined HLW has been contained successfully. Another concern is the risk to people and environment during nuclear waste transport. To allay these fears, robust 125-ton Type B 9¾-inch thick steel waste casks are designed to shield from radiation and guarantee containment. A related con- cern, is plutonium is the most toxic substance on earth. However, plutonium, in equal amounts as other toxins, such as ricin, snake venoms, cyanide, and caffeine, has fewer immediate effects, but might pose a risk if inhaled, unlikely because of transport safety measures. Even if nuclear waste is contained, many think it may be hazardous for future generations. Nuclear waste naturally decays with a finite radiotoxic lifetime, usually within 1000 to 10,000 years. By comparison, other industrial wastes remain hazardous indefinitely. International conventions and national regulations have set guidelines for transport and long-term storage. Reposi- tories, the product of collaboration among radiation scientists, geologists, and engi- neers, are designed to contain HLW indef- initely well below the biosphere, even during severe earthquakes. Look for more next month. 21 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2019 Elevators SkyrexCenterLatchElevators PVC and Heavy-Duty Elevators Drill Pipe Drill Collars Manual Tongs Spiders Crossover Subs RC Swivels Stabilizers Bits Etc. Family Owned & Operated office fax 806-791-3731 806-791-3755 We Support Our Troops! www.rexmcfadden.com Offered with or without a base S k y R e x Water Well Equipment Equipment U.S. Nuclear Waste Locations Nuclear waste transporation casks ENV