[cdn-nucl-l] More YM "technical" issues

["Jim Muckerheide" <jmuckerheide@cnts.wpi.edu>]

Friends,

This is from KRNV Ch 4 in Reno NV.

Another case of esoteric nonsense?  Or a "real" technical issue?

Regards, Jim
============

LAS VEGAS, NV, September 21
Experts question safety of Yucca Mountain containers

Members of the US Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board have been told a
metal drip shield that would keep water from penetrating containers holding
high-level nuclear waste at the proposed Yucca Mountain repository may be
less effective than originally thought.

Robert Andrews is a geologist for Bechtel, the project's main contractor. He
says scientists are still developing models to determine if water seeping
into the mountain could penetrate the alloy shield roughly 980 feet below
the surface. 

He says even if water does go through cracks in the protective layer,
researchers still do not know if it could corrode the containers that would
store the 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste in the mountain. 

The concerns come as scientists continue a study on possible risks stemming
from the proposed nuclear waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. 

The study is part of the long-term license application process. 

Copyright 2004 Associated Press