An environmentally sequestered nuclear spent fuel pool system comprising: a base slab; a plurality of vertical sidewalls extending upwards from and adjoining the base slab, the sidewalls forming a perimeter; a cavity collectively defined by the sidewalls and the base slab that in use holds pool water; a pool liner system comprising an outer liner adjacent the sidewalls, an inner liner adjacent the outer liner and in use wetted by the pool water, and an interstitial space formed between the liners; a top embedment plate circumscribing the perimeter of the pool at a top surface of the sidewalls adjoining the cavity; and the inner and outer liners (61, 60) having top terminal ends sealably attached to the embedment plate; the system being characterized by further comprising: a flow plenum formed at the top terminal edges (61c, 60c) of the inner and outer liners (61, 60) along the sidewalls, the flow plenum being in fluid communication with the interstitial space, and a flow passageway formed through the top embedment plate that is in fluid communication with the flow plenum, the flow passageway having an outlet end penetrating a top surface of the top embedment plate; the system further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the flow plenum, the vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interstitial space to a negative set pressure below atmospheric pressure; the top embedment plate circumscribing the perimeter of the pool, the embedment plate embedded in the sidewalls adjoining the cavity; the inner and outer liners (61, 60) being attached to the top embedment plate in staggered relationship to form the flow plenum; and the vacuum pump being fluidly coupled to the flow plenum through the top embedment plate; wherein top terminal edges (61c, 60c) of the inner and outer liners are welded separately to the top embedment plate for forming the flow plenum. a base slab; a plurality of vertical sidewalls extending upwards from and adjoining the base slab, the sidewalls forming a perimeter; a cavity collectively defined by the sidewalls and the base slab that in use holds pool water; a pool liner system comprising an outer liner adjacent the sidewalls, an inner liner adjacent the outer liner and in use wetted by the pool water, and an interstitial space formed between the liners; a top embedment plate circumscribing the perimeter of the pool at a top surface of the sidewalls adjoining the cavity; and the inner and outer liners (61, 60) having top terminal ends sealably attached to the embedment plate; the system being characterized by further comprising: a flow plenum formed at the top terminal edges (61c, 60c) of the inner and outer liners (61, 60) along the sidewalls, the flow plenum being in fluid communication with the interstitial space, and a flow passageway formed through the top embedment plate that is in fluid communication with the flow plenum, the flow passageway having an outlet end penetrating a top surface of the top embedment plate; the system further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the flow plenum, the vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interstitial space to a negative set pressure below atmospheric pressure; the top embedment plate circumscribing the perimeter of the pool, the embedment plate embedded in the sidewalls adjoining the cavity; the inner and outer liners (61, 60) being attached to the top embedment plate in staggered relationship to form the flow plenum; and the vacuum pump being fluidly coupled to the flow plenum through the top embedment plate; a flow plenum formed at the top terminal edges (61c, 60c) of the inner and outer liners (61, 60) along the sidewalls, the flow plenum being in fluid communication with the interstitial space, and a flow passageway formed through the top embedment plate that is in fluid communication with the flow plenum, the flow passageway having an outlet end penetrating a top surface of the top embedment plate; the system further comprising a vacuum pump fluidly coupled to the flow plenum, the vacuum pump operable to evacuate the interstitial space to a negative set pressure below atmospheric pressure; the top embedment plate circumscribing the perimeter of the pool, the embedment plate embedded in the sidewalls adjoining the cavity; the inner and outer liners (61, 60) being attached to the top embedment plate in staggered relationship to form the flow plenum; and the vacuum pump being fluidly coupled to the flow plenum through the top embedment plate; wherein top terminal edges (61c, 60c) of the inner and outer liners are welded separately to the top embedment plate for forming the flow plenum.