A nuclear waste hazardous material storage bank , comprising: a wellbore extending into the Earth and comprising an entry at least proximate a terranean surface , the wellbore comprising a substantially vertical portion , a transition portion , and a substantially horizontal portion ; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore , the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that comprises mobile water , wherein the shale formation comprises one or more thinly alternating layers of clay and a thickness proximate the storage area of at least about 30 meters (100 feet) that inhibits diffusion of the nuclear waste hazardous material that escapes the storage container through the shale formation for between 30 and 50 half-lives of any particular component of the nuclear waste hazardous material; a storage container positioned in the storage area , the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical , the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore , and into the storage area , the storage container comprising an inner cavity sized enclose nuclear waste hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore , the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore, wherein either: a) the storage area is formed below the shale formation and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by the shale formation ; or b) the storage area is formed within the shale formation, and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by at least a portion of the shale formation. a wellbore extending into the Earth and comprising an entry at least proximate a terranean surface , the wellbore comprising a substantially vertical portion , a transition portion , and a substantially horizontal portion ; a storage area coupled to the substantially horizontal portion of the wellbore , the storage area within or below a shale formation, the storage area vertically isolated, by the shale formation, from a subterranean zone that comprises mobile water , wherein the shale formation comprises one or more thinly alternating layers of clay and a thickness proximate the storage area of at least about 30 meters (100 feet) that inhibits diffusion of the nuclear waste hazardous material that escapes the storage container through the shale formation for between 30 and 50 half-lives of any particular component of the nuclear waste hazardous material; a storage container positioned in the storage area , the storage container sized to fit from the wellbore entry through the substantially vertical , the transition, and the substantially horizontal portions of the wellbore , and into the storage area , the storage container comprising an inner cavity sized enclose nuclear waste hazardous material; and a seal positioned in the wellbore , the seal isolating the storage portion of the wellbore from the entry of the wellbore, wherein either: a) the storage area is formed below the shale formation and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by the shale formation ; or b) the storage area is formed within the shale formation, and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by at least a portion of the shale formation. a) the storage area is formed below the shale formation and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by the shale formation ; or b) the storage area is formed within the shale formation, and is vertically isolated from the subterranean zone that comprises mobile water by at least a portion of the shale formation. <EOS>