Table 71. Geologic Media and Experiments Considered in International Repository Programs and Underground Research Laboratories Country Location Name Facility Type Host Rock/ Formation Depth (m) Experiments Period Sierra del Medioa Belgium Mol/Dessel HADES-URF PRACLAYb,c URL Soft Clay (Boom clay) 223 TCHMRDd 1983- Canada Pinawa, Manitoba Lac du Bonnet URLb,c URL Crystalline 400 TCHM 1985-2006 Kincardine, Ontario OPG DGRe LLW & ILW repository Argillaceous limestone 680 2011 LA China Gobi Desert Beishanc Crystalline Site investigation 2009- Czech Republic Príbam 16b URL galleries in U mine Crystalline S Late 90’s Finland Eurajoki Olkiluotoc SNF repository Crystalline (Gneiss, Grandiorite, Migmatite) 2011 LA 2020 open Olkiluoto ONKALO/ VLJ Research Tunnelb,c URL in VLJ tunnel Crystalline 420 HMD 1993- Loviisa LLW & ILW repository Crystalline 120 1997- France Meuse/Haute Marne HLW & ILW repository argillite 2025 Marne Bure URLb,c URL Argillite shale 500 2000- Fanay Augères/ Tenelles Amelie Fanayb Generic URL galleries in mine Crystalline TCHM 1980–1990 Augères/ Tenelles Amelie Amelieb Generic URL galleries in mine Bedded K/salt TMD 1986–1994 Tournemire Tournemire Research Tunnelb,c Generic URL railway and test galleries CHM 1990- Germany Morsleben repository for LLW&ILW and URL galleries in K/salt mine salt 630 1981-1998 Asse – Asse Salt Repository for LLW and ILW Domed salt 750 1977–1995 Now sealing Asse – Asse Salt Mineb Generic URL galleries in K/salt mine Domed salt 750 TCHMRD 1977–1995 Now sealing Gorleben Gorlebenc URL Domed salt S 1979;now on hold Salzgitter, Lower Saxony f Repository for LLW and ILW in former Fe mine 800 Approved 2007; Open 2013 Salzgitter, Lower Saxony f URL galleries in Fe mine Shale 800 CHM 1980-
Hungary Pécs Pécsb URL galleries in U mine Shale S 1995–1999 Japan Tono Tono Natural Analogue Projectb,c URL galleries in U mine Sandstone CHM 1986- Northern Honshu Island Kamaishi Mineb URL galleries in Cu/Fe mine Crystalline S 1988–1998 Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture. Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU)b,c URL Crystalline 1000 Under development Honorobe Honorobe URLb,c URL Sedimentary rocks 50 Under development Korea Daejeon Korea Underground Research Tunnel (KURT)g URL, shallow depth Crystalline 2006- Sweden Oesthammar Forsmark SFRh repository Crystalline 50 2011 LA; open 2023 Stripa Stripab,c URL galleries in Fe mine Crystalline TCHM 1976–1992 Äspö HRLb,c URL Crystalline 450 TCHMD 1990- Switzerland Grimsel GTSb,c URL dam tunnel Crystalline 450 TCHM 1984- Mont Terri Mont Terri URLb,c URL test galleries Shale (Opalinus Clay) 300 TCHM 1995- UK Sellafield RCFb URL Tuff S Ended 1997 USA Carlsbad, NM WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant)b TRU repository Bedded salt 655 1999- Carlsbad, NM WIPPb URL Bedded salt 655 TCHMRD 1982-1995 KA Project Salt Vaultb URL galleries in mine Bedded salt TM 1961–1968 Hanford, WA NSTF (Near-Surface Test Facility) URL test room Basalt TR Late 1970s Yucca Mountain, NV ESF (Exploratory Studies Facility)b URL Tuff TCHMD 1993- 2005 Yucca Mountain, NV Busted URL Tuff CHM 1997- 2000 Yucca Mountain, NV Large Block Test, Fran Ridgei URL Tuff TCH 1997-1998 Nevada Test Site Climaxb URL galleries in mine Crystalline D 1978–1983 Nevada Test Site G-tunnelb G-tunnel Tuff THM 1979–1986 In general, the repository program of each country has a website where more specific information can be found. aCNEA 1990 bIAEA 2001, Table II cNWTRB 2009, 9 dT – Thermal, C – Chemical, H – Hydrogeologic, M – Mechanical, R – Radiation, S = Site Characterization, D = Demonstration eLittle et al. 2009 fhttp://www.endlager-konrad.de/ g hSKB 2006 iWagoner 1999
creep behavior. Furthermore, this creep behavior is a function of water content and temperature and so these processes must also be taken into account and, thus, continued research and development is needed in this area. . Relative Attributes of Alternative Media for Geologic Disposal (BMWI 2008; Stenhouse et al. 2010, Figure 7-5; Hansen et al. 2010b, Table 1). Characteristic Salt Clay/Shale Crystalline Geologic Borehole Media Property Thermal conductivity High Low Moderate Moderate Heat resistance High Low High High Permeability Practically impermeable Very low to low Low (unfractured) High (fractured) Very low Sorption behavior Very low Very high Moderate Moderate Dissolution Very high Very low Very low Very low Chemical Reducing Reducing Reducing Reducing Deformation behavior Visco-plastic Plastic Brittle Brittle Strength Medium Low to medium High High In-situ stress Isotropic Anisotropic Anisotropic Anisotropic Homogeneity High Moderate Moderate Moderate Location dependent Geologic stability in US High High High High Availability in US Wide Wide Medium Wide Resource coexistence High Medium Low Low Repository design Mining experience High Low High Low Cavity stability Self-support on decade scale Reinforcement required High (unfractured) Low (fractured) Low to Medium at great depth Repository seals Needed Needed Needed Needed Waste package Minimal Minimal Needed Minimal Key for attributes Favorable Average Unfavorable