Geophysical Applications for Deep Geological Repository Studies in Plutonic Rocks of Canada
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*HRSK\VLFDO$SSOLFDWLRQVIRU'HHS*HRORJLFDO5HSRVLWRU\6WXGLHVLQ 3OXWRQLF5RFNVRI&DQDGD Ganpat S. Lodha1,2, Mulugeta H. Serzu1, Ed T. Kozak1, Richard A. Everitt1, Dzintars K. Tomsons1 and John G. Hayles3 1 Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba, R0E 1L0 2 Edgemont Enterprises Ltd., 158 Newcombe Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 3T6 3 Hayles Geoscience Surveys, P.O. Box 1526, Beausejour, Manitoba, R0E 0C0 $%675$&7 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has been conducting detailed geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations in plutonic rocks at several research areas. The main focus of the work was on developing and testing site evaluation and site characterization methods to investigate progressively smaller volumes of plutonic rocks in greater details. In this process extremely detailed airborne, surface and borehole geophysical surveys were done to identify fractures and understand groundwater flow conditions. A brief review of geophysical methods, which demonstrate the area scale, site scale and vault scale characterization techniques has been included in this paper. The boreholes in the Whiteshell Research Area (WRA) of Lac du Bonnet Batholith and at its Underground Research Laboratory (URL) excavated to 420 m depth have provided extensive opportunities to develop and test these methods. One example of geophysical surveys associated with the Moderately Fractured Rock (MFR) experiment at 240 Level is discussed in some length. ,1752'8&7,21 Most countries producing nuclear-generated electricity have or are working on a national program for the management and disposal of the resulting nuclear fuel waste. Some of the countries like Finland, Japan, Sweden and the USA have already opted for “geological disposal” or retrievable underground long-term storage. Geologic disposal on the Canadian Shield is one of the approaches that the Government of Canada has identified for further study and consideration in the 1XFOHDU)XHO:DVWH$FW. The Act was passed as Bill C-27 by Parliament in June 2002 and brought into force on November 15, 2002. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the other Canadian nuclear utilities have formed the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to further study and assess approaches for long-term management of these wastes over the next three years and to recommend an approach to the Government of Canada [1]. Over the last 25 years AECL and OPG have advanced the concept for emplacing used nuclear fuel waste in a deep geologic repository at a depth of 500 to 1000 m within the stable plutonic rock of the Canadian Shield. This work has ranged from demonstration of site characterization and repository engineering technology to experimental studies and model development. The Canadian concept comprises a system of multiple barriers that includes the waste form, container, repository sealing systems and the naturally occurring favorable geosphere. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by AECL [2] describes this concept and it’s safety in detail. Subsequent to the EIS hearin
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