Systems analysis, long-term radionuclide transport, and dose assessments, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), southeastern New Mexico; March 1989

Abstract

This report summarizes the current understanding of the expected long-term behavior of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) repository and estimates long-term radionuclide doses in a series of six analyses investigating both undisturbed repository (Case I) and performance in response to a relatively high-consequence human intrusion (Case II). It is the result of an intensive effort over a short time. The US Department of Energy (DOE) decided to have Sandia National Laboratories prepare this report as a result of a meeting held January 5, 1989. The conceptual model of the expected long-term behavior of the WIPP repository used in this report was formulated in early to mid January 1989, drawing and understanding developed over the past decade. Numerical modeling of ground-water flow, radionuclide transport, and doses to humans began January 20, 1989 and was completed March 20, 1989. 332 refs., 98 figs., 69 tabs.