If the world is to attain global peace and prosperity in this century, a rational mix of energy s... more If the world is to attain global peace and prosperity in this century, a rational mix of energy sources must be achieved quickly, by about 2040. This mix should be about 1 /3–fossil fuel, 1 /3–renewables and 1 /3– nuclear, each source generating over 10 trillion kW-hrs/year, the amount generated by all fossil fuels in the world today. Without a comprehensive push for both renewables and nuclear, humanity will not avert environmental and economic catastrophe by mid-century, and we will not be able to prevent worldwide weapons proliferation. Public misperception of nuclear energy is probably the greatest hurdle to achieving a third of this mix by nuclear energy, while a similar but opposite overly optimistic perception of renewables may cause renewables to fail in achieving their third of this mix. This 1 /3- 1 /3- 1 /3 mix requires committed leadership among the nations of the world, and full understanding and support from their citizens, with an understanding that failure will resul...
O-27, in: A.R. Gavaskar and C.F. Silver (Symposium Chairs), In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation—20... more O-27, in: A.R. Gavaskar and C.F. Silver (Symposium Chairs), In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation—2007. Proceedings of the Ninth International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium (Baltimore, Maryland; May 7–10, 2007). ISBN 978-1-57477-161-9, published by Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, www.battelle.org/bookstore Development of Site-Specific Dilution-Attenuation Factor for Perchlorate Soil Contamination Jason S. Early, P.G. (jearly@envalliance.com) (Environmental Alliance, Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA) Robert J. Kondelin, P.G. (bkondelin@envalliance.com) (Environmental Alliance, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, USA) James L. Conca, Ph.D. (jconca@cemrc.org) (New Mexico State University, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA) Perchlorate, a highly soluble salt, is often considered a conservative tracer, given that little or no adsorption in soils has typically been observed. Leaching of perchlorateimpacted soils to groundwater would be expected to be rapid, particularly in a moist environmen...
Geological Repository Systems for Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuels and Radioactive Waste, 2017
Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a successful exampl... more Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a successful example of an operating deep geologic nuclear repository. That success results from several factors, including an optimal geologic and physiographic setting, a strong scientific basis, early regional community support, frequent interactions among stakeholders at all stages of the process, long-term commitment from the upper management of the US Department of Energy (DOE) over several administrations, strong New Mexico State involvement and oversight, and constant environmental monitoring from before nuclear waste was first emplaced in the WIPP underground (in 1999), to the present, after 15 years of waste disposal operations. All of these factors should be an essential part of the siting and operations of any nuclear waste repository. The first and only radiation leak from the repository occurred in February 2014 from a burst drum inappropriately filled at a generator site. The small amount of radiation released was contained by the ventilation, resulting in no health or environmental effects. Cleanup was initiated, a new portion of the ventilation system emplaced, and many ancillary issues resolved. Operations should resume early in 2017. Even so, WIPP will still be approximately 10 years ahead of schedule and over a billion dollars under budget.
Nuclear Physical Methods in Radioecological Investigations of Nuclear Test Sites
ABSTRACT Radioactive strontium (Sr) and radioactive caesium (Cs) are contaminants causing major c... more ABSTRACT Radioactive strontium (Sr) and radioactive caesium (Cs) are contaminants causing major concern because of their ease of entry into biological systems due to their similarity to calcium and potassium, respectively. As a result of the Chernobyl accident in 1986, large areas of the Ukraine are contaminated with these radionuclides. Areas both at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the United States and at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan are also contaminated with these radionuclides. Both caesium and strontium are soluble in water, but their mobility in natural environments is retarded by their strong interactions with soil organic materials, clay minerals, and iron oxides.
If the world is to attain global peace and prosperity in this century, a rational mix of energy s... more If the world is to attain global peace and prosperity in this century, a rational mix of energy sources must be achieved quickly, by about 2040. This mix should be about 1 /3–fossil fuel, 1 /3–renewables and 1 /3– nuclear, each source generating over 10 trillion kW-hrs/year, the amount generated by all fossil fuels in the world today. Without a comprehensive push for both renewables and nuclear, humanity will not avert environmental and economic catastrophe by mid-century, and we will not be able to prevent worldwide weapons proliferation. Public misperception of nuclear energy is probably the greatest hurdle to achieving a third of this mix by nuclear energy, while a similar but opposite overly optimistic perception of renewables may cause renewables to fail in achieving their third of this mix. This 1 /3- 1 /3- 1 /3 mix requires committed leadership among the nations of the world, and full understanding and support from their citizens, with an understanding that failure will resul...
O-27, in: A.R. Gavaskar and C.F. Silver (Symposium Chairs), In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation—20... more O-27, in: A.R. Gavaskar and C.F. Silver (Symposium Chairs), In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation—2007. Proceedings of the Ninth International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium (Baltimore, Maryland; May 7–10, 2007). ISBN 978-1-57477-161-9, published by Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, www.battelle.org/bookstore Development of Site-Specific Dilution-Attenuation Factor for Perchlorate Soil Contamination Jason S. Early, P.G. (jearly@envalliance.com) (Environmental Alliance, Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA) Robert J. Kondelin, P.G. (bkondelin@envalliance.com) (Environmental Alliance, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, USA) James L. Conca, Ph.D. (jconca@cemrc.org) (New Mexico State University, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA) Perchlorate, a highly soluble salt, is often considered a conservative tracer, given that little or no adsorption in soils has typically been observed. Leaching of perchlorateimpacted soils to groundwater would be expected to be rapid, particularly in a moist environmen...
Geological Repository Systems for Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuels and Radioactive Waste, 2017
Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a successful exampl... more Abstract The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is a successful example of an operating deep geologic nuclear repository. That success results from several factors, including an optimal geologic and physiographic setting, a strong scientific basis, early regional community support, frequent interactions among stakeholders at all stages of the process, long-term commitment from the upper management of the US Department of Energy (DOE) over several administrations, strong New Mexico State involvement and oversight, and constant environmental monitoring from before nuclear waste was first emplaced in the WIPP underground (in 1999), to the present, after 15 years of waste disposal operations. All of these factors should be an essential part of the siting and operations of any nuclear waste repository. The first and only radiation leak from the repository occurred in February 2014 from a burst drum inappropriately filled at a generator site. The small amount of radiation released was contained by the ventilation, resulting in no health or environmental effects. Cleanup was initiated, a new portion of the ventilation system emplaced, and many ancillary issues resolved. Operations should resume early in 2017. Even so, WIPP will still be approximately 10 years ahead of schedule and over a billion dollars under budget.
Nuclear Physical Methods in Radioecological Investigations of Nuclear Test Sites
ABSTRACT Radioactive strontium (Sr) and radioactive caesium (Cs) are contaminants causing major c... more ABSTRACT Radioactive strontium (Sr) and radioactive caesium (Cs) are contaminants causing major concern because of their ease of entry into biological systems due to their similarity to calcium and potassium, respectively. As a result of the Chernobyl accident in 1986, large areas of the Ukraine are contaminated with these radionuclides. Areas both at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the United States and at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan are also contaminated with these radionuclides. Both caesium and strontium are soluble in water, but their mobility in natural environments is retarded by their strong interactions with soil organic materials, clay minerals, and iron oxides.
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