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> My point was the existing solutions people were sure would work still leaked in relatively short time frames. What are you referring to? The aforementioned U

> My point was the existing solutions people were sure would work still leaked in relatively short time frames. What are you referring to? The aforementioned UF6 canisters were a) NOT designed for long-term holding, more adapted from existing HF storage canisters (you can read some of the fun of storing fluorine compounds in the book "Ignition!" about liquid-fueled rockets), and as mentioned b) high level nuclear waste is vitrified to turn it into a non-volatile, non-dissolving, ceramic material that is largely stable by itself. > ... 30000 years of facility maintenance costs ... There are a variety of unused mines that could house high-level waste; the excavation is already done, thus fairly cheap. We are already factoring in storage of the fuel in casks, because it already is being stored in casks. The missing part is transport (hence the article, which is still kinda silly as the casks were designed to be trucked). If a nuclear waste cask gets hit by planes, trains, or automobiles, not much will happen. [1] If an ordinary tanker car falls off the tracks, it's like an improvised chemical warfare attack. [2] [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu1YFshFuI4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu1YFshFuI4 [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Palestine,_Ohio,_train_derailment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Palestine,_Ohio,_train_de...

Joel_Mckay 2y ago
"UF6 canisters were a) NOT designed for long-term holding" We agree on this for sure, but these were left at unsecured sites for decades slowly failing in the hot sun + acid rain. People have proven they can't keep track of every container of waste, and will do dodgy deals to hide their messes. Even your own cited article already shows the weeping rust stains on the side of the concrete enclosures. "nuclear waste is vitrified to turn it into a non-volatile, non-dissolving, ceramic material that is largely stable by itself." Except for material like Radon gas diffusion, and newly decayed water-soluble salts that drop off over time. The problem with decaying hot material, is in addition to the chemistry parts... it affects things even in proximity as gamma exposure pokes things apart over time. "variety of unused mines" Mines are constantly filling with water, and are designed to have active pumping. That is an improbable solution especially around acid rain... given holes get bigger with time due to erosion, and stuff will naturally shift around under tremendous force. The key concept we need to understand is all containment vessels have a maintenance cost associated with their stewardship. The 40gal barrels used in the 1950s to 1970s that didn't develop pin holes would simply be hit by rifle projectiles when they floated up to the surface from the sea bed. Problem solved right... ;-) Over a relatively short few decades people still failed to contain the waste... and I don't think incremental improvements using partially stable ceramics are an excuse to jeopardize arable land used for food. We will have to agree to disagree. All technologies have risk, and anyone that tells you differently is selling you something. If the 30 thousand year issue was trivial, than smart people would have solved it by now... Have a great day, =3

Joel_Mckay 2y ago

"UF6 canisters were a) NOT designed for long-term holding" We agree on this for sure, but these were left at unsecured sites for decades slowly failing in the hot sun + acid rain. People have proven they can't keep track of every container of waste, and will do dodgy deals to hide their messes. Even your own cited article already shows the weeping rust stains on the side of the concrete enclosures. "nuclear waste is vitrified to turn it into a non-volatile, non-dissolving, ceramic material that is largely stable by itself." Except for material like Radon gas diffusion, and newly decayed water-soluble salts that drop off over time. The problem with decaying hot material, is in addition to the chemistry parts... it affects things even in proximity as gamma exposure pokes things apart over time. "variety of unused mines" Mines are constantly filling with water, and are designed to have active pumping. That is an improbable solution especially around acid rain... given holes get bigger with time due to erosion, and stuff will naturally shift around under tremendous force. The key concept we need to understand is all containment vessels have a maintenance cost associated with their stewardship. The 40gal barrels used in the 1950s to 1970s that didn't develop pin holes would simply be hit by rifle projectiles when they floated up to the surface from the sea bed. Problem solved right... ;-) Over a relatively short few decades people still failed to contain the waste... and I don't think incremental improvements using partially stable ceramics are an excuse to jeopardize arable land used for food. We will have to agree to disagree. All technologies have risk, and anyone that tells you differently is selling you something. If the 30 thousand year issue was trivial, than smart people would have solved it by now... Have a great day, =3