Radioactive Waste Management

The storage and disposal of radioactive waste is an issue that is invariably associated with controversy. The controversy is often fueled by the lack of clear, concise, and timely information about what forms of radioactive waste exist and how much of a hazard each form presents to public safety. Yet, whether radioactive waste is in a liquid, solid, or gaseous form, and no matter what the degree of hazard, all radioactive waste shares a common problem-that is, the difficulty of finding sites for facilities for its safe storage, treatment, and disposal. Radioactive Waste Management provides a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the field. It examines the entire life cycle of wastes from production through treatment, packaging, shipment, and disposal for high-level, low-level, transuranic, and phosphogypsum wastes, and uranium-mill tailings. Historical perspectives are given on the technical, regulatory, legislative, and institutional decisions over the past 45 years that have resulted in current conditions. This book addresses issues from the point of view of 'lessons learned' and emphasizes the dynamic nature of the systems involved on the technical level, as well as the societal structures for addressing and resolving the technical challenges. The field of radioactive waste management has grown in size and complexity, particularly within the last ten years. Discussions in chapters 1 and 3 lead the reader through those changes and describe the reasons for them and the likely effects those changes will have on technologies and programs for disposing of radioactive waste. Chapter 7 presents the technology for identifying and remediating radiologically contaminated sites. Data on waste production rates, treatment practices, and waste characteristics reflect conditions in today's market. In some cases, data through early 1988 are reported. The timeliness of Radioactive Waste Management offers a significant benefit to planners, regulators, and potential developers. It also means that students using this text will be well prepared to address these subjects on a professional basis. The data presented show the continuity of evolution in the field of radioactive waste management, its attendant problems and successes leading to the current national program, and the waste management concepts and approaches emerging for future use.Berlin, Robert E. is the author of 'Radioactive Waste Management' with ISBN 9780471857921 and ISBN 0471857920.