[en] The goal of the Seabed Disposal Program is to assess the technical and environmental feasibility of using geologic formations under the sea floor for the disposal of processed high-level radioactive wastes or repackaged spent reactor fuel. Studies are focused on the abyssal hill regions of the sea floors in the middle of tectonic plates and under massive surface current gyres. The red-clay sediments here are from 50 to 100 meters thick, are continuously depositional (without periods of erosion), and have been geologically and climatologically stable for millions of years. Mineral deposits and biological activity are minimal, and bottom currents are weak and variable. Five years of research have revealed no technological reason why nuclear waste disposal in these areas would be impractical. However, scientific assessment is not complete. Also, legal political, and sociological factors may well become the governing elements in such use of international waters. These factors are being examined as part of the work of the Seabed Working Group, an international adjunct of the Seabed Program, with members from France, England, Japan, Canada, and the United States

[en] Sandia Laboratories were charged with the tasks of assessing the environmental and technical feasibility of isolating high-level waste beneath the deep ocean floor in geologically stable and biologically inactive regions, and of developing a capability to assess other ocean disposal programs. This presentation summarizes the progress and task status of the Seabed Program. Objectives and milestones of the program are outlined. Areas which might be suitable for use as disposal sites were identified. The disposal question is being treated as a multiple barrier assessment problem. The normal slow diffusion of waste elements through the deep-sea clay is reduced more than a thousandfold by its sorptive properties. Emplacement concepts being considered are the penetrometer, weighted probe, trencher, and drilled holes. Advantages and disadvantages of the seabed option are listed. The international programs underway on this disposal option are mentioned

[en] In order to find the optimal solution to waste disposal problems, it is necessary to make comparisons between disposal media. It has become obvious to many within the scientific community that the single-medium approach leads to over-protection of one medium at the expense of the others. Cross-media comparisons are being conducted in the Department of Energy ocean disposal programs for several radioactive wastes. Investigations in three areas address model development, comparisons of laboratory tests with field results and predictions, and research needs in marine disposal of radioactive waste. Tabulated data are included on composition of liquid high-level waste and concentration of some natural radionuclides in the sea

[en] The geological formations beneath the oceans are in many ways different from those found on the continents. The characteristics of these formations, in some cases coupled with the ocean waters themselves, may provide environmentally suitable methods for disposal of certain types of radioactive wastes. This document outlines the most promising ocean disposal options. Any of these options may be chosen, for environmental, logistic, or economic reasons, to complement the US land-based disposal programs. Although much of the research is common to the determination of feasibility of all of these concepts, this document is divided for convenience into the categories of disposal within the oceanic geologic formations, disposal on the ocean floor, and disposal into the water column

[en] The tenth annual meeting of the NEA Coordinated Program to Assess the Subseabed Disposal of Radioactive Waste was held April 30 to May 3, 1985, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Reports of the Coordinating Bureau, Radiological Assessment, Biological Oceanography, Site Assessment, Physical Oceanography, Engineering Studies, Near-Field, and Sediment Barrier Task Groups are presented

[en] The task groups of the Third International Workshop were staffed by scientists from the attending countries. Reviews of the progress of programs within each nation were given and plans for cooperative task group workshops, data interchanges, newsletters, ocean cruises, sample exchanges, and critical laboratory and field measurements were coordinated. Although a considerable amount of work remains to be done to assure safety and feasibility, no technical or environmental reasons were identified that would preclude the disposal of radioactive wastes beneeath the ocean floor

[en] Major objectives of this year's meeting are: to exchange data and information collected during 1980; to outline each participant's seabed disposal program status and specific plans for next year; to coordinate this year's cooperative work, including research vessel cruises; to review the System Analysis Task Group (SATG) report and to provide further information for the SATG models; and to outline the major tasks and timing for the Seabed Working Group programs for the next five years. The end product of the workshop is to have a basis for: A summary report to the NEA Radioactive Waste Management Committee on the SWG activities; Identification of specific areas of continued Task Group coordination; An update of specific Task Group members; and Identification of specific areas of continued multinational participation. Separate abstracts have been prepared for the individual task groups' reports for inclusion in the Energy Data Base. National summary reports on the status of programs in the USA, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Commission of the European Communities, Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium are included

[en] Participants in the NEA/Seabed Working Group meeting were Belgium, Canada, Commission of the European Communities, Federal Republic of Germany, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States. The following task group reports are included: systems analysis; site selection; biology; physical oceanography; sediment and rock; waste form and canister; and engineering studies

[en] This report is an account of work sponsored by the Governments of Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States, and by the Commission of the European Communities, in the framework of the OECD/NEA Coordinated Programme on Seabed Disposal of Radioactive Waste. The objective of the NEA Coordinated Programme is to provide an international assessment of the technical feasibility and long-term safety of seabed disposal of high-level radioactive waste as a multi-media concept with marine sediments as the primary isolation barrier

[en] This report is an account of work sponsored by the Governments of Belgium, Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States, and by the Commission of the European Communities, in the framework of the OECD/NEA Coordinated Programme on the Subseabed Disposal of Radioactive Waste. Neither the Governments of the Participating Countries, nor the Commission of the European Communities nor the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, nor any of their employees or representatives, assume any legal liability for the contents hereof. The objective of the NEA Coordinated Programme is to provide an international assessment of the technical feasibility and long term safety of seabed disposal of high-level radioactive waste as a multi-media concept with marine sediments as the primary isolation barrier. Additional information on the Coordinated programme may be obtained from the various research establishments involved or the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, 38 boulevard Suchet, 75016 Paris, France