NAC459.8105. Location and minimum characteristics of disposal area.

     1. The primary objectives in assessing the location of a disposal area are to determine that the characteristics of the proposed area will ensure the isolation of wastes and the attainment of other long-term requirements.

     2. A proposed disposal area must have the following minimum characteristics to be approved for disposal near the surface of low-level radioactive waste:

     (a) The disposal area must be capable of being characterized, modeled, analyzed and observed.

     (b) A site must be selected so that projected growth of the population and other future developments within the region where the disposal area is to be located are not likely to affect the capability of the disposal area to meet the objectives of disposal.

     (c) Geographical areas must be avoided which contain valuable natural resources which are known to exist and which, if exploited, would result in the eventual failure of the disposal area to meet the objectives of disposal.

     (d) The disposal area must be generally well drained and free of areas of flooding or frequent accumulations of water in ponds. The disposal of wastes will not be allowed in a 100-year floodplain, coastal area with a high risk of flooding or wetland, as those terms are defined in Executive Order No. 11,988, Floodplain Management Guidelines in 43 FR 6030 (1978).

     (e) Drainage areas which are upstream from the site must be minimized to decrease the amount of runoff which could erode or inundate disposal units.

     (f) Wastes, when buried, must be sufficiently above the water table so that the intrusion of groundwater, perennial or otherwise, into the waste will not occur. The disposal of waste will not be allowed in the zone of fluctuation of the water table.

     (g) The hydrogeological unit in which the site is located must not discharge groundwater to the surface within the disposal area.

     (h) The disposal of wastes will not be allowed in geographic areas where tectonic processes such as faulting, folding, seismic activity or vulcanism may occur with a frequency and to an extent that significantly affects the capability of the disposal area to meet the objectives of disposal, or may preclude defensible modeling and the prediction of long-term effects.

     (i) The disposal of wastes will not be allowed in geographical areas where surface geologic processes such as mass wasting, erosion, slumping, landsliding or weathering occur with a frequency and to an extent that significantly affects the capability of the disposal area to meet the objectives of disposal, or may preclude defensible modeling and prediction of long-term effects.

     (j) The disposal area must not be located where nearby facilities or activities could adversely affect the capability of the area to meet the objectives of disposal or significantly interfere with the detection of radionuclides migrating from the disposal area.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 4-27-84)