111. 



DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN SALT CAVITIES 



1. INTRODUCTION 



1. 1 One of the possibilities for the disposal of radioactive waste prod- 

 ucts derived from the operation of nuclear power plants is its under- 

 ground storage in space formed within deposits of rock salt. This 

 report contains information concerning the characteristics of rock salt, 

 its occurrence in the United States, and the underground space result- 

 ing from mining operations. Consideration is then given to the feasi- 

 bility of using such space for waste disposal. 



1.2 The Division of Earth Sciences, National Research Council, at the 

 request of the Atomic Energy Commission, has undertaken a study of 

 the underground disposal of atomic waste and the preparation of a re- 

 port and recommendations on the subject. A conference for the discus- 

 sion of the subject was held at Princeton University, September 10-12, 

 1955, and a Steering Committee was appointed to function in the prepa- 

 ration of a report. (1) During the period subsequent to the conference, 

 as a member of the Steering Committee, the writer of this memorandum 

 had an opportunity to investigate further the possibility of underground 

 disposal particularly in cavities formed by the mining of salt. The in- 

 formation obtained has been compiled in this paper as a matter of rec- 

 ord and for such value as it may have in further consideration of the 

 disposal problem. The paper is preliminary in character, and is not 



a complete presentation of this phase of the problem. 



1.3 Acknowledgment for information supplied concerning salt deposits 

 is gratefully made to Dr. Frank C. Foley, State Geologist of Kansas; 

 Dr. John H. Melvin, Chief, Division of Geological Survey, State of 

 Ohio; Dr. William L. Daoust, State Geologist of Michigan; Dr. Kenneth 

 K. Landes, Department of Geology, University of Michigan; to Messrs. 

 L. E. Read, Manager, Detroit Mine, and C. H. Jacoby, Chief Geolo- 

 gist, International Salt Company, Detroit, Michigan; and to Mr. Tom 

 M. Cramer, U.S. Potash Company, Carlsbad, New Mexico. The 

 writer has also used freely information contained in various publica- 

 tions, references to which are made at the end of this paper, and wishes 

 to acknowledge the assistance obtained therefrom. I am also grateful 



to Dr. E.G. Struxness of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and to 

 Dr. L. P. Hatch of Brookhaven National Laboratory for courtesies ex- 

 tended during visits to these installations. 



