ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the geological and technical problems at each of the sites, and suggests the lessons that can be learned from this experience. The United States is the largest producer of radioactive wastes, and has considerable experience with shallow disposal methods. Disposal regulations require strong containers and emplacement which minimises voids. Under the Low Level Radioactive Waste Act of 1980, Congress passed the responsibility for managing low level wastes to the States. Congress encouraged the States to form regional agreements, or ‘compacts’, to find common regional waste facilities. Institutional waste, from hospitals and research institutions, accounts for about one third of the volume of waste going to radioactive landfills, but less than one per cent of the radioactivity. The Richland, Washington and Beatty, Nevada sites are, respectively, in semi-arid and arid parts of the US.
