USGS studies of geology, hydrology, and geochemistry at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for the Department of Energy (DOE) were used to characterize:

• Natural attributes of the site to isolate radioactive waste
• Geologic and hydrologic processes affecting the safe storage of radioactive waste
• Conditions in the past to understand expected conditions in the future

Current USGS studies of scientific issues for the DOE to improve the reliablility of the computer models that predict the performance of the site include:

• Volcanic/Seismic Activity
  • Type
  • Timing

• Geology
  • Lithostratigraphy
  • Geochemistry of Natural Repository Materials

• Saturated-Zone Flow and Transport
  • Flow Paths
  • Transport Plumes
  • Aquifer Properties

• Unsaturated-Zone Flow and Transport
  • Matrix/Fracture Flow
  • Geochemistry of Seepage
  • Secondary Minerals as Records of Past Seepage
  • Drift Shadow

• Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/default.asp
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Designed by: Christopher Kirkham