Around the world, about 490,000 metric tons of radioactive spent fuel is temporarily stored in pools and dry casks above ground. No spent nuclear fuel anywhere in the world has yet been placed in a permanent repository.
Deep Isolation will emplace nuclear waste in corrosion-resistant canisters (typically 9 to 13 inches in diameter and 14 feet long) deep into horizontal drillholes, in rock that has been stable for tens to hundreds of millions of years.
Over the last few years, Deep Isolation has been working through the list of identified risks with this method of long term storage of high level nuclear waste. One such risk is that:
"...the isolation may be compromised by the borehole used to access the repository, as it could provide a direct fast-flow path transporting radionuclides from the disposal section to the accessible environment. Thus, backfilling the disposal section and sealing the access hole are considered essential engineered safety components."
Deep Isolation is planning a webinar to discuss this issue and how they are planning to resolve it. Please register here and use the opportunity to ask questions about their concept.