Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laberatory (also called Idaho Nuclear Environmental Engineering Laboratory (INEEL)) is a facility located
in Southeastern Idaho. One of the largest (and some argue THE largest) Nuclear Waste Facility in the western United States.
Facility Map
This facility handles much of the nuclear waste that is left from all over the country. In fact, it is said that it handles as much or more than Yucca
Mountain.
There are very few guidelines that are followed for disposal, and many methods are already causing problems with soil and water in Idaho.
The Department of Energy now estimates that approximately 50% of the containers (mostly barrels, but also wooden crates, and cardboard boxes)
burst open upon being dumped or when the pits and trenches were covered and compacted by running heavy equipment over the dirt covered pit. Flooding
and infiltration has led to containers being compromised allowing the escape of plutonium and toxic chemicals into the soil.
Currently there are no viable plans for cleanup of the buried waste in the pits and trenches. However there are hints from DOE that most of the waste
will be left in place and "stabilized" with subsurface grouting and a cap over the surface. Only "hot spots" will be excavated.
>>from here<<
I brought all of this up in the Yellowstone "Explosive Situation" thread, but feel (with a little push from kukla) that INEEL is worthy of it's own
discussion.
Now, considering the work done at INEEL, this could have as bad an effect on the populace as yellowstone itself, especially when you consider that
weather runs west to east in the US, and stuff from this plant could get swept into the weather patterns.
Here are some links for INEEL. Snakeriveralliance is a great wealth of "somwhat unbiased" information.
INEEL
Brief History
As the crow flies
Geologic Hazards
That's good for starters.
[Edited on 10-10-2003 by ImAlreadyPsycho]
