F. L. Parker1,5, A. I. Rybal’chenko2, V. I. Velichkin3, K. L. Compton1, V. M. Novikov1,
A. A. Pek3, V. I. Malkovsky3, and B. P. Sigaev4
1 International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, A-2361 Austria
2 VNIPI Promtechnology, Ministry of Atomic Energy, Kashirskoe shosse, 33, Moscow, 115409 Russia
3 Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry (IGEM),
Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetny per. 35, Moscow, 109017 Russia
4 Mining and Chemical Combine, ul. Lenina 53, Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarskii Krai, 662990 Russia
5 Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, 37235 USA
Received August 10, 1999
Abstract—The site for the deep-well injection of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) at the Mining and Chemical
Combine (MCC) (“Severny” site) is located on the watershed between the Yenisei and Bol’shoi Tel’ rivers. The
site is in operation since 1967. Presently, about five million m3 of liquid radioactive waste have been injected
into two deep aquifers with the total activity, decay corrected to 1995, of about 260 MCi. The waste includes
radioactive fission products and non-radioactive chemicals used in the reprocessing of spent fuel. The Severny
site is located in an ancient erosional depression in Precambrian crystalline rocks which is filled by Jurassic
sediments with the interbedding aquifer (sands and sandstones) and aquitard (clayes) horizons. The maximum
thickness of Jurassic sediments is 550 m. Horizons I and II, located in the central part of the site at depths of
370–465 m and 180–280 m, respectively, are used as reservoir formations for liquid waste disposal. The wastes
by convention referred to as high-level wastes (HLW) and medium-level wastes (MLW) are injected into Hori-
zon I, and low-level wastes (LLW) are injected into Horizon II. This paper presents the results obtained from
the analysis of the long-term consequences of LRW disposal caused by the radionuclides transport by ground-
water. The study was conducted in parallel by three organizations: the VNIPI Promtechnology (VNIPIPT) of
the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (MINATOM), the Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography,
Mineralogy, and Geochemistry (IGEM) of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and the International Institute
for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Austria). The normal evolution scenario for the disposal system was ana-
lyzed, which assumes the extrapolation into the future of the present geologic, hydrogeologic, and other condi-
tions affecting the radionuclide migration in the underground hydrosphere. This scenario concludes that the dis-
posed of LRW presents neither short-term risks of public radioactive exposures nor long-term risks of signifi-
cant contamination of the surface waters. The analysis of hypothetical scenarios suggesting the reduction of
isolation properties of the geologic environment due to the tectonic movements or an inadvertent intrusion into
Horizon I for drinking water supply will be considered in the subsequent paper.
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