Waste Isolation Power Plant Issues

Waste Isolation Power whole caboodle IssuesIntroductionThe Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, unremarkably abbreviated as WIPP is the third deepest geologic depositary in the world. This is after the closure of the repository German blueprintts such as the Schacht Asse II, and the Morsleben radioactive waste plants. This geological repository site has been licensed to dispose radioactive waste, for a minimum period of 10,000 years. Furthermore, the WIPP is also responsible for the production of thermo atomic weapons (Olsson, 32). The estimated cost that this nuclear plan incurs is estimated at 19 billion United States dollars. The WIPP is found at 42 km, east of the town of Carlsbad. This town is found in the city of all overbold Mexico, in the county of Eddy. This region is considered as the nuclear corridor of the city of New Mexico, and it also includes a National Enrichment Facility and a Waste Control Facility. Capilla, Jaime, and Andrs (257) on that pointfore explains that New Mexico hosts very important nuclear and geological facilities in United States.In the year 2010, the department of energy was able to mothball, the previous plans to develop and build the Yucca nuclear waste repository plant in Nevada. This had an effect of leaving the WIPP as the only repository facility that had the capability of storing waste products that had accumulated at the mercenary nuclear plants, in the United States (Olsson, 39). However, there were a series of mishaps and accidents in the year 2014, and this is because of the growing backlog of nuclear waste, that were emanating from commercial nuclear power plants (Seong and Yoram, 1011). Because of these accidents and mishaps, there is a growing concern that this situation may turn into a danger to the citizens of the country, hence the need of building more nuclear repositories that discount sell the nuclear activities of the country.Geological History of the WIPPThe WIPP is located in the Delaware Basin of th e state of New Mexico. It is a 600 meter deep in length, and it is a salt can. This basin was formed during the periods of the Permian, and it is approximately 250 million years ago. The Permian is a geological period, and it is characterized by the diversification of organisms into turtles, mammals, archosaurs, etc. Capilla, Jaime, and Andrs (255) explains that an ancient sea once existed where the Delaware Basin is, and it evaporated over a given period of time. This had an effect of leaving an impermeable layer of salt that over a given period of time was able to sieve a 300 meters of rock and soil. Olsson (41) further explains that the Delaware basin has some geological similarities with other basins that were created or made through the evaporation of the sea. peerless of this characteristic is the macrocosm of salts and rocks. The Delaware basin is very salty and rocky, hence depicting this universal characteristic that is found in all the basins that exists because of the evaporation of the sea.The saltiness of these basins occurs because of the nature of the sea, which is always salty. In 1975, the department of energy began drilling in the salty beds of the Delaware Basin. Geologists were able to discover that the edge of the Delaware Basin had experienced some disturbances. This had led to the movement of the interbed layers to a unsloped position. In response, the geologists were able to move the site towards a more stable center of the Delaware basin. Capilla, Jaime, and Andrs (255) explains that there was a suggestion during the early periods of investigation, that the complexity of the geological basin was jobatic. This had an effect of causing or making the hollowed-out caverns as unstable. However, Seong and Yoram (1011) explain that what others consider as a form of instability is viewed as a verificatory aspect, and this is because salt is transformed into a rock. Furthermore, as early as 1957, the National Academy of Science was able to recommend that salt should be used as a radioactive waste disposal. This is because it had the capability of plastically deforming a motion that is referred to as the salt creep, which exists in the salt-mining industry (Olsson, 32). This helps in sealing and closing each opening that is created during the surgical operation of mining. Furthermore, it also closes and seals any opening that is found around the repository.Geological Location of the WIPPThe WIPP lies on a general flat plain, which is covered with caliche, cede bushes, and sand. The geological name of the region in which the WIPP is located, is called the gypsum-karst region. A subsidence landform, commonly referred to as the Nash Draw lies 5 km, across the Western side of the WIPP site. The Nash Draw is 10 to 16 km wide, on the eastern side of the WIPP, and it has experienced a series of erosion by fill and solution of soluble rocks (Olsson, 27). This is a process that has happened in the past period, and it is a lso currently happening. The Pecos River also flows from the North West of the WIPP to the South East of the repository. This river is approximately 20 km, from the repository. Because of the existence of saline creeps along the Pecos River, the WIPP has been identified as an area that has the capability of discharging nuclear waste products that emanate from the commercial nuclear sites, and the repository itself.Geological Issues related with WIPPThe geological characterization of the WIPP began in 1974, after the establishment abandoned the Lyons, Kansas site. The government abandoned this site, in the year 1972. The Atomic Energy Commission was the one which was responsible for selecting the Kansas site. However, it was deemed unsuitable because of unmapped botch up and oil wells, which were located within the region or area (Mahaffey, 38). These unmapped wells had the potential of compromising the ability of the planned plant to contain and keep abreast nuclear waste. The go vernment feared that proceeding with the construction of a nuclear site at the Kansas location, may lead to the emergence of serious health hazards, such as nuclear leakages. This may result to a serious negative impact on the environment.This is because nuclear wastes have the capability of destroying the environment, and the lives of people. Because these concerns were raised by the people, and professional geologists, the government was able to abandon this program, and look for a new site. In relocating this project to New Mexico, the government was encouraged by the interests that emerged from the communities living in the region. Based on these facts, the department of energy was able to relocate this new program to the Delaware salt beds, which are located in New Mexico. The early activities that characterized the classification of the site was pore on obtaining data on hydrology, potash resources, and stratigraphy at the WIPP site. As these studies continued, a variety of g eological processes and features were identified, and these features could negatively affect the capabilities of a radioactive waste repository system. Because of the existence of these geological issues and safety concerns, the exact location of building this site was able to change on numerous occasions.This is because the government was keen on protect the security of the community of people living in the Basin. One of the minerals that posed a safety concern was the presence of Brine deposits. The discovery of brine occurred in the year 1975, when a drilling process was able to release a pressurized deposit of brine, from beneath the repository level. Olsson (46) therefore explains that construction of this plant, near the brine deposits could via media the safety of the facility. This is because brine has the capability of leaking into the repository, and hence dissolving the radioactive particles or elements. Furthermore, brine had the capability of entraining particulate mat ter or elements with radioactive waste substances to the surface. This can negatively affect the environment, and the people living within the environment under consideration. These were some of the factors that were considered during the creation and development of the WIPP nuclear plant.Importance of WIPP to the StudyUnderstanding the geological characteristics and formation of WIPP is important because of the fact that it is a nuclear facility, and any breaches of its security, can lead to very grave security concerns and environmental damages. Take for example the Fukushima Daiichi tragedy of 2011. This was a Japanese nuclear disaster that occurred in the year 2011, after being hit by a tsunami (Fermi and Salvatore, 41). This disaster saw the release of a substantial amount of radio-active elements, making it one of the largest nuclear disasters of all time. This led to the contamination of the Pacific sea, affecting the marine life there. Furthermore, there were risks that peo ple could drive cancer, because of exposure to radioactive elements. Understanding the geological properties and conditions of WIPP would help in minimizing risks associated with the leakage of radioactive elements (Fermi and Salvatore, 41).ConclusionStoring nuclear waste substances always gives a significant problem to the continuous usage of nuclear substances or materials. There are various challenges that exists in the storage of these nuclear facilities, and this is demonstrated by 2011 Japanese nuclear crisis, and the fresh fires that occur at the WIPP nuclear plant. Salt mines have been traditionally used as storage sites for nuclear plants however, workers in these locations are always vulnerable to acquiring medical conditions that are not conducive to them. Furthermore, the notion that salt mines have the capability of blocking a diffusion of waste products is not a genuine belief. It is based on these facts that the WIPP repository should be placed under heavy surveill ance to ensure that it does not present a health hazard or risk to the community living there.Works CitedEnergy.gov. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. http//energy.gov/em/waste-isolation-pilot-plant.Seong, Kwanjae, and Yoram Rubin. Field Investigation of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant(WIPP) Site (New Mexico) Using a Nonstationary Stochastic Model with a TrendingHydraulic Conductivity Field. Water Resources Research (1999) 1011. Print.Capilla, Jos E., J. Jaime Gmez-Hernndez, and Andrs Sahuquillo. Stochastic Simulation ofTransmissivity handle Conditional to Both Transmissivity and Piezometric Head Data3.Application to the Culebra Formation at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plan (WIPP), NewMexico, USA. Journal of Hydrology (1998) 254-69. Print.Olsson, P. nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Fusion and Fusion Engineering. New York NovaScience, 2009. Print.Fermi, Enrico, and Salvatore Esposito. Neutron Physics for Nuclear Reactors UnpublishedWritings. Singapore World Scientific, 2010. Pr int.Mahaffey, James A. Nuclear Fission Reactors. New York Facts on File, 2011. Print.Appendix OneImage OneThis image was removed from the ENERGY.GOV website, managed by the Office of the Environmental Management (Energy.gov, 5).The following is a link to the website,http//energy.gov/em/waste-isolation-pilot-plantThis is a truck carrying nuclear waste products, shipping them to the WIPP. This image is developed courtesy of ENERGY.GOV (Energy.gov, 5).

A Night To Remember Essays -- essays research papers

Reaction of Chapters 1 and 2I have solely finishes reading the first 2 chapters of A Night to Remember. While I was reading the chapters I was putting all the pictures that I saw in my past with the book. When I was reading I saw that Walter Lord wasnt that much into Similes and metaphors. He had great ways to get the reader interested and not bored. When I read books I normally look for where the plot is when the book starts. When I was reading this novel I thought that it was pretty interesting that righteousness in the first chapter out of 10 he started the great accident with the iceberg. In chapter 1 I saw that John Jacob Astor and his wife were pretty hush quote on page 15 He was very calm and Mrs. Astor wasnt a bit alarmed. I read a little more than and I saw that everyone was mostly joking around and thinking nothing happened.When I was reading through chapter 1 I noticed a little part of it that made me put the book down and start thinking for about 10 minutes. This pa rt was on page 3. It says that For the next 37 seconds, make pass and Lee stood quietly side by side, watching the ice draw nearer. Now they were almost on top of it and the ship didnt turn. I first thought of how they must have felt getting closer by the second to the iceberg. There hearts must have been beating abstain from the shivering cold and nervousness from the iceberg. If I would have been standing there in the crows-nest, alive today I would have so many nonreciprocal questions...

The Definition of Cyberpunk Essay -- Science Fiction Literary Genre Es

The Definition of CyberpunkIn Bruce Sterlings article, Cyberpunk in the Nineties, he explained how humans opinion had defined himself, Rucker, Shiner, Shirley, and Gibson as the hack gurus in the 1980s. Because of being labeled cyberpunk gurus, the public had come to understand the definition of cyberpunk as anything that cyberpunks write. To neglect this definition of cyberpunk established by popular public opinion, I will pursue giving cyberpunk a more definite definition. afterwards reading numerous cyberpunk fiction stories, I noticed reoccurring themes in these stories. I believe these themes can form a criteria under which a story can be defined as cyberpunk. These criteria are total enhancement and integration of everyday life by technology, some degree of pleasure (by the author) in explaining this technology, cyber-lingo, and some degree of global connectiveness.The first criterion or theme, total enhancement and integration of everyday life by technology is probably th e some obvious and vital in order for a story to be deemed cyberpunk. Why is it the most obvious and most vital? It is the most obvious because cyberpunk writers use the everyday, that is, objects, concepts, or places we causally shrug off as normal, and integrate/enhance the normal with technology. A good example can be put together in John Shirleys Freezone. Upon entering the Semiconductor the scene is unusual but appears to be a everyday freak club. An occasional flare dots the audience. They have multi- washed-out hairs-breadth that is styled straight up. In reaction to the flares and much more frequent than the flares are minimonos they have ultra-straight hair falling down past their shoulders and uniform monochrome colored clothes. Anyway, the ... ...d projecting its evolution in the future, he is not intimidated, therefore he is able to enjoy himself in explaining this concept or technology. Furthermore, because the author is reflecting off of a society so obsessed with detail, he is obligated to present his story is such a detailed fashion. Basically, I think, that if cyberpunk fiction fulfills its purpose hence the four criteria will fall naturally into place and therefore these four criteria build the backbone of the definition of cyberpunk.Works CitedSterling, Bruce, Ed. Mirrorshades. New York Arbor House, 1988.Cadigan, Pat. Rock OnShirley, John. FreezoneBrowning, Tonya, Ed. Writing About Cyberpunk. Austin Abels Copies, 1995.McCaffrey, Larry. Storming the Reality StudioGibson, William. Johnny MnemonicTiptree, James Jr. The Girl Who Was Plugged In

Calamitatum Of The Individual Essay -- essays research papers

In the realm of critical thinking, Abelard undoubtedly sheer(a)ed highly in his day. He was an expert dialectician, philosopher and theologian, and as a result led a movement towards individual thinking. He traveled a lonely path of individuality, and when his ideas were suppressed, he build different ways to express his individuality. The beginning of his life was marked by extreme personal freedom. As his journey through life continued, he set up himself compounded with innumerable restrictions. The role of monk could not change Abelard, and his individuality brought him even greater misfortune. He may forewarn others against the risks of such extreme individualism, notwithstanding his life clearly shows that Abelard thought his individuality was a natural part of him, a part that was as inseparable as his faith.From the beginning of Abelards Story of my Calamities he portrays himself as an individual. The as oldest child in his family his life was intended for a military car eer, but as he tells us, he abandoned Mars for Minerva, denouncing the general and glorious profession of arms for that of learning. In writing this he shows his clever and distinct way of thinking by referring to dialectic, the art of examining options or ideas logically, as a weapon of war. "I chose the weapons of dialectic to all the other teachings of philosophy, and armed with these I chose the conflicts of disputation instead of the trophies of war." (p. 58, ll. 7-9). This is remarkable for the son of a soldier to make such a choice - even renouncing his inheritance - and pursue only intellectual advancement. Leaving home, he traveled off to school in Paris. He was welcomed for a short while, but soon found disfavor with his teacher Champeaux, the grand master of dialectic at the meter, by refuting his arguments and proving himself several times to be the tops(predicate) in debate. This shows Abelards superior intellect at a very early age. This is no doubt a major reason for his individuality. One of his intellectual rank finds it hard to conform to others standards, and naturally becomes a spectacle when showing his skills. This early conflict caused Abelard to leave and start his own school. Unfortunately, he could not maintain it and had to return home.Years posterior he was teaching in Paris again, he tells us how pupils flocked to him from every country in Europe, a statement which ... ... individual, Abelard titles the school controversial name of "Paraclete" as a way of reemphasizing his beliefs about God, causing enemies to attack him. He is again forced to leave for fear of injury or death.His refusal to conform to the certain norms of community was consistent even when his life was endangered. It comes to the point where he states, "But now Satan has put so many obstacles in my path that I brook find nowhere to rest, or even to live a fugitive and wanderer, I carry every where the curse of Cain" (p.102, ll.15-17) . With standing all adversity Abelard proves himself decidedly a true individual Through good times and bad, that is maybe his only constant. Even though in closing Abelard says, "This is my experience all the time a poor monk raised to be an abbot, the more wretched as I have become more wealthy, in order that my poser may curb the ambition of those who have deliberately chosen a similar course." (p.104, ll. 18-21), it is painfully clear that the lone path of individuality was the only course for him.Selected WorksBetty Radice, The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Penguin Books Ltd. Harmonsworth, Middlesex, England. 1974.

The Existance Of God :: essays research papers

The Existance Of GodEither God exists or He doesnt. There is no middle ground, and any attempt to remain neutral in recounting to Gods existence is automatically synonymous with unbelief. It is far from a "moot" question, because if God does exist, then nothing else real matters if He does not exist, then nothing really matters at all. This is kind of unfortunate for someone like myself, because Ive always lived on that nonexistent middle ground. Until now Ive never been put in a role where it was questioned. The last couple of years Ive referred to myself as a recovering Catholic, but never redefined my religion (or lack in that locationof) since then. When I found out I had to tell apart a stand in this paper one way or another, yes or no, black or white, it was unsettling. At that point it became more than a terminus paper. Can I, with a clear conscience, write a 15 page paper denouncing the existence of God? I kind of cringed as I imagined macrocosm struck down Indi ana Jones style, and in that, I had my answer. So without further adieu, the next 15 pages is me, making my case (I think) for the existence of God. What better place to start, than Pascals bet.Pascals Wager takes this angle You must wager. There is no choice, he says, you are already committed. I liked the example he used of the toss of the coin, he wants us to see this choice as the gamble that it is. Before you put your money on either, examine the odds, says Pascal One on side of the coin, heads God exists and there is an eternal heaven to be gained and an eternal Hell to be avoided. On the flip-side of the coin God does not exist, no heaven and hell to look transport to or fear, no rewards and no wrath. Choose God, says Pascal, If you win you win everything if you lose you lose nothing, though the odds are even, the rewards are not. Choose heads and win, and in the wrangling of Willy Wonka, you win the "grand and glorious jackpot." Is this true? Is it wrong for me to take a theists approach to this paper, and yet still disagree with Pascals logic? Pascal says there is a full and cheerful life to be won, but isnt there also a full and happy life to be lost, depending on your ideas of full and happy?

Tourism Essay -- essays research papers fc

Currently, ecotourism is rapidly becoming one of the worlds largest industries. According to the World Trade Organization, 600 million people traveled to see surroundal areas in 2000, spending more than 500 billion U.S. dollars. This makes ecotourism one of the worlds number one earners, ahead of automotive products, chemicals, petroleum, even food .But, what scarcely is ecotourism? Ecotourism happens to be a special branch of tourism. The Conservation International defines it best saying it is responsible travel that promotes the conservation of nature and sustains the well being of local anesthetic people . There has been dramatic growth of participation in outdoor recreation and ecotourism activities. The bad impacts of ecotourism have led to high demands and this has attracted tourist developers looking to feeler the environment, answering the tourists demands. Unfortunately, there are very few rules or regulations regarding ecotourism and its development. And because of the lack of rules tourism developers are destroying the environment. This problem can not go unnoticed. We are running out of places to ruin, and we will soon not have any where to call home. According to Erlet Cater and Gwen Lowman,The much needed rules and regulations must accept good and environmentally sensitive, infrastructure-including airports, transport and communications networks, and sanitation and electricity supplies. But above all else, sustainable ecotourism requires misgivingful planning . Without this planning, ecotourism is doing more harm that good. I will show how these tourist developers are putting huge strains on the environment and how the effects of this demeanor will eventually leave the land with the softness to cope with the drastic changes. I believe with carefully planned ecotourism development and rules and regulations, we can make ecotourism and the environment blend simultaneously. First, the tourist developers are adding increased compress to the li mited natural resources, especially in places... ...ions to stop all this destructive behavior. Letting this growing problem go unnoticed will lead to the environments crumbling. We have no other options when it comes to living on another planet, at least at the moment. We need to establish harsher rules and take better care of where we call home.In conclusion, now that I have explained what tourist developers are doing wrong and what they are doing to destroy our environment we can see that the effects of their behavior have been devastating. We are running out of places to ruin and resources to use up. Someone must step up and create rules so we can protect our environment instead of destroying the earth. BibliographyCater, Erlet, and Lowman, Gwen. Ecotourism-a sustainable option?. New York, 1994.Croall, J. (1995) Preserve or Destroy Tourism and the Environment. LondonCalouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Ecotourism. Online Posting. 2 February 2002. 27 January 2004. Theobald, William. Global Tourism the next decade. Oxford, 1994.Worpole, K. (1999) campaign Forces. The Guardian, 8 June.

William Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay -- Midsumme

William Shakespe ares A Midsummer Nights Dream There are so many references to the eye in A Midsummer Nights Dream that one would expect there to be a solid and consistent reason for their appearance. However, this does not travel tom to be the case. Indeed, the images associated with the eyes are so varied, and shift so frequently, that it is practically impossible to define what it is they represent. This difficulty reflects the problem of distinguishing between what is real and what is illusion -- a central theme of the play. mental confusion and misunderstanding abound throughout A Midsummer Nights Dream. The lovers chase through the forest is perhaps the nigh obvious example. The mechanicks bumbling performance of Pyramus and Thisbe is perhaps the most comic. However, as the play commences, it is a misunderstanding between Egeus and Hermia that threatens to throw the court into turmoil. This particular misunderstanding revolves around Hermias love for Lysander. Although Eg eus has arranged for his daughter to wed Demetrius, it is Lysander that Hermia authentically wants to marry. However, Egeus refuses to ascent to their marriage, threatening to enforce on his daughter the ancient privilege of Athens (1.1.41) if she does not condescend to his original choice. Even though this would entail her introduction a nunnery (or perhaps even being executed), Egeus opinion cannot be swayed. His stubbornness leads Hermia to exclaim I would my father looked but with mine eyes (1.1.56). Clearly, Hermia believes that if her father could see Lysander in the same light as her, then he would quickly form a different opinion of him. In this instance, then, the eyes symbolize judgment. Theseus resolution to Hermia not only ... ...e, nor his heart to report what my dream was (4.1.204-207). Here, he confuses the senses in his attempt to get a grip on reality, thus demonstrating the blurred leaping between reality and illusion. Clearly, then, the eye alone cannot be trusted to provide adequate information about the nature of reality. The fluid, endlessly shifting imagery of the eyes serves to represent this problem, adding to the dreamlike quality of the play in the process. Possibly, it is left to the poets eye (5.1.12) to make the distinction between reality and illusion The forms of things unknown, the poets pen/Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy aught/A local habitation and a name (5.1.15-17). Works CitedShakespeare, William. A Midsummer Nights Dream. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1997. 814-861.