Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The NSERC funding will allow my students and me to continue our research on the management of radioactive contaminants associated with of high-level nuclear waste. This issue is becoming a pressing one as the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), responsible authority, has recommended that there should be initial short-term surface storage followed by long-term burial of the waste in a centralized underground facility. The report, however, does not offer a site selection plan which must be developed in the coming years. The present proposed research would contribute directly to this development. One focus of our research is to gain a good understanding of deep groundwater flow patterns in order to minimize the risk of surface contamination. We are using computer simulations supplemented by different data and field work to define the surface and sub-surface characteristics of a suitable host site that would ensure safety to the environment both now and into the far future. To complement this work, we are developing an innovative approach to integrate the use of remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and advanced modeling techniques to search for, and analyse the relevant hydrogeologic, geologic, and environmental features of a good site. The methodology we are developing will enable to screen, evaluate and suggest potential locations for a storage facility based on technical merits and social considerations. This research is important because it is addressing one of our most pressing societal problems - how do we site a hazardous or unwanted facility? The results from this research have implications far beyond that of nuclear waste management. For instance, the methodology we are developing can help in designing monitoring systems which can prevent the water contamination mishap such as happened at Walkerton, Ontario. Students supported by this funding will be trained in remote sensing technology, GIS, data analysis, computer simulation and modeling techniques, and field work. They will also gain a deep appreciation of the multi-faceted nature of an important societal problem.