Assessing the performance of engineered barriers and materials for confinement of low-level radioactive waste

The overall performance of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility is determined by the facility design and site environment. In order to take credit for facility design features, such as engineered barriers, methods for assessing the performance of these features are needed. The objective of the work summarized in this status report is to develop such methods. It involves deriving performance criteria from the performance objective; identifying models and parameters for estimating the performance; and reviewing available methods and data for determining parameter values.