Effects of Tectonic Faults on the Safety of a Geological Repository at the Yeniseysky Site

The paper analyzes the effect of tectonic activity on the safety of the geological repository at the Yeniseisky radioactive waste (RW) repository (Nizhnekansky massif, Krasnoyarsk Krai) in the event of the formation of faults in the host rocks following the loading of wastes into the repository. A 3D model of the radioactive contamination transfer from the repository by groundwater is considered, taking into account the inhomogeneous permeability of rocks. The orientation and location of the faults are set based on the modeled stress-strain state of the rocks in this area, as well as data obtained from field and spatial surveys on contemporary tectonic activity in the considered area. Submeridional faults were demonstrated to have no significant effect on the spread rate of the radioactive contamination. However, the activation of the most probable latitudinal fault may lead to the rapid movement of contaminated groundwater in the fault zone towards the Yenisei. The efficacy of plugging various areas in the sublatitudinal fault zone to reduce the migration rate of contaminating radionuclides is considered.