Current status of the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project

Nakayama, Masashi 

Horonobe Underground Research Center has been conducting the Horonobe URL project since 2000. The technical aims of the project are presenting concrete geological environment as an example of sedimentary formation in Japan and confirming reliability of technologies for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste by applying them to actual geological condition of sedimentary formation. Meanwhile, the social aim is providing opportunities for general public to experience the actual deep underground circumstance and research and development activities to conducted there. Research and development activities are planned over three phases that will span a total duration of about 20 years: the 1st surface-based investigation phase, the 2nd URL construction phase and the 3rd operation phase. This report presents the outline of the project and the results of the investigations of 1st phase from 2000 to 2004.