Project report on the construction phase at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project

Nohara, Tsuyoshi   ; Saegusa, Hiromitsu*; Iwatsuki, Teruki  ; Hama, Katsuhiro ; Matsui, Hiroya ; Mikake, Shinichiro ; Takeuchi, Ryuji  ; Onoe, Hironori ; Sasao, Eiji   

Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is being performed Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project, which is a broad scientific study of the deep geological environment as a basis of research and development for geological disposal of nuclear wastes, in order to establish comprehensive techniques for the investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment in fractured crystalline rock. The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The project goals of the MIU Project from Phase I through to Phase III are: (1) to establish techniques for investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment, and (2) to develop a range of engineering for deep underground application. This report summarizes the results of geoscientific study on Phase II to 500m depth. During Construction phase, we have evaluated of adequacy of techniques for investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment on Surface-based Investigation phase, and have established systematic methodology for stepwise investigation and evaluation of the geological environment on Construction phase. Further, with respect to design and construction of underground facilities, it was confirmed the validity of the engineering involved in the construction, maintenance and management of underground facilities.