Prairie Island Project: Summary Sheets

Directions: In this project, you will prepare a series of SUMMARY SHEETS which will support your argument for the location of a high level repository in YOUR ASSIGNED REGION (Alamo Lake for all, and either Wind River Mountains or Bighorn Mountains. The sheets will consist of single page diagrams and explanations that might be used by a scientist to convince a government body granting permission to locate the repository. You will use the ongoing debate over Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as your example. You will be asked to demonstrate understanding of topics covered this year in geology, meteorology, and POLITICS.

Requirements: single sheet diagrams and explanations that might be used by a scientist to convince a government body granting permission to locate the repository. You will use the debate over Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as your example. You will be asked to demonstrate understanding of topics covered this year in geology, meteorology, and POLITICS

Requirements

1. 20 (minimum) Summary Sheets (in MS Word) with labels and explanations. Make a paper copy, and place an e-copy in the DROP FOLDER for your class. Grading: 0-19 sheets = F, 20 - 30 sheets = C, Upper limit = 60 sheets

2. The Summary Sheets packet must follow the format in the order given below.

3. Due date will be: April 18, 3 pm. 200 points possible

Format of Summary Sheets: Checklist:

                     I. Background of the Controversy (10 points)

A. How does the operation of nuclear power plants create a long-term problem of storage of high level nuclear waste?

  • How does the "nuclear energy cycle" work?
  • What is waste?
  • How is it created?
  • What is the temporary solution of storage?

B. The controversy at Prairie Island (10 points)

  • What are the opposing viewpoints in this controversy at Prairie Island?
  • What is the history of the controversy over the last 20 years in Minnesota?

II. The Yucca Mountain Controversy (20 points)

  •  What is RIGHT about Yucca Mountain? What safeguards have been considered?
  •  What is WRONG about Yucca Mountain? What objections have been raised over this proposed permanent site?

III. Climate and Weather Patterns of Your Region

Present arguments that analyze this question:

"If an accident occurs at any time (short term or long term), can radioactive hazards be spread by weather patterns? What are the large scale climate patterns of your region?

          A. What are the 30 year climate patterns of major weather variables in your region?  (15 points)

Sources:

  • Online records of State Climatology (use your favorite search engine on the internet!)
  • 30 year climate maps
  • Climate Databases (NCDC site on Mr. Ertl’s Prairie Island site)

          B. What short-term weather patterns affect your region?

              Create a series of maps that answer the following:

  •  How do AIR MASSES move over your region? (5 points)
  •  How do local winds and global circulation patterns affect your region? (10 points)
  •  How do HIGH and LOW pressure systems move in your area? (5 points)
  •  What does one week of weather in your region tell you about short term risks? (15 points)
  •  What local topographic features can modify weather patterns in your area? (5 points)

IV. Geologic Structure, History, and Hazards of Your Region (Wyoming and Alamo Lake, Arizona)

A. What are the underlying geologic structures of your region (folds, faults, mountains, cross sections)? (10 points)

          B. How and why has the geologic structure of your region developed over the past 1 billion years?

              (what is the Plate Tectonics explanation)? (15 points)

         C .What rock types are present in your region? (10 points)

  • What is their suitability for storage of high level waste?
  •  How would groundwater and vapor move through them?

         D. What is the earthquake and volcanism risk for your region? (short-term, long term) (10 points)

Sources:

  • Geologic Maps of your region
  • Cross-sections of geologic regions
  • Online earthquake/volcanism sites from the USGS (US Geological Survey)
  • Plate Tectonics web sites

V. Final Site Proposal for Your Region

Propose an alternative site to Yucca Mountain (using  site guidelines) as are applied currently at Yucca Mountain) for YOUR WYOMING REGION. You must present your argument by comparing it to Alamo Lake, Arizona as a POOR alternative site.

  • Provide GEOLOGIC structure maps, description of rock structure and composition for your assigned Wyoming region. Give "pro" and "con" arguments. (30 points)
  • Present "difficulties" with Alamo Lake site (scientific only, please!) (30 points)

Sources:

  • Your geologic quadrangle (Wind River or Bighorn Mtns)
  • Alamo Lake Quadrangle, Arizona
  • Dutch Flat Field Trip *******************************************************************

Who is in your Research Group? Write the names below:

Wind River Mountains:                                                                        Bighorn Mtns: