Burying Chernobyl

After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, the nuclear reactor where the accident occurred was covered in a large concrete sarcophagus. Dangerous radiation is still present inside. Now cracks have formed in the concrete. The situation is highly dangerous. The Chernobyl reactor will remain dangerously radioactive for many years. A permanent solution needs to be found.

Scientists currently plan to enclose the reactor in even more concrete and steel.

The better solution, however, would be to bury the entire reactor complex, including the concrete sarcophagus, to a depth of 100 meters or more underneath the Earth. That way no matter what happens, the dangerous radiation is deep underground. This is how to bury it.

This is a method that could work equally well for any other structure that in the future may need to be sunk into the earth.

The problem is how to lower the complex very slowly into the earth, so as not to further crack the sarcophagus.

First, robotic digging machines currently used in mining and tunnel building will need to be modified. They have to be radiation hardened and waterproofed.

Second, determine how much area around the sarcophagus you plan to bury. To stay on the safe side, plan on sinking the whole complex area plus a hundred meters to each side. In addition, ensure that the area to be sunk is rectangular in shape.

With the digging machines, cut a tunnel underneath the complex at a depth of about twenty meters, and a height of about three meters. Halfway through the rectangle, make a right turn, continue digging, then make another right turn, continue digging, always expanding the tunnel until a giant labyrinth of tunnels is built. Extend the labyrinth to the entire rectangle.

As the tunnels are being cut out of the rock, remove the earth and rock from the tunnels. Store the earth and rock off to the side for later use.

As earth and rock are removed, fill in the tunnel with mud and water. This would be a technique similar to mudjacking. The mud and water must be densely packed to keep the pressure constant.

Chernoybl is right next to a lake, helpful for making mud. As the robotic digging machine continues digging, less rock and more mud and water will fill the subterranean chamber.

Once the labyrinth of tunnels is cut out, use the machines to cut away the remaining walls, replacing their mass with mud and water. At this point a large chamber is formed. Pull all the machines out.

Slowly pump all the mud and water out of the chamber. The entire dangerous reactor complex should slowly, safely sink three meters, the same amount as the height of the chamber.

Repeat those steps as many times as necessary to bury the reactor complex to a sufficient depth for safety. Perhaps 100 meters would be deep enough. Perhaps it should be 500 meters.

After the lowering process is complete, take the mud, rock, and earth that was removed and use it to bury the complex. A small hill will be formed. Concrete layers or other materials can be placed over the whole area to whatever extent necessary.

Some kind of evil-looking sign could be permanently posted to warn away future visitors.

One disadvantage is that burying the reactor complex could contaminate nearby water. To alleviate this problem, any nearby lakes, rivers, or groundwater aquifers would have to be diverted, dammed, or moved. That would be cheaper and better, however, than letting another dangerous Chernobyl-like situation develop sometime in the future.

Burying Chernobyl is feasible, cost-effective, and represents a permanent solution that will never require any maintenance and will never fail to protect against Chernobyl's lethal radiation.