How will the heat from radioactivity be contained at Yucca Mountain?
A. The amount of heat generated by radioactive decay is termed a thermal load. The arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the mountain will determine the actual levels of heat within the facility. DOE scientists are still studying how best to manage the heat generated by the radioactive contents stored at Yucca Mountain. Many questions still remain to be answered about how the rock at Yucca Mountain will respond to high temperatures over a long period of time.
