The most important disposal problem in location of a large nuclear-fuel reprocessing plant is that of low-level waste. Disposal into large bodies of surface water has been common; however, underground disposal into deep permeable formations seems to offer the best possibilities for disposal of low-level waste. The most favorable method for disposal of medium-level waste is disposal into hydraulically fractured shale. Shale with the necessary requirements generally is found in basin areas suitable for low-level waste disposal. A favored method for disposal of high-level waste is storage in solid form in mined cavities in salt. Thus the selection of a site that also has salt beds is advantageous, but not required, because alternate means for disposal of high-level waste can be found.

Maximum permissible concentrations of radioactive nuclides in air and water have been derived. As more information is gained, the values may be increased or decreased, and thus may alter the requirements for a plant site.

Disposal of radioactive wastes into deep permeable formations is now practicable only for low-level waste, but it holds potential for disposal of certain medium- and high-level wastes, and also of such gaseous wastes as krypton-85.