Method and apparatus for subterranean containment of hazardous waste material

A method for underground containment of hazardous waste materials comprising the steps of,

• excavating an underground rock formation to form a mine including a chamber defined by a plurality of substantially vertical walls extending between a roof and a floor of rock material,
• drilling a series of boreholes into each of the walls to dislodge mine material from the rock formation,
• conveying the dislodged mine material from the boreholes and out of the chamber so that the boreholes and chamber are free of all material,
• forming the boreholes in substantially spaced parallel relation the length of the sidewalls,
• extending each borehole a preselected depth into the rock formation from an open end portion in the chamber to a closed end portion positioned at an elevation above the open end portion,
• separating the boreholes by the surrounding rock formation,
• lining the bottom of each borehole with a layer of water permeable material,
• encapsulating containers holding hazardous waste material in cement modules,
• positioning a plurality of the cement modules in spaced relation within each borehole,
• reinforcing the cement modules in the borehole to resist seismic vibration,
• sealing the open end portion of each borehole while permitting water to flow through the water permeable material and out of the borehole, and
• directing water flowing out of the boreholes into a drain in the floor of the chamber.

A system for containment of hazardous waste material comprising,

• an underground mine having at least one chamber defined by surrounding sidewalls, a mine roof, and a mine floor,
• a plurality of boreholes formed in the sidewalls by the extraction of mine material from the sidewalls and removal of the extracted mine material out of the mine,
• said boreholes extending from said chamber into said sidewalls,
• said boreholes positioned in spaced, parallel relation along the length of said sidewalls, each borehole having an open end portion in said chamber and a closed end portion at a preselected depth in said sidewall,
• said borehole being sloped from said closed end portion downwardly to said open end portion to promote the flow of water out of said borehole into said chamber,
• a layer of water permeable material lining the bottom of said borehole,
• a plurality of cement spheres encapsulating containers of hazardous waste material positioned in spaced relation within said boreholes,
• shock absorbing means positioned in said boreholes in contact with said cement spheres for protecting said cement spheres from damage due to seismic disturbance,
• means for sealing said open end portions of said boreholes to permit the drainage of water therefrom, and
• drainage means positioned within said chamber for collecting water flowing out of said borehole.