Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

Question:
I am looking for some information about the use of salt domes as 
possible burial sites for toxic wastes.  I read in a NY Times 
article about a company called Hunter Environmental Services 
that was planning to bury toxic wastes in salt domes located in 
Dayton, Texas.  The article was written in 1991. Does anyone have 
recent information about their request or have knowledge as to how 
I might contact the company. Efforts to get a telephone number in 
Dayton, Austin, and Houston have been unsuccessful. I also need 
information about salt domes in general -- are they mostly composed 
of NaCl, are any made of hydrated salts, etc.
 
Answer:
OK, I did some research. Came up blank on salt domes in Texas.
If this method of storage is being used, neither of the environmental
scientists/engineers I spoke to knew anything about it. They
both did tell me that radioactive wastes may be stored in underground
salt caves in the southwest though.....the reason being that these
caves are relatively stable geologically and unlikely to let
the wastes seep out and contaminate the groundwater, etc. .
Also, as I mentioned NaCl is relatively unreactive, which in
principle makes for a good storage chamber.....but of course
if the wastes are aqueous (dissolved in water) then water
would start to dissolve the salt eventually I suppose....
sorry I couldn't find out more!

-dr topper