A MONTE-CARLO PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF COMPLEMENTARY CUMULATIVE DISTRIBUTION-FUNCTIONS FOR COMPARISON WITH THE EPA RELEASE LIMITS FOR RADIOACTIVE-WASTE DISPOSAL

A Monte Carlo procedure for the construction of complementary cumulati ve distribution functions (CCDFs) for comparison with the U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency (EPA) release limits for radioactive waste di sposal (40 CFR 191, Subpart B) is described and illustrated with resul ts from a recent performance assessment (PA) for the Waste Isolation P ilot Plant (WIPP). The Monte Carlo procedure produces CCDF estimates s imilar to those obtained with importance sampling in several recent PA s for the WIPP. The advantages of the Monte Carlo procedure over impor tance sampling include increased resolution in the calculation of prob abilities for complex scenarios involving drilling intrusions and bett er use of the necessarily limited number of mechanistic calculations t hat underlie CCDF construction.