Considering Timescales in the Post-closure Safety of Geological Disposal of Radioactive
Waste
A key challenge in the development of safety cases for the deep geological disposal
of radioactive waste is handling the long time frame over which the radioactive waste
remains hazardous. The intrinsic hazard of the waste decreases with time, but some
hazard remains for extremely long periods. This report reviews the current status
and ongoing discussions of this issue, addressing such issues as ethical principles,
the evolution of the hazard over time, uncertainties in the evolution of the disposal
system (and how these uncertainties themselves evolve), the stability and predictability
of the geological environment, repository planning and implementation including regulatory
requirements, siting decisions, repository design, the development and presentation
of safety cases and the planning of pre- and post-closure institutional controls such
as monitoring requirements.
Published on April 07, 2009
In series:Radioactive Waste Managementview more titles