Behind the Nuclear Curtain: Radioactive Waste Management in the Former Soviet Union

Physics Today ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don J. Bradley ◽  
Thomas B. Cochran
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Radioactive Waste Management

Management of Institutional Radioactive Waste in Lithuania

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Poskas ◽  
J. E. Adomaitis ◽  
R. Kilda
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Surface Barrier ◽  
Radioactive Waste Management ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Interim Storage ◽  
Storage Facilities

The growing number of radionuclide applications in Lithuania is mirrored by increasing demands for efficient management of the associated radioactive waste. For the effective control of radioactive sources a national authorization system based on the international requirements and recommendations was introduced, which also includes keeping and maintaining the State Register of Sources of lonising Radiation and Occupational Exposure. The principal aim of the Lithuania’s Radioactive Waste Management Agency is to manage and dispose all radioactive waste transferred to it. Radioactive waste generated during the use of sources in non-power applications are managed according to the basic radioactive waste management principles and requirements set out in the Lithuanian legislation and regulations. The spent sealed sources and other institutional waste are transported to the storage facilities at Ignalina NPP. About 35,000 spent sealed sources in about 500 packages are expected until year 2010 at Ignalina NPP storage facilities. The existing disposal facility for radioactive waste from research, medicine and industry at Maisiagala was built in the early 1960’s according to a concept typical of those applied in the former Soviet Union at that time. SKB (Sweden) with participation of Lithuanian Energy Institute has performed assessment of the long-term safety of the existing facility. It was shown that the existing facility does not provide safe long-term storage of the waste already disposed in the facility. Two alternatives were defined to remedy the situation. A first alternative is the construction of a surface barrier and a second one is a retrieval solution, whereby the already stored waste will be retrieved for conditioning, characterisation and interim storage at Ignalina NPP. Facilities for the processing of the institutional radioactive waste are required before submittal to Ignalina NPP for storage, since the present facilities are inadequate. Feasibility study to establish a new central facility has been performed by SKB International Consultants (Sweden) with participation of Lithuanian Energy Institute. This study has identified the process applied and equipment needed for a new facility. Reference design and Preliminary Safety Assessment have also been performed. Plans for the interim storage and disposal of the institutional waste are described in the paper. The aspects of finging safe disposal solutions for spent sealed sources in a near surface repositories are also discussed.

An Overview of the Draft of ‘Nuclear Materials and Radioactive Waste Management Act’

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Lin ◽  
Tai-Wei Lan ◽  
Min-Tsang Chang ◽  
Wuu-Kune Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
Nuclear Materials ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Radioactive Waste Management ◽  
Regulatory Capacity ◽  
Concept Of Information ◽  
The Impact

The “Nuclear Materials and Radioactive Waste Management Act” (NMRWMA) in Taiwan has been in use since 2002. To promote further administrative efficiency and improve regulatory capacity, an amendment of the act has been initiated by the Atomic Energy Council (AEC). It is now being reviewed by outside experts and related communities so as to include the best understanding of risk management factors. For the future decommissioning challenges of nuclear facilities, the act is also being amended to comply with the regulatory requirements of the decommissioning mandates. Currently the Taiwan government is conducting government reorganization, and AEC will be reformed but will remain as an independent regulatory body. AEC will then be capable of improving the regulatory capacity for facilitating licensing and inspection, ensuring operational safety, environmental protection and public involvement, and giving a more flexible administrative discretion, such as expending the margin of penalty. The amendment is also required to provide a formal legal basis for the Nuclear Backend Fund, and to mandate the waste producers to take responsibility for any final debt repayment. In addition, this amendment promotes measures to prevent accidents or emergencies concerning radioactive materials and facilities and procedures to reduce the impact and effect of any unexpected events. Furthermore, this amendment intends to implement the concept of information transparency and public participation so as to meet the public needs. Finally, radioactive waste final disposal tasks have to be completed by waste producers under the supervision of the AEC.

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