EVALUATION OF ULTIMATE DISPOSAL METHODS FOR LIQUID AND SOLID RADIOACTIVE WASTES. V. EFFECTS OF FISSION PRODUCT REMOVAL ON COSTS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT

The presence of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in radioactive wastes has the potential to adversely affect their long-term management. The buoyancy of light NAPLs can represent a separate pathway for their migration from a waste management facility, such as a deep repository, to the accessible environment. Their inherent toxicity and potential burden of radionuclides need to be addressed. Nirex is currently developing an understanding of the behaviour of NAPLs and exploring the means of mitigating any adverse impact. NAPLs such as oils and solvents are present in existing wastes, but NAPLs can also be generated by degradation of some solid organic materials, such as plastics. Wastes arising in the United Kingdom that may contain NAPLs include liquids and sludges contaminated with oils, and waste items containing trapped oil, for example gearboxes and pumps. The reference inventory being assessed by Nirex also contains significant quantities of organic materials which can be considered to be potential precursors to the generation of NAPLs. A programme of work has been instigated by Nirex to develop a better understanding of the behaviour of NAPLs. The programme includes the following aspects: understanding the mechanisms by which NAPLs might be produced and existing NAPLs degraded and destroyed: • consideration of the containment that could be offered by packaging of wastes containing NAPLs; • investigating the extent to which radionuclides may be entrained in NAPLs; • understanding the migration of NAPLs in the near-field and in geological systems; • the impact of NAPLs on the surface properties of repository backfill and the geosphere; • development of assessment tools to quantify the potential risk due to NAPLs. This paper will describe the scope of this programme of work, and will provide examples from the ongoing programme to demonstrate that suitable long-term waste management solutions can be developed for NAPL containing wastes.

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Development of Joint Regulatory Guidance on the Management of Higher Activity Radioactive Wastes on Nuclear Licensed Sites

ASME 2009 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, Volume 1 ◽

10.1115/icem2009-16095 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Mick Bacon ◽

Doug Ilett ◽

Andy Whittall

Keyword(s):

Radioactive Waste ◽

Waste Management ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Radioactive Wastes ◽

Dissemination And Implementation ◽

Radioactive Waste Management ◽

Near Surface ◽

Better Regulation ◽

Interim Storage

In 2006 the UK Governments response to recommendations by its Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) established, in England and Wales, that geological disposal, supported by safe and secure interim storage, is the preferred route for the long-term management of higher-activity radioactive waste (i.e. that which is not suitable for near-surface disposal). It also gave the responsibility for delivering the programme for a deep geological repository to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The Scottish Government has a policy of long term, near site, near surface safe and secure interim storage. To support the open and transparent approach promised by Government, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are developing joint guidance on the management of higher-activity radioactive waste to explain regulatory objectives in securing safe and secure interim storage and the associated management of radioactive wastes. The guidance comes in two parts: • Guidance on the regulatory process; • Technical guidance modules. The guidance promotes a cradle to grave approach to radioactive waste management and by aligning the regulatory interests of environmental and safety regulators it delivers one of the Government’s “Better Regulation” objectives. This paper describes the process by which the joint guidance was produced with particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement. It describes the key features of the guidance, including the concept of the radioactive waste management case (RWMC). Finally the problems encountered with dissemination and implementation are discussed together with measures taken by the regulators to improve these aspects.

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Practical Implementation of National Clearance Levels at Dounreay

9th ASME International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Remediation: Volumes 1, 2, and 3 ◽

10.1115/icem2003-4629 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Paul McClelland ◽

Frank Dennis ◽

Mark Liddiard

Keyword(s):

Public Relations ◽

Radioactive Waste ◽

Waste Management ◽

Radioactive Wastes ◽

Nuclear Industry ◽

Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽

Radioactive Material ◽

Practical Implementation ◽

Nuclear Site ◽

Regulatory Controls

Clearance is a very important part of any effective waste management strategy for both operating and decommissioning nuclear facilities. Radioactive waste disposal capacity is becoming an increasingly valuable resource and costs for disposal of radioactive wastes continue to dramatically rise. Considerable cost savings may be realised by efficient segregation of essentially non-radioactive material from radioactive wastes. The release of these materials from licensed nuclear sites for disposal, reuse or recycle without further regulatory controls is commonly referred to by the nuclear industry as “clearance”. Although much effort has been directed at establishing national clearance levels, below which, materials may be released without further regulatory controls, there is little practical guidance regarding implementation into local waste management programmes. Compliance with regulatory clearance limits is a relatively straightforward technical exercise involving appropriate management control and monitoring of the material. Whilst this is sufficient to avoid prosecution for breach of regulatory requirements, it is not sufficient to avoid a myriad of political and public relations land mines. When material is unconditionally released, unless additional attention is given to management of its future destination off-site, it may end up anywhere. The worst nightmare for a waste manager at a nuclear site is headlines in local and national newspapers such as, “RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSED IN LOCAL MUNICIPAL LANDFILL,” or, “RADIOACTIVE WASTE USED AS CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL FOR CHILDRENS PLAYGROUND,” etc. Even if the material were released legally, the cost of recovering from such a situation is potentially very large, and such public relations disasters could threaten to end the clearance programme at the given site, if not nationally. This paper describes how national regulatory clearance levels have been implemented for the decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear site in the far north of Scotland. It specifically focuses on the management of public relations aspects of clearance in order to limit the exposure to non-regulatory pressures and liabilities associated with clearance programmes from nuclear sites. The issues are put into context for uncontaminated wastes, trace contaminated wastes and management of contaminated land.

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The Assessment of the Waste Management Plan to Decommissioning of Cernavoda NPP for Environmental Impact Reduction

ASME 2011 14th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management, Parts A and B ◽

10.1115/icem2011-59358 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Gheorghe Barariu

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impact ◽

Radioactive Waste ◽

Waste Management ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Management Plan ◽

Radioactive Wastes ◽

Intermediate Level ◽

Acceptance Criteria ◽

Impact Reduction

Most of the radioactive wastes generated in Romania, are due to nuclear activities related to power generation at Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant NPP Unit 1 and Unit 2. It is provided to construct 2 new Units, in the next period. In Romania, the Nuclear Agency & Radioactive Waste - AN&DR, has established the strategy on low and intermediate level waste disposal and has as objective the commissioning of Final Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Waste – DFDSMA, until 2019. This facility, is in the responsibility of AN&DR. On the other hand, wastes arising from Cernavoda NPP must be treated, in order to achieve the acceptance criteria of DFDSMA. Corresponding Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant - RWTP is in the responsibility of Cernavoda NPP. The main requirement for the RWTP is the necessity to achieve the treatment and conditioning of radioactive wastes that arise both, from NPP operation and from future decommissioning activities of the nuclear facilities, such as to comply with the acceptance criteria of DFDSMA. According to existing requirements, it is necessary to elaborate a Decommissioning Plan, in order to obtain the authorization for construction of the new units. The Decommissioning Plan of Cernavoda NPP will imply the development of a Waste Management Plan, based on existing waste treatment technologies. Taking into account that, the radioactive waste management represents about 43%, comparative with decommissioning activities, which represents only about 35% from total budget of decommissioning, of a CANDU 6 NPP Unit, the paper will present the methodology developed, in order to obtain the optimum Waste Management Plan, taking into account the reduction of environmental impact.

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