Disposition of High-Level Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel The Continuing Societal and Technical Challenges (2001) / Chapter Skim
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4. National Programs
4. National Programs
Pages 49-66
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in 2000 (DOE, 2000~. · The United States has reported approximately 350,000 m3 of HLW, mainly from former defense activities and stored in tanks at its Hanford and Savannah River sites (IAEA, 2000a)
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Belgium Belgium has one candidate site for a deep geological repository, the deep clay formation (referred to as Boom clay) beneath the area of its nuclear research center in Mol.
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In addition to scientific studies, PRACLAY will demonstrate construction techniques suitable for Boom clay.
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· As it stands, the AECL concept for deep geological disposal has not been demonstrated to have broad public support. The report recommended that site selection should not proceed until broad public acceptance of a nuclear fuel waste management approach were achieved.
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China China has one candidate site for a deep geological repository, the Beishan site located in the Gobi desert in the Gansu Province in northwest China. The repository would be in granite beneath the water table.
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Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) were begun in 1997 in the local municipalities of the four candidate sites.
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The feasibility of SNF disposal in deep geological formations is also being studied. In France, SNF is not considered a waste material; rather, it is reprocessed at the La Hague plant, and plutonium is recycled in mixed-oxide fuel.
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A new national waste management plan will therefore be developed. A single repository in a deep geological formation is considered sufficient for the disposal of all types of radioactive waste including HEW and SNF.
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The current licensing procedure for closing this repository is expected to last several years. Japan Japan has not selected a candidate site for a deep geological repository.
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Netherlands The Dutch currently have no candidate site for a geological repository. Low- and intermediate-level waste is stored at a central site near Borssele.
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The program covers all aspects of radioactive waste management. Priority items related to HLW and SNF include the following: · reconstruction and new construction at nuclear power plant sites of storage facilities for SNF, some of which are out of compliance with current standards; · development of technologies and equipment for containerizing SNF for long-term storage and disposal; · construction of a URL for pilot-scale disposal of waste from Mayak; and · construction of the first stage of the regional storage facility for waste Produced at the mining and chemical complex in the Krasnovarsk - r region.
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have been active in providing public information and in assuring that the site environmental impact assessment is an open, broad-based process. Responsibility for radioactive waste management is divided between implementing and regulatory authorities as follows: · the waste generators (e.g., the nuclear power producers and SKB)
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Switzerland Switzerland has one candidate site for a geological repository for its low- and intermediate-level waste, Wellenburg in the Canton of Nidwalden. A license application was submitted in 1994 but suspended in 1997 after citizens of the canton refused in a referendum to concede to the use of the site for a repository for low- and intermediate-level wastes.
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Until repositories become available, all categories of radioactive waste are in interim storage. Storage locations include the nuclear reactor sites and a central facility for medical, industrial, and research waste located near Wurenlingen.
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However, this program was canceled when Nirex determined that a single deep facility for all ILW and LLW would be more cost-effective. United States The United States has one candidate site for a deep geological repository for HLW and SNF, and it has one deep geological repository for transuranic waste in operation (see Sidebar 4.1~.
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In addition, it is expected that HLW and SNF stored at DOE defense sites will eventually be stabilized and disposed in a geological repository. The DOE Savannah River Site is currently vitrifying its HLW.
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The reasons this progress has been slower than foreseen in most countries include the following: · The development and acceptance of disposal technology has proved less straightforward than expected. · The technical issues associated with site selection and, more particularly, site characterization are more complex than assumed earlier.
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