Appendix CRF - Part 3 - Northamptonshire County Council

closure. Administrative and technical actions directed at a repository at the end of its operating
lifetime — for example covering the disposed waste (for a near surface repository) or backfilling
and/or sealing (for a geological repository and the passages leading to it) — and termination and
completion of activities in any associated structures.
commissioning. The process during which systems and components of facilities and activities,
having been constructed, are made operational and verified to be in accordance with design
specifications and to have met the required performance criteria. Commissioning may include
both non-radioactive and radioactive testing.
compaction. A treatment method where the bulk volume of a compressible material is reduced
by application of external pressure — hence an increase in its density (mass per unit volume).
conditioning. Those operations that produce a waste package suitable for handling, transport,
storage and/or disposal. Conditioning may include the conversion of the waste to a solid waste
form, enclosure of the waste in containers, and, if necessary, providing an overpack. See also
immobilization.
conductivity, hydraulic, K. Ratio of flow rate n to driving force dh/dl (the change of hydraulic
head with distance) for viscous flow of a fluid in a porous medium. This is the so-called constant
of proportionality K in Darcy’s law and depends on both the porous medium and the fluid
properties. See also permeability.
container, waste. The vessel into which the waste form is placed for handling, transport, storage
and/or eventual disposal; also the outer barrier protecting the waste from external intrusions. The
waste container is a component of the waste package. See also barrier; cask; waste package.
containment. Methods or physical structures designed to prevent the dispersion of radioactive
substances.
contamination. (1) Radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases
(including the human body), where their presence is unintended or undesirable, (2) the presence
of such substances in such places or (3) the process giving rise to their presence in such places.
contamination, fixed. Contamination other than non-fixed contamination.
contamination, non-fixed. Contamination that can be removed from a surface during any
handling activities, including routine conditions of transport.
control, institutional. Control of a waste site by an authority or institution designated under the
laws of a country. This control may be active (monitoring, surveillance and remedial work) or
passive (land use control) and may be a factor in the design of a nuclear facility (e.g. a near
surface repository).
control, regulatory. Any form of control applied to facilities or activities by a regulatory body for
reasons related to protection or safety.
controlled area. See area, controlled.
cover. A layer of material or materials placed over the waste packages or physical structures in a
near surface repository. The main purpose of covers is to prevent ingress of surface water into
the repositories and to reduce the likelihood of intrusion.
criteria. Conditions on which a decision or judgement can be based. They may be qualitative or
quantitative and should result from established principles and standards. See also requirement;
specifications.
critical group. A group of members of the public which is reasonably homogeneous with respect
to its exposure for a given radiation source and given exposure pathway and is typical of
Application for disposal of LLW including HV-VLLW under RSA 1993,
for the East Northants Resource Management Facility:
Supporting Information
July 2009
124
WS010001/ENRMF/CONSAPPCRF 443