Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

3.49
Inspection, the regular checking of the actual waste management operation to ensure
that it is being performed in the proper manner, is one of the most critical functions in
the entire waste management system. If other parts of the system break down, a good inspec-
tion system will detect them. If the inspection system itself fails, no one will know
whether or not the waste management system is reliable.
The character of the enforcement function depends on whether private or public organi-
zations are the target. In the case of private organizations, credible penalties, such as
fines and license revocation, are available. But these sanctions cannot be expected to have
the same effect on public organizations, which are less influenced by economic incentives.
3.5.2.2 Institutions in Long-Term Nuclear Waste Management
A number of concerns have been raised regarding the role that human institutions may
have in the long-term management of nuclear wastes. Controversy exists concerning: 1) the
need for any human institutions to be involved in long-term management, and 2) whether human
institutions could actually carry out any functions that might be required of them over the
long term.
These discussions are speculative. Historical examples of the behavior and durability
of human institutions are the only data that can be applied to the speculations about the
potential future stability and performance of institutions. However, to predict what the
world will be like 50 to 100 years from now, let alone in several centuries, is very
difficult.
Human institutions might enhance safety by accurately predicting the occurrence of the
natural events which could compromise the repository (e.g., earthquakes, floods), and in
responding to them to reduce consequences. Control over these massive events is not likely.
Human actions that might produce a release of radioactive material from a repository
have been grouped into three categories: 1) major catastrophic events, such as nuclear war,
2) direct action against the repository, such as sabotage, drilling and exploration, and
excavation, and 3) lapses in monitoring, such as being unaware of a breach in the
containment.
Three sets of factors appear pertinent in assessing the institutional role in long-
term waste management: 1) the functions that can or should be performed by the institu-
tions, 2) the subjective need for these functions, and 3) the likelihood that the functions
will be performed at any given point in time.
Three general categories of functions might increase the safety of a waste repository
and mitigate the consequences of potential accidents:
1. Control and management--including monitoring of security and physical integrity,
performance of routine physical plant maintenance, and maintenance of a staff of
people qualified to carry out technical tasks at the disposal site.