Solid Radioactive Waste Strategy Report.pdf - UK EPR

EPR UK
N° NESH-G/2008/en/0123
REV. A PAGE 163 / 257
10.2 Strategy And Assumptions
The following strategic baseline and assumptions underline this solid operational waste
management strategy:
1) The operational WTB and Intermediate Waste Storage Facility (ISF) are separated and
independently operated.
2) If possible the liquid and solid waste treatment and conditioning systems are of modular
design (e.g. skid mounted) permitting upgrade and replacement as new technologies
become available.
3) VLLW and LLW that are exempt from regulatory control are immediately shipped off-site.
The WTB storage area provides a buffer for waste packages conditioned. The buffer zone
will have sufficient capacity to meet production rates over a cycle.
4) VLLW can be disposed of in its immediate state. No treatment, conditioning or special
packaging will be used for VLLW. Resins will be dewatered.
5) VLLW and LLW disposal sites will be available at the time of NPP start up.
6) The utility may choose to perform only basic treatment steps for solid VLLW/LLW on site
and send these wastes directly to centralised off-site facilities for conditioning.
7) Combustible wastes can be directly sent to central (off-site) incineration facilities. At the time
of the NPP start up such facilities will be internationally or nationally available and
accessible. The waste building storage area provides buffer storage for waste generated
during a reactor cycle to be sent to an incinerator.
8) Wastes that are suitable for melting will be directly sent to central (off-site) smelting facilities
after pre-treatment, for example sorting and compaction. At the time of NPP start up such
facilities will be internationally or nationally available and accessible. The waste building
storage area provides buffer storage for packages generated over 1 reactor cycle.
9) Residues from off-site processing such as incineration and melting (e.g. slag) are not
returned to the NPP but subject to further treatment in the off-site processing facility.
10) ISF design life will be 100 years and all ILW will be stored there until such time as the GDF
becomes available.
11) ILW is transferred to the ISF immediately after treatment and/or conditioning. The waste
building provides an 18 month buffer capacity. The waste building provides buffer storage
for 1 reactor cycle.
12) The utility could decide to condition waste in its primary packaging and store for extended
periods until sufficient decay has taken place or until off-site shipment for final disposal is
scheduled.
13) ILW wastes that go into on-site storage will be immediately retrievable. If following decay
the activity of such packages is below the threshold for ILW, these packages will be
removed from storage and sent off-site as LLW.
14) The NPP will operate its own active laundry. As such these effluents are routed to the waste
treatment systems prior to discharge.
15) The discharge limits set for plant operations in the context of the OSPAR treaty do not
exceed the discharges that are based in current treatment technology and best practice in
2008.