The 13th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events

Abstracts
OPENING SESSION
“Nuclear Energy Strategy for Sustainable Growth:
Aiming at Green Innovation and Life Innovation”
Tatsujiro Suzuki, Vice Chairman, Japan Atomic Energy Commission (Japan)
Japan Atomic Energy Commission released a report, entitled “Nuclear Energy Strategy for Growth” on May 25,
2010. <strong>The</strong> report is intended to contribute the government’s “New Growth Strategy” which was eventually released in
June 18, 2010. This JAEC’s report emphasizes the role of nuclear energy technologies for “green innovation” and “life
innovation” which are two primary components of New Growth Strategy. <strong>The</strong> key messages included in the report are
“strengthening capability to meet global challenges” and “enhancing citizen’s confidence in nuclear energy
technologies”.
<strong>The</strong> report listed five major recommendations as follows.
1. Improve performance of nuclear power plants aim
2. ing at the world best class and take necessary measures for adding more nuclear plants to achieve
increased share of nuclear power in total power generation for “green innovation” Promote industrial
application of radiation technologies, such as medial, agricultural and scientific applications, as
“strategic industry” for life innovation
3. Develop social and economic environments for achieving above goals, which include; (1) improve
scientific literacy (2) take new initiatives for data/information disclosure (3) enhance economic
visualization of CO2 merits of nuclear energy (4) reform safety regulatory structure to improve
public confidence (5) develop better approaches for improving local community development and
nuclear related facilities (6) develop public/private human network in Asia.
4. Develop appropriate measures to meet increasing global needs for nuclear power and radiation
technologies
5. Develop long term social platform for sustainable growth for nuclear energy technologies.
“U.S. Office of Environmental Management - World Leaders in Nuclear Cleanup and Construction”
Dae Y. Chung, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, US DOE (USA)
U.S. Department of Energy Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, Dae Chung, will
present an overview of the progress, challenges, and future opportunities associated with the world's largest nuclear
cleanup program. <strong>The</strong> Office of Environmental Management (EM) is responsible for the safe cleanup of over two
million acres of land located in 34 states. EM employs more than 30,000 people – primarily scientists, engineers, and
hazardous waste technicians, and has an annual budget of approximately $6 billion.
“Recent Progress in Radioactive Waste Management in Korea”
Ho Taek Yoon, Senior Vice President, KRMC (Korea Rep.)
Republic of Korea is set to become a major nuclear power generation country. Nuclear energy initiative is a
strategic priority for R.O.K, and of which nuclear share in electricity generation is planned to become 56% by 2030, with
nuclear installed capacity of 35 GWe. Currently, 20 reactors with installed capacity of 17.7 GWe provide almost 40% of
domestic electricity demand. However, the very active nuclear power program inevitably causes increase in the build-up
of the radioactive wastes including Low- and Intermediate-Level radioactive Waste (LILW) and spent nuclear fuel.
<strong>The</strong>refore, reliable and effective management of the radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel has become a key agenda
for the continuous growth of the nuclear power program.
LILW generated by the nuclear power plants is being tentatively stored at each reactor site. <strong>The</strong> accumulated
amount of LILW in Korea’s nuclear power plants as of Dec. 2009 is approximately 87,000 drums (200 liter drum). And
together with those of research institutes, nuclear fuel manufacturer, general industry and medical sectors reached
approximately 112,000 drums (200 liter drum). <strong>The</strong> construction of a final repository is urgently needed to manage the
radioactive waste effectively and safely.
Efforts to secure site for the radioactive waste disposal facility in Korea began in 1986. In 18 years from 1986 to
2004, nine attempts of site selection had been executed unfruitfully. In the 10th attempt which was made in 2005, Korean
government requested that the public acceptance shall be confirmed through resident voting at the each local government
volunteering for the repository hosting and decided that the spent nuclear fuel site will be separated from LILW disposal
site, and the community support packages will be guaranteed by the law. Under the above mentioned basic principles, the
resident vote was implemented in the four volunteered local governments including Gunsan-kun, Youngdok-kun, Pohang
city, and Gyeongju city. Among these local governments, Gyeongju city recorded the highest consent vote rate (89.5%)
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