2009 Report to Government on National Research and

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Reposi<strong>to</strong>ry A facility where waste is emplaced for disposal. [Often used as shorthand for “mined reposi<strong>to</strong>ry”, but also used in other contexts, e.g. the UK’s Low Level Waste Reposi<strong>to</strong>ry (LLWR).] Research An investigation directed <strong>to</strong> the discovery of some fact or principle by a course of study or scientific enquiry. Retrievability An ability <strong>to</strong> withdraw wastes from a disposal facility that is achieved by means designed in<strong>to</strong> the facility other than simply reversing waste emplacement. [See also “reversibility” and “recoverability”.] Reversibility The ability <strong>to</strong> withdraw wastes from an open disposal facility by reversing the emplacement process. Rock Characterisation Facility (RCF) An underground facility for use in characterising the physical, chemical, mechanical and hydrological suitability of the geological environment for “geological disposal”. [A term used mainly by Nirex for the facility it proposed <strong>to</strong> construct in Cumbria.] Safety assessment An assessment of whether a nuclear facility or operation is or, if particular actions are taken, will be safe. Safety case The complete set of arguments that demonstrates that a nuclear facility or operation is or, if particular actions are taken, will be safe. Secondary research Review, summary, collation or evaluation of existing knowledge, facts and outcomes of basic and applied research. Scientific research The application of the scientific method <strong>to</strong> obtaining new information <strong>to</strong> explain the nature, properties or behaviour of something in the universe around us. Silo A structure used for s<strong>to</strong>rage or disposal of radioactive waste. [The term is applied in the UK mainly <strong>to</strong> concrete structures (buildings) used for temporary s<strong>to</strong>rage of wastes, but it can also apply <strong>to</strong> vertical shafts in rock used for underground s<strong>to</strong>rage or disposal.] Spent fuel Fuel that has been used in a nuclear reac<strong>to</strong>r and for which there is no further use as fuel. Stakeholder A person or organisation who has an interest in or is affected by radioactive waste management. [In the context of CoRWM’s work, stakeholders include waste producers, regula<strong>to</strong>rs, non-governmental organisations, local authorities and communities near existing nuclear sites and potential disposal sites.] Stakeholder fatigue A situation in which stakeholders are overwhelmed by communications and consultations on a particular <strong>to</strong>pic, and do not respond <strong>to</strong> requests for their views. CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 140 of 151
Stillage A metal frame used <strong>to</strong> hold drums of radioactive waste. S<strong>to</strong>rage Placing wastes or other materials in a facility with the intention of retrieving them at a later date. Surface-based investigations Investigations of a potential geological disposal site that are carried out from the surface, rather than underground. [For example, seismic investigations and boreholes.] Tonne One thousand kilograms. Underground Research Labora<strong>to</strong>ry (URL) Underground Research Facility (URF) Very low level waste (VLLW) An underground facility for “research” in<strong>to</strong> “geological disposal”. [Some URLs are at prospective disposal sites, others are in geological settings similar <strong>to</strong> those proposed for geological disposal but remote from potential disposal sites.] A site- or host rock specific underground facility for characterisation and R&D related <strong>to</strong> geological disposal. Very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) is LLW that has radioactivity levels well below the maximum for the category. It can be disposed of with non-radioactive waste, rather than being placed in the Low Level Waste Reposi<strong>to</strong>ry or other specialised facility. [There are two types of VLLW: low volume and high volume. Low volume VLLW is radioactive waste that can be disposed of safely <strong>to</strong> an unspecified destination with municipal, commercial or industrial waste (so-called “dustbin disposal”). It has an activity not exceeding 400 kBq in any 0.1m 3 and no individual item in the waste should have an activity above 40 kBq. These levels are increased by a fac<strong>to</strong>r of ten for tritium or carbon-14 (i.e. 4 MBq in 0.1m 3 and 400 kBq per item, where the limits apply <strong>to</strong> tritium and carbon-14 taken <strong>to</strong>gether). High volume VLLW is radioactive waste that can only be disposed of <strong>to</strong> a specified landfill site. Its activity level must not exceed 4 MBq/<strong>to</strong>nne or 40 MBq/<strong>to</strong>nne for tritium.] Vitrification The process of converting wastes in<strong>to</strong> a glass or glass-like form. Voluntarism An approach <strong>to</strong> siting geological disposal facilities that involves communities voluntarily expressing an interest in holding discussions with <strong>Government</strong>, then deciding whether <strong>to</strong> participate any further. Waste hierarchy The hierarchy of principles used in waste management. These consist of: (1) non-creation of wastes where practicable; (2) minimisation of arisings; (3) recycling and reuse; (4) disposal. Waste package A container and all its contents . [Includes the waste, any encapsulating material, any capping grout, etc.] CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 141 of 151
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Committee on Radioactive Waste Mana
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Finland ...........................
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Geosphere Characterisation ........
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. CoRWM’s remi
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odies would need to</strong
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disseminate and assimilate its resu
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1.3 CoRWM’s Work Programme for 20
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1.11 The R&D requirements for the l
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2. ESTABLISHING R&D REQUIREMENTS Wh
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adioactive waste management facilit
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should mitigate the risks of findin
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there is no unwarranted repetition
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safety case development, the overal
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Table 1. Approximate annual levels
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Figure 1. Structure of UK R&D provi
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NDA R&D for Geological Disposal 3.1
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3.27 The purpose of NNL can be summ
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identified the research required an
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submitted to RCEP
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Box 1. Research Council Funded Univ
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3.62 BGS is conducting three projec
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3.70 In the current FP7 programme (
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3.77 RCEP noted that there was a la
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sectors: land disp
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eyond those that RWMD intends <stro
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Box 2. USDOE 2006 Workshop R&D Issu
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3.111 Fundamental and applied resea
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France 3.122 There are six major gr
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and in concert with Forpro is desig
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• encourage the transfer and pres
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comparison to othe
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4. R&D SKILLS TO SUPPORT THE MRWS P
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Figure 3. UK Nuclear Skills Map Sou
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ensure the availability of a skille
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which is longer than the competitio
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Box 4. Postgraduate University Prov
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4.30 The NDA also operates a gradua
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for NDA to acquire
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Retention of Skills 4.48 It has bee
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5. INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR R&D
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purchase of equipment. In addition,
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5.23 The Pacific Northwest National
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5.35 The range of possible function
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5.40 Early in 2009
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Page 101 and 102: wasteform integrity at end of s<str
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Page 105 and 106: capability exists in the UK for doi
Page 107 and 108: purpose-built building. The former
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Page 111 and 112: through all these. The nature of th
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Page 115 and 116: could mix with the bulk hydrogen ga
Page 117 and 118: than that for uranium-235. Likewise
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Page 127 and 128: Number Title 2500 Interim S
Page 129 and 130: EPSRC, 2009. Grant
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Page 133 and 134: Skomurski FN, Ewing RC, Rohl AL, Ga
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Page 139: Packaging Placing waste int
Page 143 and 144: BNGSL British Nuclear Group Sellafi
Page 145 and 146: FP Framework Programme (of the Euro
Page 147 and 148: MOX mixed oxide fuel (contains uran
Page 149 and 150: RS Royal Society RSC Royal Society
Page 151: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Leadership in the
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2009 Report to Government on National Research and

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