2009 Report to Government on National Research and

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match a given budget. None of the PP is available for public comment (i.e. there is no consultation process), although it is a public document and copies are sent <strong>to</strong> other branches of government. The PP is primarily an internal DOE document rather than a mechanism for obtaining feedback on the planning and research prioritisation strategy. 3.101 All research reports are subject <strong>to</strong> internal review but this process is more geared <strong>to</strong>wards quality assurance than a review of research quality. Most fundamental research is published in the academic literature and hence subject <strong>to</strong> independent peer review. Some of the published research, including a book (Ewing & Macfarlane, 2006), has identified technical problems with the Yucca Mountain GDF design. 3.102 Independent review of the research programme, as a whole, is provided by the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB). The NWTRB is an independent agency of the USA Federal <strong>Government</strong> whose purpose is <strong>to</strong> provide independent scientific and technical oversight of the DOE's programme for managing and disposing of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. It reports <strong>to</strong> Congress and the Secretary of Energy at least twice a year. The <strong>Government</strong> appoints well-respected experts <strong>to</strong> act as independent members of the Board, based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences. 11 Meetings of the Board are convened once or twice a year. For the past 20 years, NWTRB has focused on the DOE’s Yucca Mountain programme. Now that this programme has effectively ended, NWTRB is developing and compiling technical information <strong>to</strong> inform the USA evaluation of waste management alternatives, while moni<strong>to</strong>ring any new DOE work related <strong>to</strong> the management of HLW and spent fuel. 3.103 The United States Nuclear Regula<strong>to</strong>ry Commission provides independent guidance on regulation and licensing for development of the GDF. 3.104 In 2001, the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) in USDOE’s Office of Science commissioned a “Basic Research Needs” series of workshops <strong>to</strong> identify the fundamental research needed <strong>to</strong> assure a secure energy future. These workshops have engaged academic researchers in defining fundamental research priorities <strong>to</strong>ward a sustainable USA energy policy. In 2006, a 4-day workshop was held entitled ‘Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems’. A major component of this workshop was <strong>to</strong> identify fundamental research issues for geological disposal (USDOE, 2006). Research challenges and priorities identified in the workshop included those in Box 2. 3.105 The workshop involved a <strong>to</strong>tal of 235 invited experts from 31 universities, 11 national labora<strong>to</strong>ries, 6 industries, 3 government agencies, and 11 foreign countries and exemplifies the USA practice of engaging the wider R&D community in the major research programmes such as for geological disposal. 11 http://www.nwtrb.gov/ CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 50 of 151
Box 2. USDOE 2006 Workshop R&D Issues Grand Challenges • computational thermodynamics of complex fluids and solids • integrated characterisation, modelling and moni<strong>to</strong>ring of geological systems • simulation of multiscale systems for ultra-long times Priority Research Directions • mineral-water interface complexity and dynamics • nanoparticle and colloid physics and chemistry • dynamic imaging of flow and transport • transport properties and in-situ characterisation of fluid trapping, isolation and immobilisation • fluid-induced rock deformation • biogeochemistry in extreme subsurface environments Cross-Cutting Issues • the microscopic basis of macroscopic complexity • highly reactive subsurface materials and environments • thermodynamics of the solute-<strong>to</strong>-solid continuum Japan 3.106 Geological disposal of Japanese HLW was set out as the end point of a process embodied in the 2000 Act, “Specified Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act”, which also set up the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation, NUMO. The 2002 report, “Requirements of Geological Environment <strong>to</strong> select Preliminary Investigation Areas (PIAs) of HLW Disposal”, set out the basis for site exclusion following a voluntarism approach, and led <strong>to</strong> the Open Solicitation in December 2002. NUMO was set up as the organisation responsible for delivery of a reposi<strong>to</strong>ry system, and as implementer it was made responsible for site selection and characterisation, the licensing of applications and organisation of the programme of reposi<strong>to</strong>ry development, and overseeing the construction, operation and closure of any reposi<strong>to</strong>ry. NUMO is supervised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and funded by owners of the nuclear power reac<strong>to</strong>rs. The fund is managed by the Radioactive Waste Management funding and research Centre (RWMC – see below). 3.107 In the Japanese nuclear waste disposal programme, the term ‘Research and Development’ is used <strong>to</strong> include all work aimed at building fundamental scientific understanding and establishing necessary technology. ‘Demonstration and Validation’ (D&V) refers <strong>to</strong> work which confirms that the resultant <strong>to</strong>ols, models and engineering concepts are practical, and builds the confidence needed for implementation, licensing and public acceptance. 3.108 There are several organisations in Japan involved in carrying out or sponsoring R&D aimed directly at supporting the nuclear waste disposal programme. These R&D organizations include, amongst others the Japan A<strong>to</strong>mic Energy Agency (JAEA), RWMC, the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), and NUMO itself. The CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 51 of 151
Page 1 and 2: Committee on Radioactive Waste Mana
Page 3 and 4: Finland ...........................
Page 5 and 6: Geosphere Characterisation ........
Page 7 and 8: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. CoRWM’s remi
Page 9 and 10: odies would need to</strong
Page 11 and 12: disseminate and assimilate its resu
Page 13 and 14: 1.3 CoRWM’s Work Programme for 20
Page 15 and 16: 1.11 The R&D requirements for the l
Page 17 and 18: 2. ESTABLISHING R&D REQUIREMENTS Wh
Page 19 and 20: adioactive waste management facilit
Page 21 and 22: should mitigate the risks of findin
Page 23 and 24: there is no unwarranted repetition
Page 25 and 26: safety case development, the overal
Page 27 and 28: Table 1. Approximate annual levels
Page 29 and 30: Figure 1. Structure of UK R&D provi
Page 31 and 32: NDA R&D for Geological Disposal 3.1
Page 33 and 34: 3.27 The purpose of NNL can be summ
Page 35 and 36: identified the research required an
Page 37 and 38: submitted to RCEP
Page 39 and 40: Box 1. Research Council Funded Univ
Page 41 and 42: 3.62 BGS is conducting three projec
Page 43 and 44: 3.70 In the current FP7 programme (
Page 45 and 46: 3.77 RCEP noted that there was a la
Page 47 and 48: sectors: land disp
Page 49: eyond those that RWMD intends <stro
Page 53 and 54: 3.111 Fundamental and applied resea
Page 55 and 56: France 3.122 There are six major gr
Page 57 and 58: and in concert with Forpro is desig
Page 59 and 60: • encourage the transfer and pres
Page 61 and 62: comparison to othe
Page 63 and 64: 4. R&D SKILLS TO SUPPORT THE MRWS P
Page 65 and 66: Figure 3. UK Nuclear Skills Map Sou
Page 67 and 68: ensure the availability of a skille
Page 69 and 70: which is longer than the competitio
Page 71 and 72: Box 4. Postgraduate University Prov
Page 73 and 74: 4.30 The NDA also operates a gradua
Page 75 and 76: for NDA to acquire
Page 77 and 78: Retention of Skills 4.48 It has bee
Page 79 and 80: 5. INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR R&D
Page 81 and 82: purchase of equipment. In addition,
Page 83 and 84: 5.23 The Pacific Northwest National
Page 85 and 86: 5.35 The range of possible function
Page 87 and 88: 5.40 Early in 2009
Page 89 and 90: 6. SOME R&D ISSUES 6.1 R&D carried
Page 91 and 92: interactions, the impact of highly
Page 93 and 94: 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Page 95 and 96: 7.11 CoRWM has found that responsib
Page 97 and 98: and Appendix A is only intended <st
Page 99 and 100: Current and Planned R&D for ILW A.5
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wasteform integrity at end of s<str
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Magnox Fuel A.20 Magnox fuel consis
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capability exists in the UK for doi
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purpose-built building. The former
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pending a decision on its long-term
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through all these. The nature of th
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Box 7. Radionuclide Speciation Many
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could mix with the bulk hydrogen ga
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than that for uranium-235. Likewise
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near-field of the part containing t
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• Long-term stability and perform
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few millimetres to
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environment, all with the character
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Number Title 2500 Interim S
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EPSRC, 2009. Grant
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Nuclear Decommissioning Authority,
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Skomurski FN, Ewing RC, Rohl AL, Ga
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Co-location Disposal of “high lev
Page 137 and 138:
Geosphere Solid portion of the eart
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Packaging Placing waste int
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Stillage A metal frame used <strong
Page 143 and 144:
BNGSL British Nuclear Group Sellafi
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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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