2009 Report to Government on National Research and

and in concert with Forpro is designed <strong>to</strong> advance understanding of water
and gas reactions, moni<strong>to</strong>ring, underground chemistry, and the importance
of interactions and feedbacks on scales from microns <strong>to</strong> metres. The MoMaS
consortium continues <strong>to</strong> 2011 <strong>to</strong> develop modelling simulations that
incorporate multiphase flows and coupled behaviour, quantification of
uncertainties and establishment of benchmark models and modelling <strong>to</strong>ols.
• Near-field issues including waste matrices, container-clay interactions and
interfaces.
3.130 R&D in nuclear safety, transport and security is co-ordinated separately from that
relating <strong>to</strong> radioactive waste disposal. A combined independent agency, known
as the ‘Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire’ (IRSN), was
established in 2002 with the role of advising and briefing the regula<strong>to</strong>rs on issues
relating <strong>to</strong> radiological risk and nuclear safety. IRSN was given responsibility for
research in:
• nuclear safety
• safe transport of radioactive materials
• health and environment radiation protection
• physical protection and control of nuclear materials
• protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear materials transport against
possible attacks or sabotage.
3.131 IRSN has also been placed in charge of preparing reviews of ANDRA
documentation (e.g. the Dossier Argile, 2005) for the French regula<strong>to</strong>r, ASN.
Role of International Organisations
3.132 The three international organisations that have a role in helping countries <strong>to</strong>
define and co-ordinate their R&D programmes on radioactive waste management
are the EU, the NEA of OECD and the IAEA. These organisations are discussed
in turn below.
3.133 While the financial contribution from the EU (paras. 3.69-3.73) is useful, much of
the value of EU research projects is in bringing participants <strong>to</strong>gether <strong>to</strong> exchange
ideas and information. This helps EU member countries <strong>to</strong> make the best use of
their resources, for example by each concentrating its R&D on a particular aspect
of a common problem and then pooling their results.
3.134 The NEA’s general objective in its radioactive waste management work is <strong>to</strong>
contribute <strong>to</strong> the adoption of safe and efficient policies and practices in its
member countries. It focuses on geological disposal of HLW and spent fuel. Its
work is supervised by its Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC),
which is assisted by three working parties: 17
• Forum on Stakeholder Confidence
• Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC)
• Working Party on Management of Materials from Decommissioning and
Dismantling.
17 http://www.nea.fr/html/rwm/
CoRWM Document 2543, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber <strong>2009</strong> Page 57 of 151