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Published in Andrew Blowers, David Pepper, Nuclear Power in Crisis, 2019
John Cameron Stewart, W. Clark Prichard
This chapter focuses on what may be called the ‘institutional’ issues facing nuclear waste disposal policy makers. These are distinct from technological considerations of engineering and geology, and include socio-economic, financial, land use and, especially, political factors. While the technological (geological and engineering) aspects of siting nuclear waste facilities are critical, the institutional issues (especially political) are also important. Institutional issues must be resolved before a nuclear waste facility becomes operational, regardless of how technically suitable a site may be for nuclear waste disposal. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (USNRC) regulations for siting nuclear waste facilities include both technical and institutional requirements – listed in Federal Codes 10 CFR Part 60 for high level waste (HLW) and 10 CFR Part 61 for low level waste (LLW ): the US does not have an intermediate level in its waste classification. Although their emphasis is on meeting technological requirements in siting nuclear facilities, the USNRC regulations recognise the significance of land use, land ownership, financial assurance , demography, and other institutional issues related to site selection, operation and closure (10 CFR Parts 60.121–60. 122 for HLW and 61.14–61.15 and 61.50 for LLW).
Radioactive waste and the decommissioning of radioactive facilities
Published in Alan Martin, Sam Harbison, Karen Beach, Peter Cole, An Introduction to Radiation Protection, 2018
Alan Martin, Sam Harbison, Karen Beach, Peter Cole
Low-level waste (LLW) consists typically of general trash from contaminated areas as well as items of lightly contaminated or activated plant and equipment. Intermediate-level wastes (ILW) arise mainly in nuclear facilities and include solidified process residues and significantly activated items. The definitions of LLW and ILW, in terms of specific activity, vary from country to country but, typically, LLW would comprise waste of less than about 109 Bq/m3 and ILW would be any waste other than high-level waste (HLW), as defined later, exceeding this value. With both LLW and ILW, disposal is often facilitated by segregation of the waste, preferably at the point of arising, for example into wastes of different specific activity, or into combustible and non-combustible material. With the high cost of waste disposal, there is strong incentive to minimize arisings of waste as far as possible. For example, on a practical level, LLW arisings can be reduced by avoiding taking unnecessary items and materials into contaminated areas since these can then become contaminated and thus constitute radioactive waste. Another method of reducing arisings of some classes of waste is to recycle the materials. This has been applied particularly to activated steel from dismantled reactors, which can be recycled through a steel foundry where it is diluted with non-active steel and used for components for new nuclear facilities.
Waste and its disposal
Published in F.G. Bell, Geological Hazards, 1999
Radioactive waste may be of low, intermediate or high level. Low-level waste contains small amounts of radioactivity and so does not present a significant environmental hazard if properly dealt with. Intermediate-level waste comes from nuclear plant operations and consists of items such as filters used to purify reactor water, discarded tools and replaced parts. This waste has to be stored for approximately 100 years. When reactors are closed down the decommissioning waste has to be disposed of safely.
The Power and Limits of Classification: Radioactive Waste Categories as Reshaped by Disposal Options
Published in Nuclear Technology, 2021
Last, the IAEA can provide additional details to support a particular purpose. In 2009, the classification became even more precise for LLW, which was further subdivided into three types: very short-lived waste (VSLW), very low-level waste (VLLW), and LLW. A specific solution was recommended for each type of waste. Compared to its classification in 1994, the waste categorization undertaken by the IAEA in 2009 went a step further (see Figs. 1 and Figs. 2, which show the IAEA changes). More than ordering the object, categorization influences the type of management of the object. For example, HLW is associated with the geological repository while LLW is associated with surface management solutions.
Comparative Study of Neutronics Analysis Techniques for Radioactive Waste Assessment
Published in Fusion Science and Technology, 2018
Bethany R. Colling, T. Eade, M. R. Gilbert, J. Naish, S. Zheng
Low-level waste is radioactive material that is above the clearance levels but with limited amounts of long-lived radionuclides. For this EU DEMO study this waste class is defined by the beta + gamma activity concentration which must be less than 12 GBq/tonne. (There is also a limit on the alpha activity though this was assumed to be a small contribution and not included for this comparison.) All other radioactive material is classed as ILW; although this type of waste requires a greater degree of containment and isolation than that provided by the near-surface disposal routes available to LLW, it requires no or little provision for long-term heat removal.