[ RadSafe ] International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive
Waste Disposal
Marcel Schouwenburg
M.Schouwenburg at TNW.TUDelft.NL
Mon May 23 15:57:16 CEST 2005
International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Disposal
3 - 7 October 2005
Tokyo, Japan
Organized by the
International Atomic Energy Agency
In co-operation with the
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES)
Hosted by the
Government of Japan through the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
(NISA), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Deadline for Submission of Paper extended to 15 May 2005
Announcement and call for papers
PDF of the announcement
1. BACKGROUND
A number of international conferences of importance for radioactive
waste management have taken place in recent years. The 'Cordoba'
conference, March 2000, was organized with a view to identifying issues
of international concern pending the coming into force of the Joint
Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of
Radioactive Waste Management (the Joint Convention). The Vienna 'Issues
and Trends' conference, December 2002, addressed developments with these
issues. The Joint Convention came into force in June 2001 and the first
review meeting of Contracting Parties took place in Vienna in November 2003.
The articles of the Joint Convention place an obligation on Contracting
Parties to assess the safety of waste management facilities prior to
their construction and operation and to review the safety of existing
facilities. In addition, assessment of safety is one on the fundamental
principles of radioactive waste management and forms the technical basis
for the regulatory approval of all waste management facilities and
activities. At the first review meeting of the Joint Convention there
was discussion on the development and use of effective safety assessment
methods where it was acknowledged that for some applications the safety
assessment tools available were adequate but for others, there was scope
for further development. There are continuing international initiatives
to develop, improve and harmonize approaches to assessing and
demonstrating the safety of waste disposal facilities, such as the
Agency's ISAM (Improving Safety Assessment Methodology) and ASAM
(Application of Safety Assessment Methodology) programmes.
There are many ongoing activities in the waste disposal arena around the
world. A number of geological disposal facilities are now under
development using new and innovative technologies and the regulatory
process of licensing these facilities is underway, or is being planned.
Programmes are also in place to engage the broad range of interested
stakeholders in these projects, with a view to developing their
confidence in the design of facilities and the technologies employed.
Safety assessment and the structuring of safety cases in support of
license applications are fundamental to the licensing process and are
important in the communication on issues of concern to interested
parties and in the development of public confidence.
Addressing waste and fuel cycle concerns, in his statement in the 48th
General Conference of the IAEA in September this year the Director
General once again reiterated the importance of multinational
approaches. "The Agency continues to assist Member States in developing
waste management and disposal strategies - and I am pleased to see the
renewed interest in multinational approaches to spent fuel management
and disposal. More than 50 countries now have spent nuclear fuel,
including fuel from research reactors, stored in temporary sites,
awaiting disposal or reprocessing". The Director General indicated that
he was encouraged that the Russian Federation had expressed interest in
an international approach to spent fuel storage and reprocessing, and
has agreed to work with the Agency in giving consideration to its
feasibility. In this regard it is intended to hold a conference in
Russia in 2005 to discuss ways of moving forward with international
cooperation on such an initiative. He also indicated a group of senior
experts had been appointed to look into various options for multilateral
control over certain fuel cycle activities and that the group "could
focus initially on how to guarantee the supply of technology and fuel
for nuclear generated electricity, and how to set up one or more
international repositories for spent nuclear fuel".
Many countries have developed and operated near surface radioactive
waste disposal facilities for low and intermediate level waste,
utilizing a number of design concepts. Well structured and systematic
safety assessments have been developed for many of these facilities, but
for some older facilities, developed before present safety standards
were in place, this has not been the case and considerable efforts have
been expended in recent years to address this situation. In addition,
periodic reassessment of safety is being undertaken for a number of
facilities, making use of the improved and internationally harmonized
approaches to safety assessment.
There have also been developments in considerations for disposal of
small amounts of waste, particularly disused sealed radiation sources,
where borehole disposal concepts have been adopted or are under serious
consideration in a number of countries. Because of both safety and
security concerns, it is recognized that the ongoing storage of disused
radiation sources in surface facilities is less than desirable, and that
if safe and cost effective disposal options are available, they should
be exploited to the extent possible. Whilst the disposal concepts
proposed employ relatively straightforward and robust technologies, the
demonstration of their long-term safety remains complex. Nevertheless,
the role of generic safety assessment in safety demonstration is being
explored and such approaches are attracting attention.
Other disposal options, at intermediate depths, are being explored for
disposal of radioactive waste that is not suitable for near surface
disposal, but which does not warrant the degree of isolation and
containment provided by geological disposal. The cost effective
utilization of such options is attractive, but again the extent of
effort necessary in demonstrating their safety remains to be agreed.
Countries are also developing and operating facilities for waste
containing very low activity radioactive waste.
2. CONFERENCE OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Conference is to foster information exchange on the
safety of radioactive waste disposal covering; the choice of appropriate
waste disposal options, safety standards, safety cases for presenting
safety arguments and demonstrating compliance with standards, safety
assessment methodologies and their application, dealing with
uncertainty, regulatory review and decision making, the derivation of
limits, controls and conditions to be applied to the development and
operation of disposal facilities to ensure safety and the communication
of safety issues to all interested stakeholders and confidence
development. The conference will consider all possible disposal options
available, drawing from experience in Member States with near surface
and geological disposal facilities and those at intermediate depths and
giving consideration to any multilateral approach that may be adopted.
3. AUDIENCE
The conference is directed at a broad range of persons interested in
radioactive waste disposal. It will be of particular interest to experts
involved in the development of national radioactive waste disposal
strategies, developers and operators of disposal facilities, experts
involved in safety assessment and the compilation of safety cases and
regulatory authorities responsible for the licensing of such facilities.
It will also be of interest to regional and local government authorities
within whose jurisdiction radioactive waste disposal facilities will be
sited.
4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The Conference programme will be based on the following approach:
* After the opening of the Conference the first session will address
the various types of radioactive waste that arise in practice and the
disposal options that are deemed suitable and appropriate for their
disposal. The important design characteristic providing for safety in
the different disposal facility options will be addressed. The
internationally accepted safety standards will be discussed together
with the measures necessary to demonstrate compliance with them.
* The conference will then consider the structure and content of
safety cases that need to be made to present the arguments on which the
safety of waste disposal facilities are based and the supporting safety
assessments. It will also deal with the evidence necessary to support
the safety arguments and the research programmes aimed at providing such
evidence.
* A number of sessions will then deal with the type and extent of
safety assessment necessary for different waste disposal facility types
and designs. It will address the assessment methodology and the
information needed to undertake the assessment. It will cover
operational and post closure safety, the expected normal evolution of
the facility over time and disruptive events, of both natural and
anthropogenic origin.
* The issue of uncertainty will be addressed and how it can be dealt
with in safety assessments and options for presentation in the safety
case will be discussed. Overall development of confidence in the safety
arguments and supporting assessments will also be addressed.
* The regulatory review process and related decision making will be
covered in a further session together with the establishment and
implementation of limits, controls and conditions necessary during the
development, construction, operation and closure of facilities.
* Each of the various sessions will feature a limited number of
invited keynote presentations and a summary of issues will be raised in
submitted papers. An expert panel will discuss the issues arising from
these presentations and those identified from the floor.
* The conclusions arising from the various sessions will be
summarized, presented and reviewed on the final day of the conference
and a set of conclusions formulated.
5. SCOPE OF THE TOPICAL SESSIONS
A. Waste management policies and strategies for all waste types and
disposal options and multinational approaches.
B. The global safety regime
* the Joint Convention
* international safety standards
* national legal and regulatory infrastructure
C. The structure and content of safety cases
D. The technology and safety of disposal facilities
* geological
* near surface
* borehole
* intermediate depth for non-heat-generating long-lived waste
* mining and minerals processing waste
* very low activity waste
E. Building of confidence
* dealing with data, modelling and scenario uncertainty
* international peer review
* use of international safety standards
* periodic re-assessment
* Stakeholder involvement and public acceptance
*
F. Licensing
* regulatory review and decision making
* establishing and applying limits, controls and conditions
G. Existing facilities and decision making on upgrading safety
6. CONTRIBUTED PAPERS AND POSTERS
Concise papers on issues falling within the scope of the topical
sessions (section 5) may be submitted as contributions to the conference
These papers will not be presented orally, but will be included in a
Book of Contributed Papers to be distributed free of charge to all
participants upon registration. Authors of contributed papers are
expected to present the substance of their papers in the form of a
poster, which will be exhibited in the Poster Area.
The contributed papers must not exceed four pages in length and must be
submitted in English. Each contributed paper must be preceded by an
abstract, not exceeding 300 words. Authors should indicate in the paper
submission form to which topical session their contribution relates
(section 5). Authors are urged to make use of the IAEA's Proceedings
Paper Template in Word 2000 and the user instructions available on the
conference web site (section 18). Guidelines for the preparation of a
contributed paper are given in the attached IAEA Guidelines for Authors
on the Preparation of Manuscripts for Proceedings.
Contributed papers should be submitted electronically to email address:
Waste-Safety2005 at iaea.orgor sent on diskette to the Scientific
Secretariat. The electronic submission should identify the paper, the
proposed session topic and the software application used (the use of
Microsoft Word is encouraged). To permit selection and review, the
electronic version of the contributed paper must be received by the
Scientific Secretariat not later than 20 April 2005.
In addition to the electronic submission, a hard copy of the contributed
paper must also be submitted through one of the competent official
authorities (section 9), together with a completed Form for Submission
of a Paper (Form B) and the Participation Form (Form A), to reach the
IAEA also by 20 April 2005.
Only papers that have been received by the above deadline and through
the appropriate official channels will be considered for inclusion in
the Book of Contributed Papers. The Secretariat reserves the right to
exclude papers that do not comply with its quality standards or do not
apply to one of the topics in section 5.
Authors will be informed by end of May 2005 whether their papers have
been accepted for inclusion in the Book of Contributed Papers and for
presentation as a poster.
7. EXPENDITURES/GRANTS
No registration fee is charged to participants.
As a general rule, the IAEA does not pay for participants' travel and
living expenses. However, limited funds are available to help meet the
cost of attendance of selected specialists, mainly from developing
countries with low economic resources. Generally, not more than one
travel grant may be awarded to any one country. To apply for a travel
grant, please send the Grant Application Form C -- typewritten or
clearly printed --through your appropriate official authority ( Section
9), together with Form A and, if relevant, Form B, and an estimate of a
valid travel agent of the flight costs from/to the nearest city or
capital in their country and Tokyo to reach the IAEA at the latest by 20
April 2005. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The
grants will be lump sums usually covering only part of the cost of
attendance.
8. PARTICIPATION
Anyone who would like to participate in the Conference must send a
completed Participation Form (Form A) through one of the competent
official authorities (Section 9) for submission to the IAEA for it to be
received by 15 June 2005. A participant will be accepted only if the
Participation Form is transmitted to the IAEA by one of the official
authorities.
9. CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
The Participation Form (Form A) and, if applicable, the Form for
Submission of a Paper (Form B) and Grant Application Form (Form C) must
be sent through one of the competent official authorities (Ministry of
Foreign Affairs or national atomic energy authority) for subsequent
transmission to the IAEA. Communications concerning technical matters
should be sent to the Scientific Secretariat, and communications on
administrative/logistical matters to the Conference Coordinator (section
17).
10. SCIENTIFIC VISIT
A half day tour to Tokai-mura is planned for Friday, 7 October 2005, and
a full day tour to Rokkasho-mura is also planned for Saturday, 8 October
2005. Interested participants are requested to complete the attached
Scientific Visit Registration Form and send it to the Japan Organizing
Committee on Tokyo Conference (JOC) (see section 17) not later than 15
June 2005.
11. EXHIBITION
A limited amount of space will be available for displays/exhibits during
the Conference. Interested parties are requested to complete the
attached Exhibition Enquiry Form and send it to the Japan Organizing
Committee on Tokyo Conference (JOC) (Section 17) not later than 20 April
2005.
12. DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS
A preliminary programme together with details on the logistics of the
Conference will be sent to all officially designated participants by the
end of June 2005. This information will also be available on the
conference web site (section 18).
The final programme and a book of contributed papers, containing all
papers accepted by the programme committee, will be available free of
charge upon registration at the conference.
The proceedings of the conference will contain the opening addresses,
the keynote presentations, the other invited speakers' papers, the
chairpersons' summaries, and the conference conclusions presented by the
President of the conference on the last day of the conference. The
proceedings of the conference will be published by the IAEA as soon as
possible after the meeting.
13. WORKING LANGUAGE
The working language of the conference will be English. All
communications must be sent to the IAEA in English.
14. ACCOMMODATION
Detailed information on accommodations and a hotel reservation form will
be sent electronically to participants and will also be available on the
conference website by the end of June 2005. Hotel room rates will range
from US $100 to 300 per night.
15. VISA
Designated participants who require a visa to enter Japan should submit
the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular
representative of Japan as soon as possible.
16. KEY DATES/DEADLINES
Receipt by IAEA of electronic version of contributed papers 20 April
2005
Receipt by IAEA of Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B) and together
with Form A and copy of contributed paper through official channels
20 April 2005
Receipt by IAEA of Grant Application Form (Form C) (if applicable)
together with Form A through official channels 20 April 2005
Exhibitions Enquiry Form to JOC 20 April 2005
Receipt by IAEA of Participation Form (Form A) through official channels
15 June 2005
Scientific Visit Registration Form to JOC together with copy of Form A
15 June 2005
IAEA Paper Acceptance Information to Authors End of May 2005
IAEA Grant Acceptance/Rejection to Applicants End of May 2005
IAEA Participation Acknowledgement together with Information on Hotels
and Logistics End of June 2005
Detailed Information on Scientific Visits and Exhibitions End of
June 2005
Scientific Secretariat of the Conference:
P. Metcalf
Waste Safety Section, NSRW
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone No.: (+43) 1-2600-22676
Telefax No.: (+43) 1-26007
E-mail: P.Metcalf at iaea.org
E-mail address for paper submission:
J.M. Potier
Waste Technology Section, NEFW
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone No.: (+43) 1-2600-22662.
Telefax No.: (+43) 1-26007
E-mail: J.M.Potier at iaea.org
Administration and organization:
Ms. H. Schmid
Division of Conference and Document Services
Conference Service Section
IAEA-CN-135
International Atomic Energy Agency
P.O. Box 100
Wagramer Strasse 5
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone No.:
Telefax No.:
E-mail: H.Schmid at iaea.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcel Schouwenburg - RadSafe moderator & List owner
Head Training Centre Delft
National Centre for Radiation Protection (Dutch abbr. NCSV)
Faculty of Applied Sciences / Reactor Institute Delft
Delft University of Technology
Mekelweg 15
NL - 2629 JB DELFT
The Netherlands
Phone +31 (0)15 27 86575
Fax +31 (0)15 27 81717
email m.schouwenburg at tnw.tudelft.nl
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