TN on Monitoring: A thematic network on the role of monitoring in a phased approach to disposal

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0080

Key words (English)

Waste disposal; deep geological repository; phased approach; monitoring;
Nuclear Fission; Radioactive Waste; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FIKW-2001-20130

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 5.5.2 Nuclear fission

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktive Abfälle NAGRA

Sicherheitsanalysen

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Nirex Ltd., Didcot Oxfordshire (UK)

Abstract (English)

The scope of work will cover potential monitoring requirements during all stages of disposal system development.

It will consider a broad range of potential monitoring requirements including, but not limited to, monitoring for the following reasons:
(i) Establishment of baseline conditions.
(ii) System of performance at the time of monitoring.
(iii) Provision of data to be used in evaluations/assessments of repository performance.
(iv) Monitoring in the broad sense e.g. developments in relevant areas of science.

It is proposed that the project is divided into four work packages.
.The first work package would be information gathering and improving the definition of work to be carried out in subsequent work packages.
.The second work package would be to describe what parameters might require monitoring and the reasons for that monitoring.
.The third work package would address techniques and strategies for monitoring.
.The fourth work package would be to compile a final report of the project.

Many countries are now considering a phased approach to disposal of radioactive waste, whereby disposal would be implemented by a series of reversible steps. At each stage in the process, information from monitoring will be required as inputs to the decision-making process. A recent EC Concerted Action on Retrievability concluded that in most EC countries monitoring programmes are in an early stage of development.

This thematic network will bring together expertise from many countries in order to achieve the following objectives:
- To improve the understanding of the role of and options for monitoring within a phased approach to disposal.
- To identify how monitoring can contribute to decision-making, operational and post-closure safety and confidence in safety.

A project inception report describing the scope of work in more detail will be developed 6 months after the start of the contract. A final report will be produced at the end of the project. The final report will provide an authoritative basis for the development of national repository monitoring programmes.

1.To improve the understanding of the role of and options for monitoring within a phased approach to disposal.
2.To identify how monitoring can contribute to decision-making, operational and post-closure safety and confidence in safety.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0080