Progress of R&D on geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan

Ishikawa, Hirohisa; Igarashi, Hiroshi; Umeki, Hiroyuki; Shimizu, Kazuhiko; Miyahara, Kaname  ; Ishimaru, Tsuneari ; Mitsui, Seiichiro  

Final disposal of high-level radioactive waste is essential issue to utilize nuclear energy. JNC has promoted the research and development on disposal technology to contribute to the implementation and safety regulation in the implementation phase after the legislation of the Act on final disposal. The field of the R&D covers geological environment, engineering of geological disposal and performance assessment. As to the two underground laboratories (URLs), surface-based investigations have been carried out and the constructions of both have already started. On the basis of these investigations, geologic environmental models have been developed. The study on natural phenomena such as volcanism and faulting has been conducted. In the above ground research facilities, the development of advanced models, databases for the long-term evolution of the near-field and engineering technologies has been carried out. In terms of safety assessment methodologies, development of relevant databases and advanced safety assessment models and techniques has been carried out. The H17 report will be published in autumn 2005 for the studies conducted in the surface-based investigation phase at the URLs.