Status of the Canadian nuclear fuel waste management program

Allan, C. J.*

Canada's strategy for the management of its nuclear fuel waste is to provide interistorage of its used fuel, either in pools, or in dry storage systems. These storageystems meet the fundamental objectives of protecting worker safety, public health anthe environment, but they represent an interim solution requiring on-going institutial control. Thus in parallel we are developing the technology for the eventual dispal of nuclear fuel waste - either direct disposal of used fuel or the disposal of thhigh-level waste (HLW) that would result if Canada decides to reprocess its fuel - tprovide a system that is passively safe, i.e., one which does not depend for safety institutional control. The Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program was launed in 1978 as a joint initiative by the governments of Canada and Ontario following e recommendations of a study of options completed in 1977. As a result of public coerns over experimental drilling early in the program, a decision was made to separate technology development and demonstration from site selection. Thus, selection of a nuclear fuel waste disposal site would not proceed until the technology had first been developed and reviewed. So, a generic rather than a site-specific concept has been developed. The review of the concept is currently underway. It began formally in 1988 and is expected to be completed in 1997.