Research on engineering technology in the full-scale demonstration of EBS and operation technology for HLW disposal; Research report in 2008 (Joint research)

Nakatsuka, Noboru; Hatanaka, Koichiro; Sato, Haruo; Sugita, Yutaka ; Nakayama, Masashi ; Miyahara, Shigenori; Asano, Hidekazu*; Saito, Masahiko*; Suyama, Yasuhiro*; Hayashi, Hidero*; Honda, Yuko*; Hishioka, Sosuke*

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and Radioactive Waste Management Funding and Research Center (RWMC) effect an agreement about research and development of high level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal and carried out research and technological development about geological disposal technology. JAEA has been carried out the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (URL) Project which is intended for sedimentary rock and the Project includes geoscientific research and geological disposal technology. RWMC carried out an investigation about full-scale demonstration of engineered barrier system (EBS) and operation technology for HLW disposal, under the contract with the Natural Resources and Energy Agency, Ministry of Economy, the Trade and Industry. The investigation aims to obtain the citizens' understanding of the geological disposal. This work includes the full-scale demonstration of operation technology in the Horonobe URL. This joint research is about engineering technology concerned with the work. In 2008 fiscal year (2008/2009), the master plan of the work was made, and a part of the device for transportation of engineered barrier was made, and it has begun the exhibition of full-scale bentonite block and overpack.