Safety cases for the deep disposal of radioactive waste; Where do we stand ?

Forinash, B.*; Pescatore, C.*; Umeki, Hiroyuki

NEA News, 25(1), p.16 - 17, 2007/06

Central to successfully implementing long-term deep disposal of radioactive waste is the ability to evaluate and illustrate the safety of a disposal system after closure and far into the future in a manner that is clear, scientifically sound, and persuasive to decision-makers and the public. A recent NEA symposium on "Safety Cases for the Deep Disposal of Radioactive Waste: Where do we stand?" reviewed progress and practical experiences at both the technical and managerial level in preparing for and developing safety cases. The meeting showed that safety cases have evolved into tools to both evaluate and illustrate safety, and to aid in decision-making. Important work continues on the topic.