Growing need for humanities and social science studies in uranium waste disposal

Yasuda, Hiroshi*; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; Saito, Tatsuo

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 63(8), p.610 - 614, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.63.8_610

Regarding the handling of uranium bearing waste, which is contaminated with uranium, which is a naturally occurring radionuclide, and its descendant nuclides, in recent years, the Japan Nuclear Regulatory Commission, etc. have been carefully and actively deliberated based on the knowledge of natural science and safety engineering. It was carried out, and as of March 2021, a certain policy has been shown. On the other hand, when disposing of uranium waste, which may cause dose exposure to future generations, the authors consider not only the science and engineering perspectives that have been conducted so far, but also the humanities and social science perspectives. We have been discussing with experts in related fields, thinking that it is necessary. In this report, we will introduce the background that brought about such an idea and the direction of future discussions.

Survey on uranium bearing waste disposal facilities in foreign countries

Saito, Tatsuo; Sakai, Akihiro; Sato, Kazuhiko; Yagi, Naoto; Hata, Haruhi; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; Kawagoshi, Hiroshi; Hasegawa, Makoto

JAEA-Review 2014-021, 30 Pages, 2014/07

JAEA-Review-2014-021.pdf:4.51MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency surveyed the reference cases for the disposal of uranium bearing waste in low activity concentration as the contents of their own category 2 waste disposal facility for the Research and Development Activities. We reviewed the concepts mentioned in IAEA and ICRP documents, reference cases of uranium bearing waste disposal in selected countries (USA, Canada, UK, France and Sweden), and the disposal styles of long-lived radioactive waste were summarized, and the action items for application to the disposal system of our country was arranged. The disposal facilities in selected countries can be classified into 2 types with the length of performance assessment period for intruder scenario. They are long term assessment type and short term assessment type. It seems that the disposal system construction in category 2 waste disposal is the most realistic since there are many precedence examples of each country. Correspondence of 2 types of these disposal facilities is useful as a reference case.

Survey on uranium bearing waste disposal facilities in North American Continent

Hasegawa, Makoto; Saito, Tatsuo; Zaitsu, Tomohisa; Sato, Kazuhiko; Sakai, Akihiro; Fumoto, Hiromichi*

JAEA-Review 2013-043, 42 Pages, 2013/12

JAEA-Review-2013-043.pdf:4.24MB
JAEA-Review-2013-043-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:10.55MB

Uranium bearing waste in Japan is not included in Category-2 radioactive waste disposal in NSCRG: F-RW-I.02 (published in August 2010, NSC Japan). Therefore, disposal of uranium bearing waste should be considered in institutionalization. In charge of the consideration, it is thought effective to refer to the proven tactics of the uranium waste disposal in overseas and the information on a safe regulatory system. Since the view of regulations and enterprises in this field are progressing day by day, renewal of the existing information of disposal of the uranium waste in each country is required. Furthermore, amendment of the U.S. federal rule aiming at safety disposal of depleted uranium is in progress. It is important to collect and arrange the latest information on the two above-mentioned points. Therefore, it visited the disposal responsible organization and regulatory agency of the disposal site of the uranium waste in the U.S. and Canada, and held institution investigations and interviews paying attention to the following four items: (1) "amendment of the U.S. 10CFR61", (2) "Safety evaluation of uranium bearing waste", (3) "Disposal site design", (4) "Stakeholder involvement".

Study of assessing aqueous reprocessing process for the pipeless reprocessing plant

*; *; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; *; *

JNC TJ9400 2000-001, 112 Pages, 2000/02

JNC-TJ9400-2000-001.pdf:6.67MB

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of new reprocessing process for the purpose of introducing pipeless plant concept, where aqueous separation methods other than solvent extraction method are adopted in order to develop more economical FBR fuel (MOX fuel) reprocessing process. At it's first stage, literature survey on precipitation method, crystallization method and ion-exchange method was performed. Based on the results, following processes were candidated for pipeless reprocessing plant. (1)The process adopting crystallization method and peroxide precipitation method (2)The process adopting oxalate precipitation method (3)The process under mild aqueous conditions (crystallization method and precipitation method) (4)The process adopting crystallization method and ion-exchange method (5)The process adopting crystallization method and solvent extraction method The processes (1)(5) were compared with each others in terms of competitiveness to the conventional reference process, and merits and demerits were evaluated from the viewpoint of applicability to pipeless reprocessing plant, safety, economy, Efficiencies in consumption of Resources, non-proliferation, and, Operation and Maintenance. As a result, (1)The process adopting crystallization method and peroxide precipitation method was selected as the most reasonable process to pipeless plant. Preliminary criticality safety analyses, main process chemical flowsheet, main equipment list and layout of mobile vessels and stations were reported for the (1) process.

Progress report of the expert panel on management of NORM-containing wastes investigated through the perspective of humanities and social sciences

Yasuda, Hiroshi*; Saito, Tatsuo; Fumoto, Hiromichi*; Kasai, Atsushi*; Shimo, Michikuni*; Sugawara, Shinetsu*; Tsuchida, Shoji*; Furuta, Sadaaki*

no journal, , 

Contaminated with naturally occurring radionuclides uranium and its progeny nuclides, "uranium bearing wastes" have very long half-life to decay its radioactivity, which can be hundreds of thousands of years, and have risk to impose a considerable burden on future generations. Based on this, the authors considered that it is important to consider not only from the viewpoint of science and engineering as has been done so far, but also from the viewpoint of humanities and social sciences such as philosophy and history. Therefore, in 2020, the Health Physics Society of Japan established the "the Expert Panel on Management of NORM-Containing Wastes Investigated through the Perspective of Humanities and Social Sciences, and related fields". In this session, we will report on the history and future outlook of our activities so far.