Handling of Timescales in Assessing Post-Closure Safety of Deep Geological Repositories

9789264099111

9264099115

Deep geological repositories are sited and designed to protect humans and the environment from the hazards associated with radioactive waste. A repository safety case needs to address the period fro which it is possible to contain the radioactivity. Furthermore, safety is usually assessed in terms of the primary indicators of dose and risk and, in order to evaluate these indicators, assumptions must be regarding rhe habits of potentially exposed groups (e.g. diet, lifestyle and land use) and these may change over timescales of just a few years. The need to deal with such a wide range fo timescales gives rise to a range of issues regarding the methods and presentation of safety assessements. The main objective of the workshop was to identify and discuss approaches related to, and work done on, the timescales issue within national radioactive waste management programmes in the context of assessing post-closure safety. The proceedings include the presentations made as well as a summary of the discussions held.