In the framework of the French act of parliament of December 1991, Andra has the responsibility of the feasibility study of the deep geological disposal of HLW. Andra has decided to present in December 2001 an initial report on the results of its research programme called "Dossier 2001 Argile". Besides the review of the work carried out by Andra, it has the status of a methodological test especially when considering the long-term safety analysis. The RFS III-2f French rule that lays down the objectives which are to be adopted in the design and construction of a deep geological formation radioactive waste repository, indicates that the confinement system consists of three barriers: waste packaging, engineered barriers and geological barrier. It specifies that the main barrier is the geological one, particularly in the long term. On this basis geological criteria including: stability, hydrogeology (permeability, hydraulic gradients), mechanical geochemical and thermal properties as well as a minimum depth requirement, have to be considered in the technical criteria for site characterisation.
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