The Handling of Timescales in Assessing Post-closure Safety: Lessons Learnt from the April 2002 Workshop in Paris, France

摘要

Geological repositories are sited, designed and operated to protect humans and the environment from the hazards associated with radioactive waste. Most challengingly, they are required to provide protection after their closure and over timescales that are considerably in excess of those commonly considered in most engineering projects. This requirement is laid down in international guidance and in many national regulations. Protection is achieved by locating repositories deep underground, thus isolating the waste from the human environment. In addition, sites and designs are chosen that provide highly effective passive barriers to the release and migration of radioactive substances, the aim being to ensure that any releases of radioactivity to the human environment are very low.