Suggested Nuclear Waste Management Radiological Performance Objectives

摘要

Development of criteria for the safe disposal of nuclear wastes in geologic media requires the establishment of definitive objectives against which the adequacy of various waste management methods may be judged. This report suggests certain guidelines that might serve as first approximations pending promulgation of official criteria. These include: the allowable radiation dose to individuals should be related to the predicted probability of receiving the dose such that as the dose increases, the events leading to that dose should become less probable. A quantitative relationship is developed and discussed. Selection of a waste management method should be made in accordance with the principles of ALARA. Doses to future generations should be considered to be equally as serious as doses to present populations. When the hazard potential of an underground nuclear waste repository becomes less than that of typical hazardous ore formations (i.e., 0.2% uranium ore), further concern is unwarranted. (ERA citation 04:021794)