Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
IAEA Activities
Thilo v. Berlepsch
DBE TECHNOLOGY GmbH
EDRAM meeting
Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• No activities of DISPONET since last EDRAM meeting
• March 31st to April 4th last meeting of current WATEC group
Formally, IAEA – EDRAM interface disconnected
Very likely that new nominations will again have overlaps with EDRAM
(at least observers)
• Special event during General Conference (September 22nd – 26nd):
• September 23rd / 24th:
Scientific Forum:
Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge
Science and Technology for Safe and Sustainable Solutions
General Status
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Issues and Trends in Member States
• Inventories of radioactive waste and spent fuel
• WTS Networks
• Embarking Nuclear Power Countries / Nuclear “Newcomers”
• Decommissioning and Remediation Missions to Japan in 2013
• Management of large amounts of waste
• Update from International Organisations
• Recommended Topics for the next WATEC Meeting
WATEC – meeting
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Country updates
• E. g. Public Debate, Siting, Legacy Wastes, DSRS
• Special session on missions to Japan
• Effort to harmonise international reporting on inventories
• Unsecured funding of networks
• CONNECT project to provide platform for experience exchange,
networking and e-learning
• Lacking awareness of RWM especially in nuclear programmes of
embarking countries
• Benefits of learning from different areas for preparing for the
management of large amounts of waste
• International organisations
• NEA, EC, ISO, WNA
WATEC – meeting: Summary
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• NORM waste outside the fuel cycle
• Legacy waste (characterisation and risk management)
• Challenges in international cooperation in RW treatment
• Cost drivers for decommissioning and disposal
• Definition of end states for decommissioning/remediation
• Disposal aspects (e.g., experience/lessons learned, innovative
approaches, interdependencies in planning)
Suggested dates for the next WATEC Meeting are: March / April 2015
WATEC – meeting: Recommended Topics for next Meeting
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Major Nuclear Programmes:
• Highlights: Public debate in France and license application for LLW repository in
Belgium
• General topics: Repository siting, management of NORM wastes, need for schedule re-
assessment
• Small to Medium Sized Programmes:
• International cooperation becomes more and more important (Brazil, The Netherlands,
Australia)
• Dual-track policy for disposal (national or international) as an official policy in The
Netherlands
• Problems with public acceptance and characterising legacy wastes
• MSs with Radioactive Waste from Nuclear Applications
• Developing infrastructure for RWM while asking for IAEA support
• Concerns about nuclear security and management of DSRS
WATEC – meeting: Issues and Trends in Member States
RWM shall be addressed in a holistic approach and early planning is necessary
Dissemination of information related to NORM shall be enhanced
Management of DSRS shall be further supported
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Overview by France, Brazil, UK and Spain
• New project: Status and Trends
• Jointly with NEA and EU
• Harmonise reporting on global waste inventory to increase public confidence
• 2 year project followed by a 3 year cycle if proven successful
• 1st report expected in autumn 2014
WATEC – meeting: Inventories of RW and SNF
Enhancing activities concerning characterisation and further management of legacy waste
Status and Trends project can be successful only when reporting burdens decrease
Generally, reporting burdens shall be minimised
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Status of Waste Technology Section (WTS) networks
• Generally funding is heavily questioned within IAEA, even though secretariat function
needed
• Presentation of CONNECT as virtual platform for networks
• Use of CONNECT still limited outside the range of direct users
• Platform facilitates knowledge exchange and networking
WATEC – meeting: WTS Networks
Ensuring long/term sustainability of network because of their important strategic role
E-learning via CONNECT platform and networks shall be supported
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• General awareness of the SF & RW management liabilities is not as properly developed as
other issues
• Governmental responsibilities are more focussed on construction rather than on WM
issues
• As a consequence also the establishment of sufficient SQEP capabilities generally is not
ensured
• Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions by the IAEA help address relevant
issues
WATEC – meeting: Embarking Nuclear Power Countries
Keeping INIR missions
Emphasising importance of achievable and acceptable timelines and milestones in the
development of infrastructure for managing radioactive waste
Encouraging countries embarking on nuclear energy to join and ratify the Joint Convention
Development of reasons why commitment to nuclear is long-term and early WM strategies
are needed
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Japan explained the recent activities for the decommissioning, remediation and waste
management for recovery from Fukushima Accident
• Establishment of International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning (IRID)
August 2013
• Roadmap towards decommissioning and current state of Daichi 1 to 4
• IAEA Decommissioning and Remediation Missions to Japan in 2013
• Intensive discussion on contaminated water treatment and management conducted
• Status of implementation of remediation work, securing temporary storage sites and
facilities
WATEC – meeting: Missions to Japan in 2013
Assist Member States with the development of end states and decommissioning strategies
for decommissioning of accident damaged facilities
Practical guidance on how to transparently involve different stakeholders
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• Follow-up from WATEC 2013 meeting
• Overview of the ongoing and planned activities in the IAEA
• Update on the off-site waste management activities and plans around Fukushima
• Description of the US system to prepare for management of large volumes of waste
following a disaster
• Examples about management of large volumes of waste in Australia and South Africa
WATEC – meeting: Management of large amount of waste
Good cooperation between WTS and WES shall be maintained
Utilisation of remediation experience after disasters with the occurrence of large amounts
of wastes
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014
• The following organisations gave an update:
• Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) under Nuclear Energy Agency
(NEA)
• European Commission (EC)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• World Nuclear Association (WNA)
WATEC – meeting: International Organisations
WATEC members noted that this exchange of information from the international
organizations was helpful and should be continued at future meetings.
Highlights of Discussion
Recommendations
Dr. T. v. Berlepsch
EDRAM, Yokohama, May 19th, 2014