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INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Managing disposal of radioactive waste and spent fuel
Prepare NE series reports on operation of radioactive waste disposal facilities
Background
A number of countries operate disposal facilities for very low, low, and intermediate level radioactive waste; several tens of other MS’s plan or have even initiated their development.
While development of a repository is considered as a challenging issue combining technical, and social matters, its operation seems to be a routine set of repeated actions. However, this operational period needs also proper organisational system consisting of corporate and technical management, maintenance, regulatory supervision, organisation of technical operations, monitoring, preparation for and closure of the facility, etc. Except for some technical specifics reflecting a type (surface, geological) and size of a disposal facility and accepted waste classes, most of those rules are similar for all repositories.
Development phase of a disposal facility is well covered by existing or under-development
IAEA documents; in contrary, its operational phase has been just tackled in some Safety
Series publications and some particularities have been treated in technical documents, which are furthermore mostly outdated. Thus, to assist its Member States, the intention of this publication is to provide advice on how to plan and implement operational management of a disposal facility, starting with its commissioning and ending with its permanent closure.
The objective of the document is to inform and advise on establishment and implementation of the corporate and technical management of a disposal facility during its operational phase.
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Objective of the TM
The objective of the meeting is to revise the first draft of the document on operation of radioactive waste disposal facilities.
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Scope
The document will cover the whole operational period of a disposal facility, from its commissioning till its permanent closure. It will start with of a brief description of typical

elements of surface and geological repositories, including their active and nonactive/supporting facilities and will describe adequate staffing (professions/functions needed) and advise on its planning and training of personnel. It will suggest organisation of repository operation, including receipt and emplacement of waste, safety and security arrangements, facility monitoring, and emergency preparedness. Due space will be provided for planning and performing maintenance of a facility and its equipment and for interactions with regulators.
Corporate management system will also be briefly introduced as well as principles and practices for communication with stakeholders.
Output
A revised draft of a document advising on repository operation issues.
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Relevant IAEA Publications
The document covering fully the above described issue does not exist. However in below listed documents the topic has been tackled; this information will be systematically treated, updated and concisely presented.
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Operational Experience in Shallow Ground Disposal of Radioactive Wastes,
Technical Reports Series No. 253 (1985)
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Characterization of RW forms and packages, IAEA TRS 383 (1997)\
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Acceptance criteria for disposal of radioactive wastes in shallow ground and rock cavities, Safety Series No. 71, IAEA, Vienna (1985)
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Qualitative Acceptance Criteria for Radioactive Wastes to be Disposed of in Deep
Geological Formations, IAEA TECDOC Series No. 560 (1990)
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Considerations in the Safety Assessment of Sealed Nuclear Facilities, IAEA
TECDOC Series No. 606 (1991)
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Inspection and Verification of Waste Packages for Near Surface Disposal, IAEA
TECDOC Series No. 1129 (1999)
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Monitoring of Geological Repositories for High Level Radioactive Waste, IAEA
TECDOC Series No. 1208 (2001)
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Requirements and methods for LILW package acceptability, IAEA TECDOC 864
(1996)
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Records for Radioactive Waste Management up to Repository Closure: Managing the
Primary Level Information (PLI) Set , IAEA TECDOC Series No. 1398 (2004)
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The Management System for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste Safety Guide, IAEA
Safety Standards Series No. GS-G-3.4 (2008)
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Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Safety Requirements, IAEA Safety
Standards Series No. WS-R-4 (2006)
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Near Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste Safety Requirements, IAEA Safety
Standards Series No. WS-R-1 (1999)
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DS354 - Disposal of Radioactive Waste
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DS356 - Near Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste
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DS357 - Monitoring and Surveillance of Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities