INDUSTRIAL ASPECTS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN EUROPE

In 1980 there will be about 120 nuclear power reactors with 70,000 MWe in operation in Western Europe, and this number will be doubled by 1985, when the nuclear capacity in operation is expected to be 180,000 MWe. Predictions are made of the waste management requirements resulting from this nuclear expansion. Until a few years ago waste from nuclear research and from the use of isotopes in medicine has been the dominating source. Now there is a much larger proportion from the day to day operation of nuclear power reactors. Waste amounts from reprocessing of spent reactor fuel will rise more slowly. Waste production in other fuel cycle industries is relatively insignificant. There will be around 30 reactors and other nuclear plants to take out of operation in Western Europe around 1990. The large-scale handling of these wastes calls for overall management schemes, based on clear policies for storage and disposal. Questions are identified which have to be answered within the next few years in order to allow the orderly development of such large-scale waste management. These questions deal with: (i) rules and regulations, (ii) new technical evidence, (iii) administrative frameworks and responsibilities. Several areas of waste management are well suited to commercial waste operating firms, already established at present in a number of European countries. The scope for waste operators may include waste transportation, operating of own or government owned treatment and storage installations, and the carrying out of disposal operations. In the paper, development needs originally suggested by the Foratom waste study group will be discussed in the light of a late 1976 review to be carried through by European industry. (Atomindex citation 08:303906)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Available in microfiche only. International conference on nuclear power and its fuel cycles, Salzburg, Austria, 2 May 1977, 3.2.-.T.1./01 6 tables. U.S. Sales Only.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Atomic Energy Agency

  Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 100
  Vienna A-1400,   Austria 
• Authors:
  • Marcus, F R
  • Seynaeve, F
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economics; Energy; Energy consumption; Forecasting; Hazardous materials; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear power plants; Planning; Policy; Radioactive materials; Radioactive waste disposal; Radioactive waste facilities; Radioactive wastes; Recommendations; Regulations; Traffic; Waste management; Wastes
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Old TRIS Terms: Waste transportation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Economics; Energy; Environment; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00168638
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-770505-288
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1978 12:00AM