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Safety assessment concept for repositories of spent nuclear materials in crystalline rocks

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Abstract

The methodological issues in safety assessment of repositories of spent nuclear materials (high level wastes and untreatable irradiated fuel) in crystalline rocks are discussed, and a concept of such assessment is proposed. The problem is urgent because of the need for scientific confirmation of the safety assessment procedure for such repositories in Russian territory.

The concept develops the provisions of Russian normative base in the field of handling of radioactive wastes of this type, taking into account the world experience. The concept is based on theoretically sound principles to be followed in safety assessment for geological repositories. It takes into account the results of analysis of a vast literature on this issue published both in Russia and abroad. Radiological safety criteria and methods for improving the reliability of prediction calculations for determining safety indicators are characterized. The arguments that supplement radiological indicators are shown to be of importance for substantiating the safety of the anticipated repository. The regular implementation of the assessment procedure at each completed stage in the implementation of the project of terminal geological isolation of wastes is regarded as a means for quality control of the performed works.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetnyi per. 35, Moscow, 119017, Russia

    N. P. Laverov, V. I. Velichkin, B. T. Kochkin, V. I. Malkovsky, V. A. Petrov & A. A. Pek

Authors
  1. N. P. Laverov
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  2. V. I. Velichkin
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  3. B. T. Kochkin
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  4. V. I. Malkovsky
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  5. V. A. Petrov
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  6. A. A. Pek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. T. Kochkin.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © N.P. Laverov, V.I. Velichkin, B.T. Kochkin, V.I. Malkovsky, V.A. Petrov, A.A. Pek, 2010, published in Geoekologiya, 2010, No. 3, pp. 195–206.

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Laverov, N.P., Velichkin, V.I., Kochkin, B.T. et al. Safety assessment concept for repositories of spent nuclear materials in crystalline rocks. Water Resour 38, 876–884 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807811070098

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807811070098

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