International safeguards for a geological repository for the final disposal of spent light-water power reactor fuel elements

The development of an internationally acceptable safeguards concept for the direct final disposal of spent fuel elements from power reactors raises a large number of problems, which require intensive discussion with the safeguards authorities and which cannot be clarified a priori with the current state of the art. Three different safeguards models are proposed and alternatives discussed which include changes in safeguards philosophy, technical improvements and institutional arrangements. Taking also those elements into account still some problems for safeguards in a final spent fuel repository remain unsolved.