RESULTS OF THE CONCERTED ACTION ON THE RETRIEVABILITY OF LONG LIVED RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN DEEP UNDERGROUND REPOSITORIES

Disposal is generally defined as the emplacement of radioactive waste in a disposal facility without the intention of retrieval, and without reliance on long-term surveillance and maintenance. However, in recent years the issues of surveillance and retrievability have been considered as increasingly important in a number of countries. This has become apparent from, for example, public interaction and consultation. It seems that a staged decision-making process in which decisions are not irrevocable would reassure several stakeholder groups. This requires control and surveillance of the disposal process and the option to be able to reverse to previous stages if desired. This paper presents the results of a ‘Concerted Action’ that was carried out as part of the 4 th