A Perspective on the Management of Radioactive Wastes from Nuclear Fuel Cycle in Japan

Abstract

Radioactive wastes such as low-level wastes (LLW) and high-level waste (HLW) from nuclear fuel cycle are conditioned, stored and finally disposed of. Basic idea of LLW disposal of the Japanese government is land disposal and sea dumping. In this context, the operation of shallow land burial of LLW from nuclear power stations was initiated in Rokkasho in 1992, while sea dumping is cautiously under investigation. The management policy of the HLW separated in a reprocessing plant is the solidification in toastable form, storage for the meantime and final disposal in a deep geological formation. Recent topics of radioactive waste management in Japan, in addition to the operation of shallow land burial of LLW in Rokkasho, are as follows the cold operation of vitrification pilot plant(TVF) for Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) has already started in Tokai, a commercial reprocessing plant with a capacityof 800 tons of spent fuel per year and an interim storage facility for HLW which is going to be returned from France and UK are under construction in Rokkasho, and an overall program for HLW has been submitted to the people from the government. Geological disposal of HLW is on the stage of site-generic research and development, getting trust and understanding of the people on the geological disposal. To remove the mistrust of research site to be disposal site and to promote the research on the HLW disposal, it is considered highly important to provide a clear distinction between implementation of disposal and research and development as independent processes.