An Overview of Recent Waste Characterization Activities for Ontario Power Generation's Low & Intermediate Level Waste Deep Geologic Repository

Abstract

Low and Intermediate Level Wastes (LLW and ILW) generated from the operations and refurbishment of Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) owned or operated nuclear reactors are planned for disposal in a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR). Characterization data are required to support the safety case and the licensing of the DGR. Kinectrics has been involved in the ongoing characterization activities since 1999; Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) currently manages this work on behalf of OPG.This paper presents an overview of the recent waste characterization work being performed. While increasingly focused on ILW streams such as pressure tube wastes and spent resins, additional data for a range of LLW streams such as non-processable wastes and incinerator ash are also being developed. Typically, characterization activities involve the radiochemical characterization of gamma, alpha and beta activities for each waste stream and measurement of elemental compositions. The radiochemical data are used to develop scaling factors for various alpha/beta emitting radionuclides.