Disposal Safety: Is Consensus Necessary?

Abstract

As suggested by the title, this paper takes the viewpoint that an international consensus on long-term safety of nuclear waste disposal may not be necessary or appropriate. This is not to say, however, that interactions among nations with waste disposal programs are not beneficial. Indeed, there has been great benefit from numerous interactions in the past, and beneficial interaction can be expected in the future. But interaction does not necessarily lead to consensus, for reasons outlined below.

The approach taken here is to examine some of the important issues that would have to be addressed by a consensus-building effort. These issues are: safety performance standards; mathematical modeling methods; safety assessment scenarios; the role of geologic media in safety performance; site selection and characterization; and environmental/socioeconomic impact evaluations.