Management of radioactive waste Jeroen Welbergen EAN-NORM Dresden 2009

2 contents Dutch situation Dutch regulation Dutch solution Dutch conclusion

3 Radioactive waste 2 nuclear power plants 1 operating 1 shut down (1997) 2 research reactors industry medicine research U-enrichment plant

4 Waste classification HLW: - research reactors - power plants L/ILW:- nuclear research - nuclear industry - nuclear medicine - power plants NORM:- P production - depleted U

5 PRINCIPLE Isolate, Control, Monitor radioactivity will decay hazard disappears keep the waste in a safe place

6 Regulations ICRP recs EURATOM treaty BSS Nuclear Energy Act RP Decree Ordinance NABIS (NORM) in 2004

7 NABIS Identify work activities (Registration) Exemption (EL) = clearance (CL) Summation of radionuclides Notification (EL 10 x EL) Licensing (>10 x EL) Standard form Monitoring Waste

8 Waste or radioactive waste < EL  incineration/dump > EL  special landfill < 10 x EL  special treatment  E&P sludges to Begemann or GMR  metals to Siempelkamp or Studsvik  slagwool to Thermphos  > 10 x EL  COVRA

9 Revisons of NABIS EL = CL (2004) –U238 sec / Th232 sec = 1 Bq/g –U238+ / Th232 = 10 - –Ra-226 / Ra-228 = 1 - –Pb-210 / Po-210 = Most favourable summation 2008: –Less than 1 tonnes/yr no notification –Mixing of waste is allowed

10 Solutions for the Netherlands small amount of waste high ground water table high population density high environmental awareness advanced spatial planning no shallow disposal, only deep disposal

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12 Radioactive waste policy in the Netherlands Isolate, Control & Monitor Storage at 1 central location All radioactive waste managed by COVRA Storage in building for 100 years Disposal after 100 year

13 Clay- and salt formations in the Netherlands

14 COVRA Principles Polluter pays Costs covered by fees Cost effective No retrospective adjustment of fees paid COVRA takes over full title Future costs to be paid from funds Capital growth fund

15 Execution of the policy Facilities for all types of wastes Capacity for at least 100 years Disposal in salt or clay possible Step-wise approach to decision-making Time regional/international options or completely new technologies No burden for future generations warmteproducerend afval

16 COVRA site 1. Office 2. AVG 3. LOG 4. HABOG 5. Scrap 6. COG 7. VOG

17 COVRA site

18 Source low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) NPPs Hospitals & laboratoria Radioactive waste

19 Volume reduction - Supercompaction

20 Volume reduction - Incineration

21 Storage containers LILW 1.Supercompacted puck 2.Concrete 3.Gegalvanised drum 4.Concrete overpack

22 Storage containers LILW

23 Source very low level radioactive waste (VLLW) Ore processing & process industry Radioactive waste

24 COVRA site

25 PHOSPHOR INDUSTRY WASTE calcinate Po-210, Bi-210, Pb ton/yr Bq/g decays within 150 y

26 PHOSPHOR INDUSTRY WASTE calcinate is dried at production plant calcinate is loaded in 20-ft container polyethylene bag inside container container is filled at the top container can be sealed 30 ton calcinate per container

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28 Container Storage (COG) Storage solid waste of ore processing industries Direct storage in industrial 20ft containers

29 COVRA site

30 DEPLETED URANIUM UF 6 U-nat, U-repro U-238 and daughters 5000 ton U/yr 10,000 Bq/g

31 DEPLETED URANIUM modular building concrete structure good insulation 3.5 m 3 containers overhead crane containers 3 high humidity control

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33 Container Opslag Gebouw (COG)

34 Depleted Uranium Storage (VOG) UF 6 not suitable for long-term storage Conversion into U 3 O 8 (stable oxide, suitable for long-term storage)

35 RADIOACTIVE SCRAP metal casings with insulation wool (Th) pipes from the oil & gas industry (Ra) lost or orphan sources activated metals

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38 MANAGING RADIOACTIVE SCRAP Obligation to: measure all incoming scrap register measurements appoint a responsible person secure financial assurance

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40 MANAGING RADIOACTIVE SCRAP Positive measurement: - inform inspectorate - organise work to separate within 15 days radioactive from non- radioactive material - ship radioactive parts to COVRA, NRG or Siempelkamp >> resulting radioactivity shipped to COVRA

41 SHORT-TERM STORAGE AT COVRA Storage awaiting: - separation radioactive from non- radioactive material - shipment of radioactive parts to decontamination, melting or treatment facility - solution to ownership and financial disputes

42 Conclusion Dutch regulations for NORM are transparent –registration licensing Treatment of radioactive NORM-waste by industry is not a problem –Treatment  re-use + waste  COVRA A graded approach is welcome –EU BSS 2010

Danke Schön! SAFE = BEAUTIFUL