Nuclear Decommissioning Waste Management and Environmental Site Remediation

Colin Bayliss, Kevin Langley0750677449, 9780750677448, 9780080537788

Decommissioning nuclear facilities is a relatively new field, which has developed rapidly in the last ten years. It involves materials that may be highly radioactive and therefore require sophisticated methods of containment and remote handling. The wastes arising from decommissioning are hazardous and have to be stored or disposed of safely in order to protect the environment and future generations. Nuclear decommissioning work must be carried out to the highest possible standards to protect workers, the general public and the environment. This book describes the techniques used for dismantling redundant nuclear facilities, the safe storage of radioactive wastes and the restoration of nuclear licensed sites.
* Describes the techniques used for dismantling nuclear facilities, safe storage of radioactive wastes, and the restoration of nuclear licensed facilities.
* Provides the reader with decommissioning experience accumulated over 15 years by UKAEA.
* Contains valuable information to personnel new to decommissioning and waste management.

---

Table of contents :
Front Cover……Page 1
Nuclear Decommissioning, Waste Management, and Environmental Site Remediation……Page 4
Copyright Page……Page 5
Contents……Page 6
About the authors……Page 14
Contributors……Page 16
Preface……Page 18
Foreword……Page 20
1-2 The Evolution of the Current Organisational Arrangements in the UK……Page 22
1-4 An International Perspective on Radioactive Waste Management……Page 25
1-5 International Regulation and Collaboration……Page 30
1-6 The Kyoto Protocol and OSPAR (Oslo Paris Convention)……Page 34
1-8 Acronyms and Abbreviations……Page 37
1-9 References……Page 42
2-2 The Properties of Radiation……Page 44
2-3 Basic Concepts and Units……Page 45
2-5 The Biological Effects of Radiation……Page 46
2-6 Radiological Protection Principles……Page 48
2-7 Practical Advice on Radiation Protection Implementation……Page 50
2-9 Practical Advice on Principles for Solid Radioactive Waste Disposal……Page 51
2-12 Methods of Radiation Detection……Page 53
2-13 Choosing Detection Equipment……Page 55
2-14 Practical Aspects of Radiation Protection……Page 56
2-15 Summary……Page 59
2-16 References……Page 61
3-2 Stages of Decommissioning……Page 62
3-3 Drivers Determining Decommissioning Plans and Programs……Page 63
3-5 Contrasting Reactor Decommissioning With Other Facilities……Page 64
3-6 Availability of Guidance and Reference Information……Page 65
3-7 References……Page 67
4-2 How and Why is Government Involved?……Page 68
4-3 Some of the Key Drivers for Government……Page 69
4-4 Current Developments……Page 71
4-5 Decommissioning Research Framework Programs of the European Community……Page 72
4-7 References……Page 73
5-2 Preparing for the Transition……Page 74
5-4 Information Requirements……Page 75
5-6 Costs of Transition Activities……Page 76
6-2 Decommissioning and Radioactivity……Page 78
6-3 Decommissioning Activities……Page 82
6-4 Paying for Decommissioning……Page 83
6-5 References……Page 88
7-3 Alpha and Gamma Radiation Working……Page 90
7-4 Decommissioning Examples……Page 92
8-3 Decommissioning Safety Case……Page 98
8-4 Conventional Safety Documentation Requirements……Page 99
8-5 Management Procedures and Quality Assurance……Page 100
8-6 Examples of Typical Safety Documentation……Page 101
9-2 General Approach……Page 104
9-4 In Situ Measurements……Page 105
9-5 Sampling and Analysis……Page 106
9-6 Quality Assurance Requirements……Page 108
9-8 Reference……Page 109
10-2 Objectives and Constraints for Decontamination……Page 110
10-3 Characteristics of Decontamination Techniques……Page 111
10-4 Waste Minimisation and Treatment……Page 113
10-5 Selecting a Decontamination Technique……Page 115
10-7 References……Page 116
11-2 Cutting Techniques……Page 120
11-3 Remote Handling Techniques……Page 125
11-4 Radiological Protection During Dismantling……Page 126
11-5 Case Study: WAGR Decommissioning……Page 128
12-3 The Strategic Plan……Page 134
12-4 The Integrated Site Restoration Plan……Page 139
12-6 The Project Sanction Process……Page 140
12-7 Principles for Carrying out Financial Appraisals……Page 144
12-8 References……Page 146
13-2 Capital Investment……Page 148
13-4 Appraisal Methods……Page 150
13-5 Project Investment Examples……Page 152
13-6 Modern Contract Strategy in the Nuclear Industry……Page 155
13-7 Alternative Sources of Funds……Page 159
13-8 References……Page 161
14-2 Understanding Risk and Dose……Page 162
14-3 Hazard Reduction……Page 164
14-4 Project Prioritisation……Page 165
14-5 Case Studies……Page 167
14-6 References……Page 171
15-2 Conventional Cost Estimating……Page 174
15-3 Standardised Cost Listings……Page 176
15-4 Parametric Cost Estimating……Page 178
15-5 Reference……Page 180
16-1 Requirements to Manage Radioactive Wastes……Page 182
16-2 Characterisation and Segregation……Page 183
16-4 Classification of Wastes……Page 184
16-5 Summary……Page 186
16-6 Reference……Page 187
17-2 Waste Management Strategy Requirements……Page 188
17-3 Elements of a Waste Management Strategy……Page 190
17-5 Integration and Costing……Page 192
17-7 Fundamentals of Licensees’ Strategies……Page 193
17-9 References……Page 196
18-2 Nuclear Site Operations……Page 198
18-3 Environmental Policy and Regulation……Page 199
18-4 EnvironmentalManagement System (EMS)……Page 208
18-6 Tolerability of Risk……Page 209
18-7 References……Page 213
19-2 Sources of LLW……Page 214
19-3 LLW Disposal……Page 216
19-5 LLW Conditioning Facilities……Page 219
19-6 Reference……Page 221
20-2 Regulatory Requirements for ILW……Page 222
20-3 Sources and Processing Requirements……Page 223
20-4 Standard Waste Packages and Specifications……Page 224
20-5 ILW Conditions for Acceptance for Interim Storage and/or Eventual Disposal……Page 230
20-6 Case Study — Waste Packaging Exercise……Page 232
20-7 References……Page 240
21-3 Spent Fuel……Page 242
21-4 HLW Characteristics and Inventory Data……Page 245
21-6 References……Page 248
22-2 Regulatory Requirements for Transport……Page 250
22-3 Examples of Waste Transport Packages……Page 255
22-4 Transport of Large Items of Decommissioning Waste……Page 257
22-5 Regulatory Considerations in the UK……Page 259
22-7 References……Page 260
23-2 Delicensing……Page 262
23-3 Chemically Contaminated Land……Page 263
23-5 Principles for Management of Contaminated Land……Page 264
23-6 Best Practicable Environmental Option……Page 265
23-7 Summary……Page 266
24-3 Walk Over Surveys……Page 268
24-5 Health, Safety, and Logistical Issues……Page 269
24-6 Nonintrusive Surveys……Page 270
24-8 Logging, Sampling, and Analysis……Page 271
24-11 Guidance on Site Investigation……Page 272
24-12 References……Page 273
25-2 Waste Minimisation……Page 276
25-3 Immobilisation, Stabilisation, and Solidification……Page 280
25-4 Containment Systems and Hydraulic Measures……Page 281
25-6 Best Practicable Environmental Option……Page 282
25-7 References……Page 283
AI-1 Belgium……Page 284
A1-2 Canada……Page 286
A1-3 Finland……Page 287
A1-4 France……Page 289
A1-5 Germany……Page 290
A1-6 Japan……Page 291
A1-7 The Netherlands……Page 293
A1-8 Spain……Page 295
A1-9 Sweden……Page 297
AI-10 Switzerland……Page 298
AI-11 The United Kingdom……Page 300
Al-12 The United States of America……Page 301
Al-13 Central and Eastern European Countries……Page 303
A2-1 Introduction……Page 306
A2-4 Technical Appraisal of Options……Page 307
A2-5 Implementation……Page 309
A2-8 Description of B459……Page 319
A2-9 References……Page 327
A3-2 Site Characterisation……Page 328
A3-3 Option Study……Page 330
A3-4 Design……Page 331
A3-5 Implementation……Page 333
A3-6 Risk Assessment……Page 335
A3-7 References……Page 336
A4-1 Internet Information……Page 338
A4-2 Book List……Page 339
A5-2 The Nucleus……Page 342
A5-3 Radioactivity……Page 343
A5-4 Half-Life……Page 344
A5-5 Table of Elements……Page 346
A5-6 Reactor Grade Plutonium Decay……Page 347
Index……Page 348