Risk Analysis of Radioactive Waste Management Systems in Germany

Abstract

Within the scope of a system study,“Radioactive Wastes in the Federal Republic of Germany,” performed from 1974 through 1976, the questions of risk assessment were investigated. A risk analysis of a high-level waste (HLW) management system was performed. The results of the HLW tank storage are that the risk expectation value is 700 nJ/kg × RBE (7 × 10−5 rem) per year for atmospheric release. The discussion of the main contributing accidents shows the possibility of reducing the risk by technical means. A qualitative comparison on a release basis with the results of the WASH-1400 report shows significant differences that can be explained by the different methodologies applied.The risk analysis activities have led to a comprehensive risk assessment project, which was recently started. The project includes research and development tasks concerning nuclide migration and transport to the ecosphere, nuclide mobilization by various mechanisms, methodology problems, data collection, computer code development, as well as risk analyses of waste management facilities. It is intended to round off the project with risk analyses of spent fuel element transport, storage, and reprocessing.