Site selection and characterisation

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the concept of site selection and characterization for the disposal of radioactive waste. To ensure that radioactive waste is managed in an appropriate manner, a suitable process needs to be followed to select any radioactive waste disposal site. Such a process needs to be both transparent and defensible so that the community where a site is eventually located should be selected properly. The selection of sites for the disposal of long-lived radioactive waste is the most contentious part of a disposal program and the selection process can be very time consuming. There is a variety of strategies that can be applied in selecting disposal sites. There are further developments in site selection strategies, to take account of the more inclusive approach that is now generally used in making decisions regarding sensitive siting issues, with the result that there is now a greater emphasis on volunteerism in site selection and more interaction with the public and other stakeholders during the siting process. Generally, the process of site selection can be defined in terms of two key factors: first, the extent to which an overtly rational, rather than a pragmatic, approach is adopted and, second, the extent to which satisfactory technical solutions are imposed rather than advocated and accepted by recipient communities.