Radioactive Waste Management: Policy in the Netherlands & national research programs

The main components of the Dutch policy on radwaste
The policy of the Dutch government with respect to the management of radioactive waste was formulated in a policy document in 1984. This policy has two main components:

1. the storage of all radioactive wastes at one surface facility for the next 50 to 100 years;
2. the research into final disposal in deep geological formations.

final disposal must take place in such a way that waste is retrievable for a 'lengthy' period of time.

With respect to the first component the Central Organization for Radioactive Waste (COVRA) was established. COVRA has constructed and operates facilities for the treatment and storage of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes at Borsele. In addition COVRA recently finished the construction of a facility (HABOG) for the storage of high level wastes at the same location.

Radwaste research program in the Netherlands, 1984 - 1993
As a result of the second component, research programs were set up. In the period from 1984 to 1993, in the framework of the Program for Disposal on Land (OPLA), research into final disposal focussed on rock salt formations. A repository design was developed which was based upon deep vertical bore holes from the galleries and both deterministic and probabilistic performance assessments were performed for this design. In addition the Netherlands participated in bilateral and international experimental research programs. The principal conclusion of the OPLA program was that final disposal in rock salt was technically feasible and in all probability could be achieved safely.

Introduction of retrievability criterion; research program 1993 - 2001
In 1993 the government added to the existing policy by stating that final disposal must take place in such a way that waste is retrievable for a 'lengthy' period of time. The government also specified that, in addition to rock salt, other host rock formations should be studied with respect to their suitability and that the possibility of surface interim storage for an extended period should be investigated. The emphasis in the current research program reflects these points. In 1993 - 2001 the program was supervised by the Commission for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (CORA). In 2001 the Commission published its final report.
The commission has studied three options: storage in surface facilities, storage under ground in clay formations and rock salt formations. Some of the conclusions of the commission were:

1. Retrievable storage:
   All assessed options are feasible with respect to retrievability. Retrievability can be guarenteed for several centuries.
2. Comparison of options:
   On surface storage is the simplest of all options; the data are reliable and retrievability never is a problem with this option. The multi barrier systems of the clay and rock salt formations have the benefit of providing of a "fail safe" option; if the repository is abandoned it will be closed by natural processes and become inaccessible.
3. Safety:
   The assessment methods were greatly improved in the CORA period. For an underground repository, water ingress during the retrievability period is considered to be a situation with the maximum consequences. Nevertheless, individual doses in the biosphere will be limited to (after 10⁵ years) about 10^-12 Sv/year for repositories in salt and 10^-6 Sv/year after 2 10⁵ years for repositories in clay. The calculated doses are very low and much lower than the dose from natural sources which amounts to about 2.4 10^-3 Sv per year.
4. Costs:
   Extension of the interim storage period with COVRA from 100 to 300 years will cost about 90 million Euros (90 10⁶). Construction and maintenance of a repository in rock salt will cost about 280 million, in clay this will cost about 400 - 800 million, depending on several factors. Maintenance of the facilities enabling the retrieval of the wastes costs 1.8 million Euros per year.
5. International co-operation:
   Since the amount of radioactive wastes in the Netherlands is very limited, the technical and societal complexity of the waste disposal needs international co-operation. Such a co-operation will greatly reduce costs. Participation in experimental facilities is a necessary step in proving the reliability of the disposal option studied.

More information:
NRG, Radiation & Environment
Mr. A.D.Poley, PO Box 25, 1755 ZG Petten, Netherlands
Tel +31-224564333, Fax +31-224568491, Email: poley@nrg.eu

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