Geological Isolation Research and Development

SECTION 1 : THE BASICS OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

1.1 High-level radioactive waste

1.1.1 Nuclear fuel and reprocessing

1.1.2 HLW

1.2 Historical overview of HLW management

1.2.1 First period

1.2.2 Second period

1.2.3 Third period

1.2.4 Recent international matters of interest

1.3 Why geological disposal?

1.3.1 Building international confidence

1.3.2 Comparison of alternative concepts

1.4 The geological disposal concept in Japan

1.4.1 General Concept

1.4.2 Requirements for the Japanese Concept

1.4.3 The Japanese concept

1.4.4 Possibility of more extensive applications of HLW disposal technology

1.5 Schedule for geological disposal

1.6 Institutional framework for geological disposal

1.6.1 International perspective

1.6.2 Provisions in Japan

1.6.3 Public involvement

1.7 Selection of a repository site

1.7.1 International perspective

1.7.2 Technical requirements on the repository site

1.7.3 Siting process in brief

SECTION 2 : FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

2.1 What is the potential risk associated with radiation?

2.2 How can long-term safety be evaluated?

2.3 How can the effects of earthquakes be avoided?

2.4 Is it necessary to monitor the repository?

2.5 What about partitioning and transmutation?

2.6 How is the disposal site selected?

2.7 How are the costs of geological disposal estimated?

LIST OF APPENDICES

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES