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Nuclear Integration Project (NIP) Workshop: “The Back-end: Healing the Achilles Heel of the Nuclear Renaissance?”

March 3-4, 2008

Abstract

A technically and publicly credible integrated nuclear waste management program that provides for safe disposal of all wastes generated from the current and potential future energy fuel cycles, as well as other defense and civilian nuclear wastes, is needed. Currently, the country’s nuclear waste management system is challenged to provide adequate pathways for management of defense wastes, low level wastes, spent nuclear fuel and potentially new waste streams from advanced fuel cycles. This is the third meeting in an on-going dialogue hosted by CRESP and Vanderbilt University exploring options for the future of nuclear waste management. Past meetings have focused on an overview of nuclear waste management challenges (Oct. 2007) and long-term disposition of spent nuclear fuel from the current fuel cycle (Jan. 2008). This meeting (Mar. 2008) will focus on the challenges and potential benefits posed by different approaches to cradle to grave management of wastes generated by several potential fuel cycle options.

Specific questions to be discussed at the workshop are:
   

What are the set of reasonable technical options and pros/cons of each option for addressing current and future challenges in management of nuclear waste from defense activities and energy production?

    1. What is the role and impact (pros/cons) of recycling/reuse/reprocessing options on waste management options?
    2. What role could/should interim or transitional storage play? What are the options and pro/cons of different interim or transitional storage options? (e.g., at production locations, several consolidated storage locations, one or two consolidated storage options?)
    3. What is the state of experience and uncertainties associated with waste streams and waste forms? How do they affect transitional storage choices?
    4. What are the near- (25 years), intermediate- (25-100 years) and long-term (>100 years) needs for management capacity?
    5. How should individual or groups of isotopes be separated for most efficient management?  What are the key criteria?

How do we assure that we do not create the same problems through reprocessing/recycling/reuse that we created previously?      

Given the above, what are key institutional/legal changes required to facilitate more effective and efficient waste management?

    1. Waste form and disposal site performance requirements?
    2. Waste classification system(s)?
    3. Revision of the performance assurance paradigm?
    4. Institutional controls and assurances?
    5. Radiation protection standards?

How can these different types of issues related to options best be depicted? 

    1. Alternative flow charts of integrated systems (e.g., w/ & w/out reprocessing; w/ & w/out central transitional storage)?
    2. Temporal flow charts that depict management of the whole system over time showing the systems functioning in 25 year phases?
    3.  Some combination of 4.a and 4.b?
    4. What is the role of “examples” in these depictions?  How do recent “successes” and “hard lessons learned” contribute to confidence in the future of successful nuclear waste system implementation?   

 
 
Agenda and Presentations :

Monday March 3, 2008

8:00 – 8:30            Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:45            Welcome and Introductions

8:45 – 9:00            What is the Nuclear Integration Project?
Victor H. Reis, Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy
View Presentation

 9:00 – 9:30           A Review of Where We are as a Nation with Nuclear Waste Management
Charles W. Powers, CRESP III Co-Principal Investigator, Vanderbilt University
Jane B. Stewart, New York University School of Law
View Presentation

9:30 – 9:45            Summary of Prior Vanderbilt Meeting and Symposium on Nuclear Waste Management
David S. Kosson, CRESP III Co-Principal Investigator, Vanderbilt University
View Presentation

9:45 – 10:15          How are other Nations Approaching These Issues?
An Overview and Perspective
Thomas H. Isaacs, Livermore National Laboratory
View Presentation

10:15 – 10:30         Break

10:30 – 11:00        How are other Nations Approaching These Issues?
Impact of Advanced Fuel Cycles on Geological Disposal in Clay
Jan Marivoet, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK.CEN
View Presentation

11:00 – 11:45        Discussion
Kathryn A. Higley, Oregon State University

11:45 – 12:00        Break

12:00 – 1:00           Working Lunch

WIPP: Lessons to be learned from the nation’s successful defense waste repository
Roger Nelson, US Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office
View Presentation (Large file 3MB)

1:00 – 1:40            Radionuclides to be Managed - Appropriate Waste Forms and Repository Conditions
Rodney C. Ewing, University of Michigan
View Presentation

1:40 – 2:10            Transportation and Logistics: Issues and Constraints
Mark D. Abkowitz, Vanderbilt University
View Presentation

2:10 – 2:40            Legacy Needs and Approaches: HLW & Special Nuclear Materials
Mark Gilbertson, Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy
View Presentation

2:40 – 3:10             Facilitated discussion
James H. Johnson, Howard University

3:10 – 3:25            Break

3:25 – 3:40            Surety Principles – What Role Do They Play in Nuclear Waste Management?
Steve Binkley, DOE Office of Science
View Presentation

3:40 – 4:10             Institutional Functions and Relationships Required to Achieve Integration
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

4:10 – 4:40            Options for Alternative Institutional Structures to Achieve Integration
Richard B. Stewart, New York University
View Presentation

4:40 – 5:30            Discussion
5:30                       Meeting Adjourned
                              There will be no host dinner.
 

 Tuesday March 4, 2008

8:00 – 8:30            Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 8:45            Introduction to Day 2
David S. Kosson, CRESP III Co-Principal Investigator, Vanderbilt University

8:45 – 9:30            Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles
Mark T. Peters, Argonne National Laboratory
View Presentation

9:30 – 10:00          Implications of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles for Nuclear Waste Management
Raymond G. Wymer, Vanderbilt University, Adjunct Professor
Retired, Chemical Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
View Presentation

10:00 – 10:30        Discussion

10:30 – 10:45        Break

10:45 – 11:15        Understanding Material Flows, Facilities Needs in Time and Space
Kevin G. Brown, Vanderbilt University
View Presentation

11:15-   11:45        What are the Roles and Impacts of Recycling/Reuse/Reprocessing on Waste Management Options?
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

11:45 – 12:30        What Role Should Interim or Transitional Storage Play and What Are The Interim Storage Options and Pros/Cons? Where?
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

12:30 - 1:30           Lunch

1:30 – 1:45            What is the State Of Experience and Uncertainties Associated with Potential Waste Streams?
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

1:45 – 2:15            What are the Near-, Intermediate-, and Long-Term Needs for Management Capacity and Key Institutional/Legal Changes Needed For More Effective and Efficient Waste Management?
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

2:15 – 2:45            What is the Best Manner To Depict The Different Issues Relevant To Elucidating and Comparing Options?
Facilitated discussion: Charles W. Powers and David S. Kosson

2:45 – 3:00            Break (Optional)

3:00 – 3:30            Summary and Wrap Up
Powers Summary Presentation

3:30                       Meeting Adjourned

Speaker Bios and Participant List :

Participant List

Speaker Bios

Please report errors or problems to Lisa Bliss
 Consortium for Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder Participation III
www.cresp.org

Contact Information

CRESP III Headquarters:

Vanderbilt University
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
VU Station B#351831
Nashville, TN 37235-1831
Phone (615) 322-2697
FAX (615) 322-3365

New Jersey Office
CRESP III, Vanderbilt University
303 George St., Suite 110
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Phone: (732) 579-1092
Toll Free: (866) 914-3244
FAX: (732) 579-1100

Co-Principal Investigators:

David S. Kosson
Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Vanderbilt University
Office Phone: (617) 322-1064
David.Kosson@vanderbilt.edu

Charles W. Powers
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Vanderbilt University
Phone: (732) 579-1092
Toll Free: (866) 914-3244
FAX: (732) 579-1100
cwpowers@cresp.org