The Review of Options for Long-term Management of OPG's Low- and Intermediate-Level Waste

Abstract

This paper describes the process through which OPG and the Municipality of Kincardine jointly studied options for the management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (L&ILW) at OPG's Western Waste Management Facility. OPG currently operates an interim waste processing and storage facility at the site and Kincardine, as the host municipality, approached OPG with an interest in studying long-term options. OPG and Kincardine signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct such a study. Representatives of the Municipality and OPG visited operating L&ILW management facilities in Switzerland, France, Sweden and the United States and met with local authorities at the host communities. A consultant was contracted to conduct an Independent Assessment of the three options being considered: enhanced processing and long-term storage, covered above-ground concrete vaults and a deep geologic repository. The consultant reviewed geotechnical feasibility, safety, and potential environmental, social and economic effects for each of the options. While the Independent Assessment Study concluded that each of the options is feasible for some or all of the low and intermediate level waste the Municipality indicated a preference for the deep geologic repository option.