Developing a Safety Case for a Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility

Abstract

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories proposes developing a Near Surface Disposal Facility at the Chalk River Laboratories for disposal of CNL’s Low Level Radioactive Waste. Safety arguments presented in a number of technical supporting documents were integrated into a Safety Case, demonstrating the operational and long-term safety of the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility in a format that facilitates stakeholder communications.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission requirements and International Atomic Energy Agency guidance for radioactive waste disposal were used to prepare the Safety Case. The Safety Case included sections discussing the introduction, safety strategy, system description, safety assessment, iteration and design optimization, management of uncertainties, limits, controls and conditions, integration of safety arguments, and the management system.

Feedback from Independent Third Party Reviews was incorporated into the final document. Valuable feedback from the public and Indigenous communities was used to develop targeted safety arguments addressing their key concerns.