A Safety Case for the In Situ Disposal of Two Prototype Nuclear Reactors

Abstract

This paper will discuss the safety cases and barriers for the creation of two in-situ disposal facilities out of the Nuclear Power Demonstration Reactor in Ontario and the WR-1 Reactor in Manitoba, as proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. The proposed disposal approach are a first for Canada and present a number of challenges. A major challenge is to present a balanced and scientifically defensible line of reasoning as to why this approach represents a safe and reasonable option for disposing of the current facilities at this time.

To obtain a licence to create, operate and close these disposal facilities a safety case acceptable to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is required. The safety case is a documented body of evidence presented in a structured manner providing a convincing and valid set of arguments that a system is safe for a given application in a given environment. For both NPD and WR-1 a safety case has been developed as an overarching document summarising safety arguments and identifying and closing gaps in the supporting information.