ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES - THE NEW ERA OF RADIOACTIVE-WASTE MANAGEMENT

The safe disposal of radioactive waste presents one of the most diffic ult environmental problems raced by industrial countries. The safety o f a nuclear waste repository is largely dependent on the behaviour-of the surrounding ground water. This ground water will inevitably enter the repository and dissolve the radionuclides. The contamination of gr ound water in this way presents the most important risk posed by radio active waste disposal. Due to the complexity of the chemical and hydro geological systems that will determine radionuclide migration rates, t he quantification of the level of risk presented by radioactive waste disposal is currently subject to errors of many orders of magnitude. A s a result of these errors it is possible that the discharges from a n uclear waste repository could result in doses that considerably exceed the regulatory limit. The successful resolution of this problem is cr itically dependent on the application of a sound scientific approach. This requires a paced approach programme in order that the research re sults map be assimilated and utilised. Furthermore it requires that th e research is subject to full peer review in order that any errors or omissions may be identified and addressed, There are significant oppor tunities opening up for the countries that successfully develop expert ise and technology in this area to export these skills to the growing international market. However, in the UK the nuclear waste disposal bo dy UK Nirex Ltd has been severely constrained by its lack of independe nce from the nuclear industry. Within its current structure Nirex is n ot competent to meet the challenge of safe radioactive waste managemen t. Nirex must be disbanded and a new independent organisation with a r emit to develop a robust scientifically based approach to long term ra dioactive waste management must be established. It is only in this way that the challenges and opportunities created by the new era or radio active waste management may be met.