RADIOACTIVE-WASTE FROM NUCLEAR-FUSION - DECOMMISSIONING WASTES FROM ITER IN 4 POTENTIAL HOST NATIONS

An analysis is presented of the radioactive wastes from the Internatio nal Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and how those wastes wou ld fit into the regulatory environments of four potential host nations : France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The reactor described In the ITER Draft Interim Design Report is used as the basis for the radioactive inventory assessments that are carried out using ONEDANT f or the neutron transport calculations and ACAB for the activation calc ulations. The radioactive material produced by operation of the reacto r is rated according to the protocols for waste management in each nat ion and at specific disposal sites currently operating in those nation s. Results of the assessments vary drastically between disposal sites- even between near-surface-burial sites within the U.S. Department of E nergy. One disposal site (Westinghouse Hanford Company) could accept a ll of ITER's wastes after a storage and cooling period (all wastes are assessed at 30 yr after shutdown). Other sites (the Savannah River an d the Nevada Test Sites) could not accept any components within the to roidal field coils, similar to the restrictions in Germany. Blanket mo dules would be excluded from near-surface burial in France and Japan, but other components may qualify.