Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project will to formulate radioactive waste management measures, develop management codes and standards and safe management technology for radioactive wastes in China. It is based on programme area 19B of China's Agenda 21 on safe and environmentally sound management of radioactive wastes.

1. Background

The "Environmental Policy on Low- and Medium-level Radioactive Wastes Disposal" promulgated by the State Council in 1992, defined the roles radioactive waste management system and an environment supervision body. The corresponding organizations of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and environmental protection have been established in China's nuclear industry. China has enacted codes, standards, and guidelines for the management of radioactive wastes. In the development of the nuclear industry, necessary purification facilities for "three wastes" have been established.

Since 1982, 20 urban radioactive waste repositories have been constructed in China. Research and development projects on waste treatment systems, pre-disposal technology, and disposal safety assessment methodology have been carried out by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

In the 1960s, environmental monitoring systems were established and in the 1980s, environmental radiation-monitoring stations were established in several provinces by the National Environmental Protection Agency. The safety analysis and environmental assessment systems for nuclear projects have been established by the State and the CNNC. The nuclear industry has personnel with experience in radioactive waste management.

China has not yet drawn up an overall plan for radioactive waste management. Moreover, the regulatory structure for radioactive waste management is not complete. Since nuclear power development in China began, low- and medium-level radioactive waste disposal sites have not yet been established. At present, this work is still in the siting and feasibility stage.

The problem of final disposal of radioactive waste has been left unsolved. Most nuclear accidents have resulted from the inappropriate treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes. The environmental impact of radioactive waste disposal has not been fully evaluated, and waste management is lacking.

At present, a certain amount of radioactive waste has been produced in China. Nuclear power development has been initiated, and will continue to grow, so a large amount of radioactive waste will be produced. The extensive application of nuclear technology will increase the likelihood of radioactive wastes entering the environment. If safe management methods are not developed, significant threats to the environment and public health will occur.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • Formulate radioactive waste management measures, including those wastes that arise from nuclear power plants, civilian nuclear fuel cycle, the application of nuclear technology, and the exploitation and application of the associated minerals; develop management codes and standards; develop safe management technology for radioactive wastes, environmental protection and public health.

• Immediate Objectives
  • Establish a supervision system for low- and medium-level radioactive wastes.
  • Establish assessment methods and computer software for environmental impacts and health hazards arising from radioactive wastes; and determine the environmental impacts of radioactive wastes in China.
  • Strengthen personnel training in waste management and related fields.

3. Activities

• 3.1 Formulate management plans for radioactive waste, with emphasis on disposal.
  • Establish a data base containing information on the types, quantity and characteristics of radioactive wastes.
  • Formulate systematic waste management measures, with emphasis on disposal, and to decrease waste production. Also important is volume reduction, interim storage, and safe disposal. To handle the following wastes, specific disposal techniques and management policies have been developed:
    • low- and medium-level wastes,
    • long lasting wastes,
    • wastes arising from exploration, mining, and milling of uranium,
    • wastes arising from the application of nuclear technology,
    • radioactive wastes arising from mining and application of associated minerals.
    • Study the management of radioactive wastes, and to propose independent management system for radioactive wastes.
    • Establish an overall plan for the management of radioactive wastes which define targets, coordination between research and development and engineering construction, division of work and cooperation of the organizations concerned, financial resources and cost estimation.

• 3.2 Perfect codes, standards and technical guides for the management of low- and medium-level radioactive wastes.
  • Perfect the basic codes, standards and technical guides. Category standards for radioactive wastes (Revised Edition). Review and approval procedures for the management of radioactive wastes. Guideline on safety measures and quality control of radioactive wastes. Application for materials recovery and re-use of nuclear facilities.
  • Perfect codes, standards, and technical guidelines for pre-disposal treatment. Rules on collection, treatment, and interim storage of low- and medium-level radioactive wastes. Performance requirements for the solidification of low- and medium-level radioactive wastes. Safety evaluation guides for waste pre-disposal facilities. Technical guides for the package inspection of low- and medium-level radioactive wastes. Technical guides for waste conditioning procedures.
  • Perfect codes, standards, and technical guides for shallow disposal. Criteria for low- and medium-level radioactive waste disposal sites. Guides on siting, design, construction, operation, and closure of low- and medium-level radioactive waste disposal sites. Regulations for shallow disposal of low- and medium-level radioactive solid wastes (Revised Edition). Safety assessment guides for near surface disposal of low- and medium-level radioactive wastes.
  • Perfect codes, standards, and technical guides related to uranium/thorium milling. Management for uranium ore and tailings. Construction management of uranium waste storage areas. Management for the stabilization of uranium waste ore sites and tailings ponds.
  • Perfect codes, standards. and technical guides related to decommissioning and environmental recovery. Guides on the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and large scale research reactors. Guides on the decommissioning of nuclear fuel cycle facilities. Safety evaluation guidelines for decommissioning nuclear facilities. Guides for pollution control and environmental recovery.
  • Perfect codes, standards, and technical guides related to nuclear power plants. Regulations for the management of radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants (Revised Edition). Technical standards for the interim storage of radioactive solid wastes from nuclear power plants. Rules on the package series of radioactive wastes of nuclear power plants.
  • Perfect codes, standards, and technical guidelines related to other radioactive wastes. Management of radioactive ores and tailings. Management guidelines for the construction of waste rock banks of associated ore and tailings ponds. Management of urban radioactive waste repositories.

• 3.3 Establish a supervision system for low- and medium-level wastes.
  • Establish a low- and medium-level waste supervision centre at the CNNC, which will be responsible for production, treatment, packaging, storage, and transport of radioactive wastes, and for quality control, supervision and technical arbitration.
  • Establish a waste quality control system, in which the waste production unit is responsible for inspection. The low- and medium-level waste disposal site is responsible for acceptance and registration, and the monitoring and follow-up centre is responsible for follow-up sampling and inspection.
  • Establish a low- and medium-level radioactive waste data base to collect data on waste sources, types of nuclide, solidification techniques and product performance, packaging conditions, surface contamination, storage and transportation conditions, repackaging and disposal conditions.
  • Develop and introduce monitoring technology and establish preliminary monitoring facilities for waste quality and monitoring programs.

• 3.4 Establish an evaluation methodology and computer software systems for determining the effect of radioactive wastes on the environment and public health.
  • Develop better environmental impact assessment methods.
  • Compile data which reflects conditions in China.
  • Establish an evaluation methodology, software package, and database to determine the effect of wastes on the environment and public health.

• 3.5 Complete a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of radioactive wastes, including gas and liquid-state effluent, on the environment and hazards to public health.
  • Evaluate the effect of radioactive wastes, including gas and liquid-state effluent, arising from operation of existing nuclear power plants.
  • Complete an evaluation of the effect of radioactive wastes, including gas and liquid-state effluent on the environment and hazards to public health arising from exploitation and applications of associated minerals.
  • Evaluate the status of nuclear waste disposal in China.

• 3.6 Strengthen personnel training in waste management and related fields.
  • Invite experts for consultation, and to select persons to go abroad for inspection and training.
  • Compile training materials and tools, and to establish a training system.
  • Establish a qualification review system as well as guidelines for personnel.

  This project will be implemented by CNNC, together with related organizations. The duration of this project will be five years.

4. Inputs

5. Benefits

The implementation of this project will help China to establish a comprehensive radioactive waste management system, encompassing all aspects from production to disposal. The volume of wastes can be greatly reduced waste disposal costs will be cut, public and worker exposure to radiation hazards will be minimized and environmental quality will be improved. The public's awareness of nuclear safety issues will be raised. The experience gained from this project is valuable to other developing countries. The implementation of this project is beneficial to all waste production units, the public, and society as a whole.