NEWSLETTERR A D I O A C T IV E W A S T E M A N A G E M E N T

WorkshoponRadioactive

The second day of workshop
Thursday, 14

Waste

The third day of workshop

Management (RWM)-FNCA2000 is scheduled for

Friday, 15

December 12-14, including a technical tour torelevant facilities in Sydney, Australia.

NO.5
Issued by
Japan Atomic
Industrial Forum, Inc.

Wednesday, 13

The Workshop on RWM-FNCA
2000 to be held this December
The

Nov. 2000

Technical Tour to ANSTOTheSaturday, 16

Workshop will be hosted by Australian Nuclear

Departure of Participants from Sydney

Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) as alocal host and the Science and Technology

T e n t a t i v e P r og r a m<1 st day>Agency (STA) of Japan, in cooperation with Japan
Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc. (JAIF).

-Country Report on RWM status/progress

In the coming Workshop, considering the

In each country

radiation accident by spent cobalt-60 occurred in-Submeeting

Thailand last February, the special one-day

Reduction Technology of RW

session on “Spent Radiation Sources (SRS)

Database format on RW /SRS
<2 nd day>Management” would be organized to review the
SRS management status in each country. Based-Special session on SRS Management<3 rd day>on the report from each participating country,
discussions will be focused on the problems-Round table discussion

concerning the regulatory and technical aspect ofConsolidated report

the SRS management, seeking what role FNCA

Proposal related to SRS Management

framework would be able to play in improving the

3-year PlanSRS management in each country.
Due to the effect of this special one-day

TThhee PPeerrssoonn iinn C
Chhaarrggee ooff W
Woorrkksshhoopp

session, sub-meeting will be held shortly and

Dr. John Harries

sequentially after the first day of the Workshop.

FNCA

RWM

Project

Leader in Australia

O v e r a l l S c h ed u l e
Monday, 11
Arrival of Foreign Participants at Sydney

Position: Leader, Environmental Physics Group
Business Address: ANSTO Environment Division

Tuesday, 12
The first day of Workshop

TEL/FAX: +61-2-9717-3896/9129

Sub-meeting

E-Mail: john.harries@ansto.gov.au

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22 students and 2 part-time technicians, covering

Topics in Japan

1.7MV Tandetron accelerator, Co-60 and Cs-137
irradiation facilities, sub-critical assemblies, wholeN
Neew
w JJaappaanneessee R
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M PPrroojjeecctt LLeeaaddeerrwwaass N
Noom
miinnaatteedd

body counter etc. These equipment are used forDr. Toshiso Kosako was nominated as a newJapanese RWM Project Leader.
Tashiroretiredfromcollaborate utilization in the University.

Mr. Shingo

Radioactive

His hobbies are manufacturing of small

Waste

goods and swimming.

Management Center in March 2000.
Dr. Toshiso Kosako is an associate professor

SSoom
mee TTrroouubblleess aabboouutt R
RW
WM
M iinn JJaappaann

at Research Center for Nuclear Science andIn April, iron works in Wakayama Prefecture

Technology, in the University of Tokyo and works

found the spent RI source（Cs137, Am241-Be. For

as one of the ICRP member, a member ofwater density meter use）in the scrapped metal

Japanese radiation protection board, a technicalcontainer imported from the Philippines.

advisory member of nuclear safety in Science andIn May, another iron works in Hyogo

Technology Agency of Japanese Government etc.

Prefecture

found

the

spent

RI

source(Ra-226．For medical use) in scrapped metal．

His main interests lie in radiation safety,
radiation dosimetry and radiation shielding.

also

He

In June, it was found that Monazite (one ofcovers the researches of the reassessment work

the radioactive mineral including ThO2 in a veryof

Hiroshima

andNagasakiAtomic-bomb

small quantity) was stored in Nagano Prefecture bysurvivors’

dosimetry,radiation

shielding

one corporation illegally without any notice toreactors

andaccelerators,

large

of

neutrongovernment.

spectroscopy, radiation streaming experiment, sky
shineexperiment,

radioactive

waste

These troubles did not cause any healthsafetyproblems, but give alarm on the possibility thatmanagement and radiation protection.

radioactive material stolen into the environs ofpeople’s life.
Somecountermeasuresagainstthese

troubles are under discussion among the people
and regulatory organization.

Dr. T. Kosako with Dr. D. Beninson(main commission member, former ICRP chairman)at the ICRP meeting in October,2000.

His

laboratory

assistants,

1

consistsof4

research

researcher,

7

technicians,

Spent RI source found in Hyogo Prefecture(Ra-226, 4 needles for medical use)secretaries,
2

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Topicsfromacceptance/inspection buildings.

FNCA

If a site is successfully secured on time, thelow level waste burial facilities will be open byK
Koorreeaa

2008, and the interim spent fuel storage facilities
will be available by 2016.

R
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Koorreeaa w
waass
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miinnaatteedd

While the site selection process is going on
NETEC and Korean government will be continuing

Dr. Myung-Jae Song

hard efforts for the public acceptance, and will

General Manager, R&D

endeavor their best efforts to enhance the safety

Division, Nuclear

features.

Environment Technology
Institute (NETEC), Korea

TThhaaiillaanndd

Electric Power Corporation(KEPCO)S
Prrooggrraam
Waassttee P
Raaddiiooaaccttiivvee W
miinnaarr oonn R
Seemmw
Cooooppeerraattiioonn
Baannggkkookk,, iinn C
waass hheelldd iinn Bwwiitthh JJaappaann

IInnvviittaattiioonn ffoorr tthhee SSuubbssccrriippttiioonn ooff LLLLR
RWW
DDiissppoossaall FFaacciilliittyy SSiittee
Korean government has made much effort

Mr. Banchong Wangcharoenroong

to obtain a LLRW disposal site for the last

Director of RWM Division,

decade.

Office of Atomic Energy for Peace (OAEP)

However, they have failed several times dueto the strong objection from the local residents

The special one-week seminar relating to theand the environmentalists as well as due to theRadioactive Waste Program was held at OAEP in

low confidence on the safety issues.

And theBangkok, Thailand. From August 7 to August 11,

task was originally performed by Korea Atomic

two lecturers, Prof. Toshiso KOSAKO and Dr.

Energy Research Institute (KAERI).

Nobuyuki SUGIURA, of the University of Tokyo did
the following lectures based on the sponsorship of

Nuclear Environment Technology Institute, aspecialdivision

of

Korea

Electric

STA (Science and Technology Agency) of Japan.

Power

Corporation is an organization that has taken the

About

70

persons

from

OAEP,

universities,

responsibility from the KAERI on behalf of thehospitals and institutes attended the lectures.

government since 1997.
NETEC has decided to open the subscription
for the repository candidate site.

The open

subscription

the

is

believed

to

be

most

transparent way to communicate with the local
residents and environmentalists.

NETEC hasofficially announced the open subscription system
to the nationwide local governments last June.
The deadline for the subscription is February,
2001.
The site will be mainly composed of

A Photo of Prof. Kosako’s Lecture in Thailand

3

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MAAANNNAAAGGGEEEMMMEEENNNTTT[Lecture]

This project has obtained successful results

A: Principle of Radiation Safety

and good impact. The technical infrastructure for

B: Radiation Effectradwaste treatment was established in Dalat

C: Experience of JCO Accident

Nuclear Research Institute and the equipment

D: Emergency Preparedness

effectively

E: Radiation Safety of Radioactive Waste

cementation of long time collected radwaste from

F: Spent Radiation Source

nuclear technique application and research reactor[Group Discussion]

operation in southern Vietnam. The project also

1: Regulatory System in Thailand

gave the benefit of manpower strengthening and

2: Preparedness for Radiation Accidentof the formulation of the regulatory system for

3: Radioactive Waste Management in Thailand

radioactive waste management.

operated

for

conditioning

andIt was very informative lectures for us. We
got the mutual understanding through the overall

A
Auussttrraalliiaa

discussion successfully.

VmViieettnnaam

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aannddAuussttrraalliiaann
Nuucclleeaarr
TTeecchhnnoollooggyy O
Orrggaanniissaattiioonn ((AAN
NSSTTOO))

EEvvaalluuaattiioonn ooff IIA
AEEA
A’’ss TTCC PPrroojjeecctt oonn““D
Deevveellooppm
meenntt ooff IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurree ffoorr
M
Maannaaggeem
meenntt ooff R
Raaddiiooaaccttiivvee W
Waassttee iinn
VViieettnnaammJohn Harries, Leader,
Environmental Physics Group, ANSTO
ANSTO
expertise.

Director, Department of

nuclear

ANSTO is located at Lucas Heights

10 MW heavy water research reactor (HIFAR) andand Planning, VAEC

an

associatedfacility.
Energynational

about 40 km southwest of Sydney. ANSTO has aInternational Relations

AtomicAustralia’sorganisation and the centre of Australian nuclear

Dr. Tran Kim Hung

VietnamisCommission

radiopharmaceuticalproduction

A contract has been signed for a

multipurpose 20 MW research reactor which,(VAEC) has just now completed the IAEA’s Tc

amongstProject on “Development of Infrastructure forradiopharmaceutical production and neutron beam

Management of Radioactive Waste in Vietnam“.

research.

A team of experts from IAEA has evaluated the

other

uses,

will

providefor

Most of the radioactive waste that has been

implementation and impact of the project.

generated at Lucas Heights over more than 40

This project has taken four years ofyears is stored on-site. This inventory represents

implementation from 1995 to 1999 and Francesome 30% of the Australian national inventory of

was the donor country of this footnote-type TC

low level and short lived intermediate level waste

Project of IAEA.

and some 40% of the long lived intermediate level

The objectives of the project

are to formulate the national policy and legal
frameworkandtoestablishawaste.

technical

In 1995, ANSTO issued its radioactive waste

infrastructure for radioactive waste management.

management policy which made a commitment to:
4

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MAAANNNAAAGGGEEEMMMEEENNNTTT(a) Complying with all regulatory requirements;

management policy is minimization of radioactive(b) Ensuring that radiation dose rates were kept

waste generated and stored. This is being by aas

number

low

as

for

example,

in

one

ALARA

radioisotope production area a threefold reduction

waste

when

in waste volume has been achieved by separating

appropriate disposal routes are available; and (d)non-radioactive waste from radioactive waste atbeing in accord with international best practice.

the source.

(c)achievablestrategies:(theprinciple);reasonablyofDisposingof

An extensive audit was carried out of ANSTO’s
waste management facilities and practices.

C
ChhiinnaaAs

the result of this audit, 24 recommendations weremade and these became the basis for an

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integrated Waste Management Action Plan, asix-yearproject,

which

is

scheduledforMr. Qiao Shurong

completion in 2002.

Director, Division ofSolidification of the intermediate level liquid

Environment Protection andwaste has been a major priority of the Waste

Emergency, Department ofManagement Action Plan. This waste is generated

Safety, Protection and Health,during the production of molybdenum-99 forradiopharmaceutical use.

CNNC

Routine processing of

the liquid waste in a hot cell process commenced

TThhee N
Noorrtthhw
weesstt R
Reeppoossiittoorryy iinn C
Chhiinnaa iiss
R
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Reecceeiivviinngg W
Waassttee

3

in 1999 and to date about 1.9 m of liquid waste
has been converted to a solid.

The first low and intermediate level repository

Another project is under way to convert thisis located at the northwest of China. Thissolid waste into a more durable waste form

repository is mainly constructed for receiving thesuitable for long term storage or disposal.

waste from the nuclear industry produced in the

Laboratory scale testing established the feasibility

past years.

of producing Synroc with a high waste loading

The planned capacity of the repository is
200,000 m3, the first phase is 60,000m3 andand its performance advantage over cement.

20,000 m3 has been constructed now.

TThhee B
Beeiilloonngg
C
CoonnssttrruucctteeddR
Reeppoossiittoorryyhhaassbbeeeenn

The second low and intermediate levelrepository is named Beilong which is located in
Guangdong Province, China. This repository is socalled South repository which is near the DaYa Bay
NPP and LingAo NPP. Beilong repository isconstructed for receiving low and intermediatelevel waste from NPP and isotope application.
The planned capacity is 200,000 m3, the firstphase is 80,000 m3, among those 8,800 m3 has

Aerial View of ANSTO

5

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In the field of RWM activities, the following

Highlight in 2000

proposals were suggested by Japan for the futurecooperative progress in the RWM:

TThheeFFiirrsstt
FFoorruum
ffoorrNm
Nuucclleeaarr
ssstttC
Cooooppeerraattiioonn iinn A
Assiiaa ((11 FFN
NCCAA)) hheelldd iinn
B
Baannggkkookk,, TThhaaiillaanndd(1) Urgent focus on good management of spent RI

The First Forum for Nuclear Cooperation instAsia (1

FNCA) was held successfully during
bytheMinistryofConcreteproblemshallmeasuresbetackling

discussed

in

this

SydneyWorkshop.

November 10-15, 2000 in Bangkok, Thailand,co-sponsoredsource.

(2) Completion of a consolidated report

Science,Technology and Environment of Thailand (MOSTE)
and the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan(AEC).
Ministerial level representatives and senior
officials from Australia, China, Indonesia, Republicof Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand,
Vietnam and Japan participated in the FNCA, theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also
attended as an observer.

The basic theme was"Future Nuclear Energy and Its Safety in Asia" tolay more stress on the practical operation of thecooperation activities under the FNCA framework.
Poster of 1st FNCA

Besides the country paper presentation fromthe Delegates of FNCA countries, there were active

TThhee 22nnnddd C
Coooorrddiinnaattoorrss M
Meeeettiinngg

discussions on efficient and effective ways of

The 2nd Coordinators Meeting will be held incooperation and the future projects of nuclear

Tokyo from March 14-16, 2001. In this Meeting,cooperation among the FNCA countries.

the following topics will be discussed.

st

The 1

FNCA adopted the following vision

1) Review and evaluation of progress and/or statusstatement and goals:of overall activities

Vision Statement

2) Coordination“The FNCA is to be recognized as an effective
mechanismforenhancingof

activity

plans

for

over-allcooperation under FNCA

socio-economic

3) Report

development through active regional partnership inandrecommendationndcooperative activities to the 2concerning

FNCA meetingthe peaceful and safe utilization of nuclear
technology.”
Goals

Asia Cooperation Center- To achieve socio-economic development by safe

Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc.

utilization of nuclear technology

1-7-6 Toranomon, Minato-ku- To utilize nuclear technology in those fields where

Tokyo 105-0001 Japan

it has a distinct advantage

Tel:+81-3-3508-7932 Fax:+81-3-3508-9021- To respond to the needs of the FNCA countries6