NEA Monthly News Bulletin - October 2009

MDEP
Nuclear safety and regulation
Radioactive waste management
Nuclear law
Data Bank

NEA publications

Approaches and Challenges for the Use of Geological Information in the Safety Case for Deep Disposal of Radioactive Waste
Third AMIGO Workshop Proceedings, Nancy, France, 15-17 April 2008
ISBN: 978-92-64-99090-6. 76 pages (231 kb).

Evaluated Data Library for the Bulk of Fission Products (Volume 23)
International Evaluation Co-operation, Volume 23
ISBN: 978-92-64-99092-0. 44 pages (496 kb).

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Synergies and Regional Scenarios for Europe
ISBN: 978-92-64-99086-9. 36 pages (551 kb).

Research and Test Facilities Required in Nuclear Science and Technology
ISBN: 978-92-64-99070-8. 156 pages (1.6 Mb).

The JEFF-3.1/-3.1.1 Radioactive Decay Data and Fission Yields Sub-libraries
JEFF Report 20
ISBN: 978-92-64-99087-6. 148 pages (3 Mb).

Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP)

The NEA serves as Technical Secretariat to the MDEP, a multinational initiative taken by national safety authorities to develop innovative approaches to leverage the resources and knowledge of the national regulatory authorities who will be tasked with the review of new reactor power plant designs.

On 10-11 September, the first MDEP Conference on New Reactor Design Activities was held in Paris. Over 170 people from 23 countries, 10 international organisations, as well as numerous reactor licensees, vendors and nuclear component manufacturers, participated in the event. Subjects discussed included:

• co-operation on specific design safety reviews;
• work with various standards development organisations on harmonisation and standardisation of requirements; and
• the coordination of vendor inspections of reactor pressure vessel manufacturers.

Other stakeholders, such as industry representatives and other government regulatory bodies, provided their perspectives and views of new reactor issues, initiatives and recommendations for the MDEP.

The Conference was chaired by André-Claude Lacoste, Chairman of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN). Dr. Gregory Jaczko, appointed Chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in May 2009, was attending his first MDEP conference. Dr. Jaczko stressed the importance of the MDEP for enhancing nuclear safety globally.

For more information on the MDEP and its activities, click here.

Nuclear safety and regulation

An expert meeting of the High-Temperature Test Reactor Loss of Forced Coolant (HTTR-LOFC) Project was held at the NEA on 1-2 October and attracted 20 participants from 12 countries. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) made a proposal consisting of running three tests in the HTTR reactor, simulating various accident conditions for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. This is the first project proposal concerning new generation reactors and follows the report on high-temperature gas reactors prepared by the Task Group on Advanced Reactor Experiment Facilities (TAREF), set up by the NEA Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) in 2007.

Radioactive waste management

The Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) held its 10th meeting at the NEA in September. The seven themes of its programme of work were updated and topical sessions were held under two themes;

• "Tools and Processes to Help Society Prepare and Manage Decisions through Stakeholder Involvement". Five countries gave reports about "Regional Elected Authorities as Stakeholders in RWM: Their Needs, Interests and Aspirations". Such authorities are recognised as key actors in many countries' decision making concerning sites and facilities, and will constitute a new focus area for the group;
• "Increasing the Value of Waste Management Facilities to Local Communities". Three countries and regulators gave reports on creating a durable relationship between a host community, a facility and the main institutional actors. The upcoming FSC publication on "Partnering for Long-term Management of Radioactive Waste" will illustrate the experience in 13 countries of creating and maintaining such relationships, and provide detailed information on such issues as collaboration formats and rules for benefit packages.

Proceedings will be published as well as two flyers: one reviewing the key aspects of partnering, another explaining the FSC "Workshop and Community Visit" methodology, which was applied with success in France last April. Proceedings from that workshop - the seventh in a series - are also scheduled for publication.

Nuclear law

The International School of Nuclear Law (ISNL) held its ninth session in Montpellier, France from 24 August to 4 September. The ISNL is a unique training course in international nuclear law featuring high-quality, intensive lectures and case studies in all aspects of nuclear law. This year, 55 young nuclear professionals and law students were selected to participate from 30 countries and international organisations. The majority of participants have applied to receive the Diploma in International Nuclear Law from the University of Montpellier. The ISNL team is proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this successful programme in 2010. More information is available at this link.  

Data Bank

NEA Data Bank newsletter

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