Description

The spatial, physical, chemical, biological characteristics and properties of the geosphere and their coupling prior to repository construction.

Category

Categorisation as a Feature, Event and/or Process.

  • Features are physical components of the disposal system and environment being assessed. Examples include waste packaging, backfill, surface soils. Features typically interact with one another via processes and in some cases events.
  • Events are dynamic interactions among features that occur over time periods that are short compared to the safety assessment timeframe such as a gas explosion or meteorite impact.
  • "Processes" are issues or dynamic interactions among features that generally occur over a significant proportion of the safety assessment timeframe and may occur over the whole of this timeframe. Events and processes may be coupled to one another (i.e. may influence one another).

The classification of a FEP as an event or process depends upon the assessment context, because the classification is undertaken with reference to an assessment timeframe. In this generic IFEP List, many IFEPs are classified as both Events and Processes; users will need to decide which of these classifications is relevant to their context and its timeframes.

  • FEP Subgroup

Relevance to Performance and Safety

The “Relevance to Performance and Safety” field contains an explanation of how the IFEP might influence the performance and safety of the disposal system under consideration through its impact on the evolution of the repository system and on the release, migration and/or uptake of repository-derived contaminants.

(no value)

2000 List

A reference to the related FEP(s) within the 2000 NEA IFEP List.

2.2

Related References

  • Metcalfe R and Watson SP (), Technical Issues Associated with Deep Repositories for Radioactive Waste in Different Geological Environments, Environment Agency Science Report SC060054/SR1, Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UD, 213, http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/291763/scho0809bqvu-e-e.pdf
  • NEA (), Stability and Buffering Capacity of the Geosphere for Long-term Isolation of Radioactive Waste: Application to Crystalline Rock. Proceedings of a Workshop Held in Manchester, United Kingdom, 13th-15th November, 2007, Report No. 6362, Nuclear Energy Agency/Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Paris, 301, https://www.oecd-nea.org/rwm/pubs/2009/6362-stability-buffering.pdf
  • NEA (), Stability and Buffering Capacity of the Geosphere for Long-term Isolation of Radioactive Waste: Application to Argillaceous Media. "Clay Club" Workshop Proceedings, Braunschweig, Germany, 9-11 December 2003, Report No. 5303, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Paris, ISBN: 92-64-00908-6, 244, http://www.oecd-nea.org/rwm/reports/2005/nea5303-stability-buffering.pdf
  • Knight JL, Black JH and Watson SP (), NDA-RWMD Geosphere Characterisation Project: Data Acquisition Report: Measurement of rock properties relevant to radionuclide migration, Quintessa Report to Radioactive Waste Management Directorate of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, QRS-1421A-R3 Version 2.0, 128
  • NEA (), Natural Analogues for Safety Cases of Repositories in Rock Salt - "Salt Club" Workshop Proceedings Braunschweig, Germany 5-7 September 2013, Report No. NEA/RWM/R(2013)10, Nuclear Energy Agency/Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, 268, https://www.oecd-nea.org/rwm/docs/2013/rwm-r2013-10.pdf