NEA Mandates and Structures

Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC)

Chair(s):	Julie BROWN, Canada Thomas KAEMPFER, Switzerland	Secretary:	Soufiane MEKKI (soufiane.mekki@oecd-nea.org)
Vice-Chair(s):	Reda GUERFI, Finland Tetsuo FUJIYAMA, Japan Luca Abele PICIACCIA, Norway Miguel Angel CUNADO PERALTA, Spain Hoda JAVANMARD, Switzerland Justin MARBLE, United States
Member(s):	All NEA member countries^*
	Russia (Suspended*)
	^*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
EU participation:	The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Observer(s)(International Organisation):	International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement
Date of creation:	01 June 2000
End of mandate:	31 December 2028

Mandate (Document reference):

Mandate of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) 2017-2019 [NEA/RWM(2016)4/FINAL]
Mandate of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) 2020-2022 [NEA/RWM(2019)5]
Summary record of the 52^nd Session of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee [NEA/RWM/M(2019)6]
Summary record of the 55^th Session of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee [NEA/RWM/M(2022)3]
Summary record of the 59^th Session of the Radioactive Waste Management Committee [Forthcoming]
Mandate of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) [NEA/RWM/IGSC(2025)2/FINAL]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document NEA/RWM/IGSC(2025)2/FINAL

Background

The Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) was established by the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) in 2000 in recognition of the need to foster full integration of all aspects of the safety case for geological disposal of long-lived radioactive waste. The IGSC and its predecessor groups (on-site evaluation and performance assessment) have been instrumental in developing the modern concept of a safety case and outlining its main elements and the factors upon which confidence can be built. There are significant geological disposal milestones and challenges over the next decade as several countries move to siting and licensing. The member countries recognise the IGSC as the most advanced international forum for discussion of the safety case.

Projects of the IGSC provide important fora to do the following: coordinate international research and development (R&D) programmes, share experience(s), develop consensus on the state-of-the-art, and develop an understanding of specific topics and technical tools to support the safety case.

The activities and priorities of IGSC fall into the following main themes regarding safety cases:

What do we know? (the scientific basis for engineering design, process understanding and site understanding, appropriate treatment and communication of uncertainties)
How do we use what we know to demonstrate safety? (safety strategy)
How do we achieve safety in practice? (repository system design, implementation, technology and feasibility, assessment methods and tools)
How do we synthesise information and build confidence in safety? (integration of information into safety cases, organisational issues and management, improvement of communication with stakeholders)

Activities of the IGSC have historically focussed on long-term safety. However, as some national programmes approach licensing, a higher degree of integration is required, not only for all elements related to long-term safety but also for engineering and operational considerations. Many current challenges in a safety case arise from the balance between long-term safety, operational safety, siting and engineering feasibility, and societal acceptance.

To encourage confidence in (and acceptance of) a repository, it must be shown not only that the system will be safe over the long term, but also that it can be built and operated safely. It is important that the interfaces between pre-disposal, operational and post-closure safety are thoroughly addressed and managed according to a holistic approach resulting in a consistent and integrated waste management programme. Furthermore, to gain acceptance of a repository, strong communication and engagement with key stakeholders are needed to build a sufficient understanding of the technical and complex contents of a safety case. In line with the decision to structure its activities using a holistic approach, the RWMC made the request to IGSC to investigate, in parallel with its historical activities dedicated to deep geological repositories (DGR), how the principles of DGR safety case development could be applied in the concepts and development strategies of other types of disposals facilities, and what could be learned from other disposal facility concepts for application in a DGR safety case.

Scope

The IGSC provides advice to the RWMC on major and emerging issues to facilitate the development of waste management strategies at both the national and international levels, and enable radioactive waste and material management to benefit from the progress of scientific and technical knowledge. In particular, the IGSC:

advises the RWMC on major issues in the strategic areas of the process of repository development, related system analyses and technological advances;
promotes the exchange of information on repository development issues among peers, as well as related NEA working groups [e.g. Forum of Stakeholder Confidence (FSC), Working Group on Public Communication of Nuclear Regulatory Organisations (WGPC) , etc.]; and
strives to achieve shared approaches and tools, where appropriate.

Objectives

The IGSC will:

define, oversee and carry out a work programme of technical activities related to the development, evaluation and communication of safety cases in different stages of repository programmes as a basis for confidence and decision-making pertaining to the development of geological disposal facilities for long-lived radioactive waste. The emphasis is on the identification and resolution of issues, including the development of knowledge, approaches, methods and technical tools for which there is member country interest in safety case development, and publication of findings where appropriate;
facilitate communication and information exchange between IGSC members to promote frank interchange between peers. In particular, the IGSC provides a neutral forum for discussion with a view to identifying emerging issues and trends, reviewing the state-of-the-art and promoting further understanding and developing common views, including the development of tools and methods. ;
promote the exchange of information and strive for common understanding, shared approaches and methods for the development, documentation and evaluation of safety cases by the operator, regulator and research and development organisations. The emphasis is on strategic and methodological issues;
cooperate and collaborate with other NEA groups and international groups and experts on the various issues of safety case development and communication (stakeholder confidence); and
investigate in particular how the various aspects of DGR safety case development and communication could be applied in the concepts and strategies for other types of radioactive waste disposal facilities, and how DGR could benefit from the return of experience of other types of disposal facilities, particularly near-surface disposal in operation.
enable and support the next generation of safety case professionals, particularly by supporting the activities of the Next Generation Network (NGN), a platform under the IGSC aimed at building capacity and community development

Working methods

The mode of operation of the IGSC will be based upon plenary meetings and an ongoing, project-oriented, working programme.

For developing its programme of work, the IGSC will follow the guidance of the RWMC and rely on discipline-oriented expert groups in the areas of safety case development.

In fulfilment of its objectives, the IGSC will be led by two IGSC Co-chairs and its Vice-chairs (altogether referred to as the “Core Group”), and will be supported by the staff of the NEA Division of Radioactive Waste Management (RWMD).

The designation to the IGSC Core Group, including for positions of Co-chair and Vice-chair, from IGSC membership, will be organised according to OECD rules. The IGSC Core Group will meet twice a year. Additional Core Group meetings can be organised, when necessary, by the Core Group request and per the NEA RWMD capacity.

Membership

Members of the IGSC are senior technical specialists with considerable experience and knowledge in developing safety cases. They are typically senior representatives from radioactive waste management agencies, regulatory authorities, and research and development institutions. Their level of seniority is such that they can mobilise relevant specialists in their own organisation and, in principle, make resources available to support IGSC initiatives.

Interactions

The IGSC will continue to interface with other international bodies, such as the IAEA and European Commission, to ensure broad collaboration and avoid duplication of effort. Within the NEA, the IGSC will continue to develop existing and establish new collaborations with other NEA groups [e.g. the Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC), Regulators’ Forum (RF), Working Party on Information, Data and Knowledge Management (WP IDKM) and others].

Deliverables

The IGSC deliverables will include both IGSC outcomes and the results of the IGSC expert groups’ work. The IGSC will provide its reports and other documents relevant to safety aspects of disposal facilities and organise events (workshops, conferences, etc.), whose outcomes will be made available to RWMC members.