| Chair(s): |
Philippe LALIEUX, Belgium Jens MIBUS, Germany |
Secretary: |
Morgan PACKER (morgan.packer@oecd-nea.org) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| Full participant(s): |
European Commission Under the NEA Statute | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 19 March 2019 | ||
| End of mandate: | 01 March 2023 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract from Document NEA/RWM(2021)4
Background
Experience has shown that when developing consequent projects, the “decide-announce-defend” approach, in which the public communities were not involved or informed, would fail. In major decision making, there has been enough experience which indicates that dialogue with stakeholders is essential. Many national radioactive waste management programs have witnessed risk disputes centred on government credibility and openness. It is, therefore, crucial to establish a common understanding of the key objectives and safety criteria for the disposal of radioactive waste.
The current trend is to emphasise stakeholder confidence. The elements that relate to acquiring and maintaining the confidence of stakeholders in the regulatory system and in the implementer’s waste management program stem from constraints on the regulatory system such as:
In implementing the Radioactive Waste Management Committee’s (RWMC) vision to develop sustainable strategies for the management of all types of radioactive waste, the Expert Group on Building Constructive Dialogue between Regulators and Implementers in Developing Disposal Solutions for Radioactive Waste (RIDD) was established and the Terms of Reference were discussed at the meeting on 25-26 April 2018.
The RIDD is being initiated to identify best practices and develop recommendations for structuring the regulator-implementer (R-I) dialogue in the decision-making process in programs for geological disposal of spent fuel / high-level radioactive waste.
This expert group performed over its first mandate a survey on existing practices and challenges in member countries to use the results in the development of recommendations to Members. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, more time was required to reach its goals ultimately and deliver its final report. It was thus decided to extend the RIDD mandate for two additional years (2021-2023).
Scope
The RIDD will address issues related to the establishment and effective building a dialogue between regulators and implementers and look for ways of how to improve national practices with developed recommendations. The RIDD will first focus on the R-I dialogue concerning deep geological repository (DGR) projects using the outcomes of previous relevant NEA initiatives. The scope of work, with the agreement of the RWMC, can be extended to cover other types of nuclear back-end activities.
Mandate
The RIDD initiative will address the following:
In order to develop its activities, and in its modus operandi, the RIDD will follow the approach of the RWMC’s expert groups and support the RWMC work through information exchange and activities on issues of radioactive waste management regulating (including but not limited to decommissioning activities in co-ordination with the Committee on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations and Legacy Management. In its work, the RIDD will closely cooperate with the Regulators’ Forum, Forum on Stakeholder Confidence and other NEA groups.
Working methods
The RIDD shall:
In co-ordinating its activities, the nomination of a Chairperson and co-Chair(s) will be made according to the applicable OECD rules.
Deliverables
A report shall be drafted which summarises the best practices and the recommendations for structuring R-I dialogue. These will be gathered from previous and existing international work [including but not limited to the work of the Agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission]. The aim is to guide effective R-I dialogue in the decision-making process of managing radioactive waste.
