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Radioactive
Waste Realities
 The
realities of radioactive waste management took center stage today
at an international Scientific Forum at the IAEA General Conference
in Vienna. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson of the United States, who is
chairing the Forum, set the framework for discussions of what she
described may be "the most perplexing topic in nuclear technology
today: the management of radioactive waste."
 "Three
realities, in my view, form the core of this dialogue," she said
in opening the Forum
( ).
"The physical reality, the technological reality, and the social
reality." Each set of realities, she said, poses challenges for
the international community to demonstrate feasible solutions for
all countries.
The Forum is
being attended by international experts and governmental officials
from the IAEA’s Member States and a number of organizations. Sessions
will review the status of global radioactive waste management, examine
technical and safety aspects, and present perspectives on the challenges,
solutions, and "next steps" that can be taken.
In his
opening remarks,
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, underscored the importance
of turning options into solutions. "The development of publicly
acceptable solutions to radioactive waste management is an issue
central to the future of nuclear technology," he said. Progress
is being made, he said, and support is growing for a global forum
on nuclear waste with the participation of all concerned parties
with a view to building an international consensus on this important
issue."
Also see WorldAtom's
topical
pages of Radioactive Waste for a global overview.
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