Scientific Forum


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Radioactive Waste Management: Turning Options into Solutions Scientific Forum during the 44th Session of the IAEA General Conference (19 -20 September 2000)
Objective

	To bring to the attention of senior governmental representatives present at the General Conference some of the important scientific and technical issues in the field of radioactive waste management and to promote awareness of the international dimension of current developments.
Sessions of the Scientific Forum

	The first three sessions of the Scientific Forum will contain invited presentations by persons eminent in their fields. The final session will take the form of a panel discussion. Throughout the Scientific Forum, participants from Member States and international organizations are expected to engage in discussions with the speakers and panelists.
Programme

	Tuesday morning, 19 September 2000 Opening Opening Statement by Dr. M. ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA Remarks by Chairperson of the Scientific Forum, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson Session 1: Setting the Scene Topic 1: An Overview of the world status of radioactive waste management (Mr. F. Parker, IIASA) This will include basic information on radioactive waste in the world, different types, trends, and issues in different countries. Topic 2: Strategy for developing a national repository for spent fuel (Mr. P. Nygards, Sweden) This presentation will describe the background and basis for the strategy, as well as the challenges faced and an example of how they are being dealt with in one country.

	Tuesday afternoon, 19 September 2000 Session 2: Technology Aspects: What is being done and looking ahead Topic 1: An integrated approach to radioactive waste management (Mr. Y. Le Bars, France) This presentation will describe a comprehensive programme for the management and disposal of radioactive wastes from all sources in an industrialized country with nuclear power. It will examine the extent to which the programme has been successful from technical, political and economic viewpoints. Topic 2: Novel technologies - what are the incentives? (Mr. R. Klapisch, CERN) In view of the problems being encountered in radioactive waste disposal due to lack of public acceptance and nuclear proliferation concerns, attention has turned to the possibility of exploring other technologies. This presentation will review current developments. Topic 3: Radioactive waste management in a country which has no nuclear power programme (Ms. H. Garnett, Australia) This presentation will outline the radioactive waste management issues which exist in a country which has no nuclear power programme. These can arise from research reactor operations, isotope production and applications, uranium mining and milling, and legacies of past activities.

	Wednesday morning, 20 September 2000 Session 3: Safety Aspects: Can we manage radioactive waste? Topic 1: The safety of radioactive waste management: The Cordoba Conference and beyond (Mr. P. Metcalf, South Africa) While there is agreement among experts gathered at the Cordoba Conference on the basic safety concepts which apply to radioactive waste managemnt, a number of issues remain which still require resolution in the area of waste disposal. The presentation will summarize the outcome of the Cordoba Conference and present the remaining issues.. Topic 2: Assuring the safe international transport of radioactive waste (Mr. Hesse, IMO) Recent events have shown that the transport of radioactive wastes by land or by sea raises public and political concerns. This presentation will review the situation from the perspective of an international organization with responsibility for setting international transportation standards. Topic 3: Spent sealed sources - are they being managed safely? (Mr. D. Beninson, Argentina) The frequency of incidents involving old and disused sealed radiation sources does not seem to be declining. What more needs to be done? This presentation will review the current situation and plans for intensifying international action.

	Wednesday afternoon, 20 September 2000 Session 4: Panel at the Forum: Where do we go from here? An international panel will be asked to reflect on some of the key issues which need to be resolved in radioactive waste management. Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group will be presented..