Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials

Management of Spent Fuel from Power Reactors

Technical Meeting on Very Long Term Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel

26 – 28 April 2011,
VIC, Vienna, Austria

• Information Sheet PDF, Word
• Participation Form (Form A) PDF, Word
• Questionnaire (Form B) PDF, Word
• Hotels in Vienna
• Services in the Vienna International Center (VIC) and General Information

The 2010 International Conference on Management of Spent Fuel from Nuclear Power Reactors was held at IAEA Headquarters from 31 May to 4 June. As noted in the Conference President's Report:

"Spent fuel will have to be stored for longer periods than initially intended and storage time may have to be extended to 100 years and beyond. The challenges presented by this are compounded by modern fuel being discharged at higher and higher values of burnup;"

"While it appears that spent fuel is being managed safely, ageing management measures and standards should be continually reviewed to reflect new knowledge and experience gained and it would be valuable to develop more guidance for extended long-term storage;"

The growing inventory of spent fuel in Member States is raising awareness of the need for further developing the technical bases as well as for addressing the public, institutional, regulatory and political issues for its long term management. With no resolution on the final steps of the management of used nuclear fuel in most Member States very long term storage (VLTS) from 100 to 300 years is likely to be needed. Consequently, a better understanding of the issues associated with VLTS is becoming increasingly important.

The purpose of the Technical Meeting (TM) is to share and discuss information relevant to successful implementation of VLTS, and to provide an opportunity for mutually beneficial international collaboration. Another objective of the TM is to identify issues or gaps that must be addressed and to recommend actions to the Agency on work that should be done for covering such gaps.

To this end, the IAEA has started to gather Member States' experience and efforts relevant to VLTS and prepare a technical document to develop effective and compatible strategies for very long-term spent fuel management for helping Member States decide on the need for VLTS. The technical meeting on VLTS of used nuclear fuel will be held in Vienna International Centre (VIC) on 26-28 April 2011.

II. TOPICS TO BE COVERED

The TM will address several topics important to successful implementation of VLTS such as:

• Current activities relevant to VLTS- national and international
• Materials performance and associated R&D needs
• Facility design and siting considerations
• Facility operations
• Ageing management
• Institutional controls and public confidence
• Packaging considerations
• Regulatory considerations

Scientific Secretaries:
Mr Arturo Bevilacqua (NEFW)
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22767
Fax: +43 1 2600 29671
Email: A.Bevilacqua@iaea.org

Mr Xuxin Zou (NEFW)
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 25808
Fax: +43 1 2600 29671
Email: X.Zou@iaea.org

Secretary:
Ms Emy Awadissian ,
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22765
Fax: +43 1 2600 22761
Email: E.Awadissian@iaea.org

Each persons wishing to participate in the meeting is requested to complete the attached Form A and B.

The designation of a participant will be accepted only when transmitted not later than 8 March 2011 through the Government of a Member State of the IAEA or by an organization invited to participate.

Guidance for travel, accommodation, and other meeting information can be found on the meeting page af IAEA.

The technical meeting will consist of a series of sessions designed to encourage discussion and information sharing on the above topics. Meeting participants need not prepare papers but should come prepared to share their interests, needs, ideas, and experiences related to the above topics and/or others relevant to VLTS.

Form B provides specific questions for each of the above topics. Meeting participants and/or invited guests will be selected to present prepared responses to the questions and to serve on a panel for the group discussion that will ensue.

Suggestions for additional topics along with related questions are invited on all aspects of VLTS. Specific papers addressing VLTS are also welcome and, if accepted, will be included in the appropriate session.

Participants should send the completed questionnaire (Form B attached) to the scientific secretaries at A.Bevilacqua@iaea.org and X.Zou@iaea.org not later than 25 March 2011.

The meeting will be held at the IAEA's Headquarters in the Vienna International Centre (VIC), Meeting Room M1 Wagramer Strasse 5, 1400 Vienna, Austria. Participants are advised to arrive one hour prior to the convening time of the meeting to allow for timely registration. Please note that you must present an official photo identification document in order to be admitted to the VIC premises.

The following web site can be accessed for more detailed information on Vienna and the VIC. http://www-pub.iaea.org/iaeameetings/GeneralInfo/Guide/VIC

Should you require a visa for entering Austria please contact the nearest consular representative of Austria as early as possible.

Please be aware that when applying for a visa you may be asked to show evidence of personal insurance coverage valid during your travel. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for health insurance coverage.

Austria is a Schengen State and therefore persons who require a visa will have to apply for a “Schengen visa” at least 4 weeks before entry into Austria. In States where Austria has no diplomatic mission visas can be obtained from the consular authority of a Schengen Partner State representing Austria in the country in question. [At present the 25 Schengen States are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.]

Only in exceptional cases is the Agency able to assist participants who encounter difficulties in obtaining a visa. In this regard all necessary information (date of birth, nationality, type of passport, passport number, issuance and validity of the passport, length of stay, arrival date, flight details and a short description of the problem encountered) should be sent to reach the Agency at the latest 4 weeks before the meeting. After that date the Agency will not be able to assist you due to Schengen regulations. Please be aware that the validity of a Schengen visa cannot be extended once you are in a Schengen State.

In accordance with the established rules, Governments or other national authorities are expected to bear the travel and other costs of designated participants in the Technical Meeting. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the cost of participants from Member Stated eligible to receive technical assistance under the Agency's Technical Cooperation Programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific request, to one participant per country provided that, in the Agency's view, this participant will make an important contribution to the meeting. The application for financial support should be made at the time of designation of the participant.

Please note that compensation is not payable by the Agency for any damage to or loss of the experts' personal property. However, for the period of their engagement with the Agency, including travel between their residence and the duty station, the designated experts will be covered under the Agency's insurance policy for permanent total disablement or death resulting from service incurred accidents or illness up to an amount of EUR 100,000, for permanent partial disablement resulting from service incurred accidents or illness up to a percentage of EUR 100,000 and for medical expenses up to an amount of EUR 20,000 plus EUR 10,000 for supplementary travel and accommodation expenses in case of illness or injury resulting from service incurred accidents or illness, in accordance with the terms of the Agency's relevant insurance policy.

The working language of the meeting will be English. All communications, presentations and questions must be sent in English.