Waste Technology Section
Environmental Remediation
Completed Activities
- Integrated Approach to Planning the Remediation of Sites Undergoing Decommissioning (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NW-T-3.3)
Decommissioning and remediation activities at nuclear sites are driven by some common driving forces, the most fundamental of which is the protection of humans and the environment from sources of contamination. Work carried out under decommissioning and remediation programs is accordingly aimed at achieving end-states that correspond to planned or anticipated (future) end-uses (i.e. facility or site reuse). In addition, decommissioning and remediation programs have common resource needs and share common activities. These commonalities result in synergies that when identified and fully utilized will lead to the implementation of an integrated decommissioning and remediation programme, that ultimately will lead to the optimization of available resources and help in the achievement of radiological and non-radiological risk-based results faster and at lower costs. This optimal planning process is the subject of this report.
- Remediation Strategies for Managing Environmental Liabilities under Resource Constraints
It has been observed in many Member States that remediation projects are not undertaken at all or not been taken beyond an assessment step because those responsible often envisage high-tech solutions and work procedures that are common in developed and more affluent countries. This disparity between aspirations and socioeconomic realities seems to result in complacency. In order to overcome this complacency and to improve the overall environmental state, methods and strategies to mobilise and utilise indigenous resources have to be developed. As such the objective of this project was to gather, share and disseminate experience in remediation strategies in situations of constrained resources. Topics dealt with in the project included:
- strategies for implementing environmental remediation under constraint budgets;
- strategies for mobilising indigenous resources;
- strategies for accruing and deploying funds for remediation
- interaction between regulatory requirements and available resources and remediation technologies; and
- review of relevant experience in the context of implementing projects world-wide
- Lessons Learnt and experience with Remediation Projects
Major environmental remediation projects have been undertaken over the past 25 years. This time span warrants a first assessment of the experiences and insight gained into the performance of a variety of remediation techniques and strategies. Problems encountered during environmental remediation may be specific to particular (past) practices and related to specific site layouts and site properties. This experience wasbe reviewed and conclusions drawn with a view to improve technology selection and detailed design. As such this project will allow the dissemination of information and practical guidance on planning and technology selection for remediation based on existing experience.
- International Conference on Remediation of Land Contaminated by Radioactive Material Residues
WTS through the D&D and Environmental Remediation Unit has organized, with the cooperation of WES/NSRW the Environmental Remediation Conference that took place in Astana (May 2008). The conference constituted a good opportunity to discuss the relevant issues relating to the environmental remediation of radioactively contaminated sites and provided a forum for discussions on financing mechanisms and support for international or multi-lateral organization of environmental remediation programmes; regulatory and safety issues; mature and innovative technologies; life-cycle planning and non-technical issues in environmental remediation. The establishment of different partnerships and synergies that can help in the full implementation of environmental remediation projects; and provide a forum for improved coordination among the international organizations that support environmental remediation programs, especially in this region was also an achievement of the conference. Finally, the Astana Conference allowed the IAEA to collect ideas for its programme and for the assistance the IAEA gives to its Member States. More information on this conference, including the presentation and session chair summaries are available at http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=35422
- Technical Meeting on "A Layperson's Guide on Environmental Remediation" Vienna 31 Aug 2009 – 4 Sep 2009
Non-technical audience often lack the necessary background to understand and to make educated comments on the motifs and constraints of engineers and scientists who develop remediation programmes. This lack of understanding of technical issues typical leads to a mistrust in proposed solutions as it delays the implementation of environmental remediation programmes leading also to expenditures that are not justified by technical considerations. This project aims to increase the outreach of environmental remediation concepts to non-technical stakeholders and to enhance their understanding on remediation objectives, strategies and techniques and their respective capabilities and limitations. Presentations from the meeting can be found here.