Answer to Question #1108 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

How does the French government deal with high-level radioactive waste (HLW) storage? What is their volume, in tons? Have they had any incidents of container failure, leaks, or spillage?

A

The French reprocess their spent nuclear fuel. Spent elements spend approximately three years in cooling ponds before processing. By processing, plutonium and uranium are removed for reuse. The remaining long-lived radioactive waste is separated into Intermediate-Level (ILW) and High-Level (HLW) waste. The ILW is put into the European equivalent of 55-gallon stainless steel drums and solidified with concrete. This results in approximately 1,600 cubic meters per year of waste. The HLW is vitrified, and the molton glass product is poured into stainless steel casks. Each year the French produce approximately 160 cubic meters of this vitrified waste. All such wastes are currently stored in dry-storage facilities awaiting the development of a national decision concerning ultimate waste management. Concerning leakage, I am not aware of any incidents of leakage of these containers; however, for more precise and complete information I suggest that you contact Mr. Jacques Tamborini at the French national waste management organisation, ANDRA. His email address is Jacques.Tamborini@andra.fr. For information concerning high-level radioactive waste management in other countries, I suggest that you look at the Web site of my organisation, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, and look under "radioactive waste management." Edward Lazo, PhD, CHP Scientific Secretariat NEA Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health