原子力環境整備・資金管理センター

Activities to collect and provide information about radioactive waste

OAiming to aid the government in developing policies concerning the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the Center continuously collects and analyzes information on subjects such as disposal projects, selection of final disposal sites, examination of disposal concepts and the status of research and development overseas. At the same time, the Center is compiling a comprehensive database to provide information to the Atomic Energy Commission, the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy and others. OWith the aim of establishing laws and regulations and developing safety standards to ensure the safety of geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the Center collects and analyzes the relevant laws and regulations and background information, and provides information conducive to discussion and examination at the Nuclear Safety Commission, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and other organizations.

International cooperation

1. Cooperation agreement

The Center exchanges information on matters such as the administrative systems, the safety regulations and standards and the status of implementation, in addition to doing joint research under cooperation agreements, with implementation entities and research institutes in overseas countries.

2. International cooperation

1.The Center participates in the international research agreement to use Switzerland's Grimsel Test Site (GTS), conducts in-situ gas migration test with engineered barriers, and analyzes and evaluates the test results.
2.The Center participates in the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning swelling clay and supports developing countries. The Center also prepares a guidebook on swelling clay and cooperates in the construction of a database on swelling clay in each country.
3.As a report coordinator, the Center collects information on the status of radioactive waste management in Japan and registers data in the Net Enabled Waste Management Databases (NEWMDB) prepared and maintained by the IAEA.
4.In cooperation with a Russian research institute, the Center conducts research on colloidal migration of radionuclides as a project of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).

Dissemination of outcomes

OThe Center promotes the provision of information through the issuance of the Gen-kan Center (RWMC) Topics and the Annual Technical Report, as well as through posting information on its website.
OThe Center provides information by holding lecture meetings and workshops for reading research papers.

Development of human resources (research and development and ITC activities)

In cooperation with related organizations, the Center studies how to develop and ensure the human resources to realize final disposal in an uninterrupted manner in Japan. In addition, the Center took part in establishing ITC School of Underground Waste Storage and Disposal (ITC) for final disposal, which is aimed at transferring the wide range of knowledge necessary for final disposal to the scientists, engineers and decision-makers of future generations who will be involved in the final disposal of hazardous waste such as radioactive waste, and cooperates in the management of ITC as a member of the executive board. Under a comprehensive cooperation agreement, the Center also sends professional engineers to Andra to give qualified engineers practical training.