TY - GEN

T1 - Interdisciplinary perspectives on disposal of high-level radioactive waste-the German case

AU - Walther, Clemens

AU - Röhlig, Klaus Jürgen

N1 - Funding Information: *ENTRIA (“Disposal Options for Radioactive Residues: Interdisciplinary Analyses and Development of Evaluation Principles”) is a joint research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2013-2017, award no. 15S9082A-E) carried out by 12 departments from German universities and research institutions and one Swiss partner. ENTRIA partners represent natural sciences, civil engineering, philosophy, law, social and political sciences, and technology assessment. Recognizing that all these disciplines need to interact when radioactive waste management is concerned, ENTRIA aims at investigating and developing evaluation principles for three options to manage especially high-level radioactive waste: Deep geological disposal without retrievability provisions, emplacement in deep formations with monitoring and retrievability, and prolonged surface storage. In addition to disciplinary work packages each ENTRIA partner takes part in interdisciplinary projects. From the very beginning so-called transversal projects were identified: “Technology assessment and governance”, “Ethical and moral justification, legal prerequisites and implications”, “Interdisciplinary risk research”, and “Synthesis, coordination and communication”. In a first step ENTRIA scientists worked out a memorandum which identified central fields of unresolved tension which shape the field of nuclear waste disposal in general, not only in Germany. One example is how to weigh from ethics’ perspective reduced burdens for future generations versus future flexibility. Technically speaking: How long into the future should a repository be kept accessible and retrievability (and monitoring) options be planned? During the course of the project additional task groups were formed. One of these focusses on dose limits for the operational and post-operational phases of disposal facilities. This issue is of utmost concern when addressing both technical and governance aspects of disposal options. The relationship between dose limits and risk

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - ENTRIA ("Disposal Options for Radioactive Residues: Interdisciplinary Analyses and Development of Evaluation Principles") is a joint research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2013-2017, award no. 15S9082A-E) carried out by 12 departments from German universities and research institutions and one Swiss partner. ENTRIA partners represent natural sciences, civil engineering, philosophy, law, social and political sciences, and technology assessment. Recognizing that all these disciplines need to interact when radioactive waste management is concerned, ENTRIA aims at investigating and developing evaluation principles for three options to manage especially high-level radioactive waste: Deep geological disposal without retrievability provisions, emplacement in deep formations with monitoring and retrievability, and prolonged surface storage. In addition to disciplinary work packages each ENTRIA partner takes part in interdisciplinary projects. From the very beginning so-called transversal projects were identified: "Technology assessment and governance", "Ethical and moral justification, legal prerequisites and implications", "Interdisciplinary risk research", and "Synthesis, coordination and communication". In a first step ENTRIA scientists worked out a memorandum which identified central fields of unresolved tension which shape the field of nuclear waste disposal in general, not only in Germany. One example is how to weigh from ethics' perspective reduced burdens for future generations versus future flexibility. Technically speaking: How long into the future should a repository be kept accessible and retrievability (and monitoring) options be planned? During the course of the project additional task groups were formed. One of these focusses on dose limits for the operational and post-operational phases of disposal facilities. This issue is of utmost concern when addressing both technical and governance aspects of disposal options. The relationship between dose limits and risk perception as well as the role of confidence and trust are elucidated. Other interdisciplinary tasks include reflections on possible forms of new governance, involvement of public and stakeholders and legal issues including directives of the European Commission and National laws like the new German site selection act. ENTRIA not only works but also educates and trains on an interdisciplinary level. A high number of postdocs and PhD students are working in the project. Some of them write their thesis in two fields "far apart" from each other, such as for instance reviewing the administrative and regulatory provision for evaluating the consequences of radionuclide transport out of a repository from expert's and regulator's point of view identifying gaps in transport understanding, combining soil science and social science. Moreover, ENTRIA aims at providing graduates with basic knowledge of the various disciplines involved in the project. In the site selection process now being initiated in Germany, it will be of utmost importance to rely e. g. on natural scientists which also have a basic understanding of legal or governance issues. The other way round, lawyers and political scientists involved should be able to understand essentials of technical issues at stake. ENTRIA's platform function is carried out by the project "Synthesis, coordination and communication", ensuring scientific exchange both within the project and with other parties involved in the management o f radioactive waste such as scientists facilities and interested citizens.

AB - ENTRIA ("Disposal Options for Radioactive Residues: Interdisciplinary Analyses and Development of Evaluation Principles") is a joint research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2013-2017, award no. 15S9082A-E) carried out by 12 departments from German universities and research institutions and one Swiss partner. ENTRIA partners represent natural sciences, civil engineering, philosophy, law, social and political sciences, and technology assessment. Recognizing that all these disciplines need to interact when radioactive waste management is concerned, ENTRIA aims at investigating and developing evaluation principles for three options to manage especially high-level radioactive waste: Deep geological disposal without retrievability provisions, emplacement in deep formations with monitoring and retrievability, and prolonged surface storage. In addition to disciplinary work packages each ENTRIA partner takes part in interdisciplinary projects. From the very beginning so-called transversal projects were identified: "Technology assessment and governance", "Ethical and moral justification, legal prerequisites and implications", "Interdisciplinary risk research", and "Synthesis, coordination and communication". In a first step ENTRIA scientists worked out a memorandum which identified central fields of unresolved tension which shape the field of nuclear waste disposal in general, not only in Germany. One example is how to weigh from ethics' perspective reduced burdens for future generations versus future flexibility. Technically speaking: How long into the future should a repository be kept accessible and retrievability (and monitoring) options be planned? During the course of the project additional task groups were formed. One of these focusses on dose limits for the operational and post-operational phases of disposal facilities. This issue is of utmost concern when addressing both technical and governance aspects of disposal options. The relationship between dose limits and risk perception as well as the role of confidence and trust are elucidated. Other interdisciplinary tasks include reflections on possible forms of new governance, involvement of public and stakeholders and legal issues including directives of the European Commission and National laws like the new German site selection act. ENTRIA not only works but also educates and trains on an interdisciplinary level. A high number of postdocs and PhD students are working in the project. Some of them write their thesis in two fields "far apart" from each other, such as for instance reviewing the administrative and regulatory provision for evaluating the consequences of radionuclide transport out of a repository from expert's and regulator's point of view identifying gaps in transport understanding, combining soil science and social science. Moreover, ENTRIA aims at providing graduates with basic knowledge of the various disciplines involved in the project. In the site selection process now being initiated in Germany, it will be of utmost importance to rely e. g. on natural scientists which also have a basic understanding of legal or governance issues. The other way round, lawyers and political scientists involved should be able to understand essentials of technical issues at stake. ENTRIA's platform function is carried out by the project "Synthesis, coordination and communication", ensuring scientific exchange both within the project and with other parties involved in the management o f radioactive waste such as scientists facilities and interested citizens.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040178266&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:85040178266

T3 - ANS IHLRWM 2017 - 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference: Creating a Safe and Secure Energy Future for Generations to Come - Driving Toward Long-Term Storage and Disposal

SP - 778

EP - 785

BT - ANS IHLRWM 2017 - 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference

PB - American Nuclear Society

T2 - 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference: Creating a Safe and Secure Energy Future for Generations to Come - Driving Toward Long-Term Storage and Disposal, IHLRWM 2017

Y2 - 9 April 2017 through 13 April 2017

ER -