1. science
2. ecology
3. waste management
4. waste disposal

Nuclear Waste Management at NES
Challenges for Austria
by
Günter Hillebrand
NURIS 2015, 17. April 2015
1
•
•
Austria is a country without NPP
•
As a consequence a Anti-Atomic Law was set in 1978 and a Constitutional Law
in 1999
•
LILW from applications in medicine, research, industry and ongoing
decommissioning projects
•
A small TRIGA-Research Reactor at the University is operating (until 2023 or
beyond)
•
HLW and SNF does not arise in Austria
A NPP was constructed in Zwentendorf in the 1970s,
but not put in operation as a consequence of a negative vote in a referendum
(1978)
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What defines the Radwaste Policy?
•
RAW management is governed by Austria Radiation Protection Act and General
Radiation Protection Ordinance at BMLFUW1) and international regulations
•
Austria is obliged to transfer all conditioned radioactive waste from the NES-interim
storage to a final repository until the end of 2045
•
The question regarding the concept of the final storage is still open
Austria being a small country without nuclear power plants sees an international cooperation for the disposal of radioactive waste as one of the possible options and is
therefore interested in common, shared repositories for radioactive waste
•
Producers of radioactive waste have to bear the costs of treatment and interim storage
and fee for future final disposal
•
Austria follows the principle of “minimization” of radioactive waste and the “polluter
pays”-principle
1)
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BMLFUW = Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and
Water Management
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I. The specific situation in Austria
What are typical problems in small countries? (I)
Structures
In Austria exist appropriate legal and organizational
structures based on the Radiation Protection Act,
-Ordinances and amendments. NES installed
an Integrated Management System (IMS).
Expertise
Expertise and skills of operators must be set up, extended and trained
permanently as it was laid down in the Austrian Radiation Protection
Ordinance. A Radiation Protection Academy is already in place. An
international experience exchange is necessary.
Equipment
An adequate infrastructure is cost-intensive and needs international
standards and operational experience. Handling of radioactive materials,
conditioning and storage have high priority in Austria.
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I. The specific situation in Austria
What are typical problems in small countries? (II)
Financing
Appropriate financial resources for regulators,
infrastructure and RAW-Management over a long
period is essential. The role of the goverment
to facilitate long-term resources is important.
Safety
Standards
Regulatory Authorities need legal power to enforce all national
regulations and ordinances. Besides that, all review processes from IAEA
Joint Convention and EC-Waste Directive 2011/70/EURATOM offer sufficient
advice and guidance.
Storage
Solutions
Concepts like Near Surface Repository with borehole storage for LLW
are already state-of-the art, the more difficult and more complex storage
selection methods need longer planing periods and suitable solutions for
intermediate storage.
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I. The specific situation in Austria
Why is long-term financing so important?
•
RAW management is seen as a non-profit business of the public
interest
•
Government has to take over financial liabilities for infrastructure
and equipment to handle radwaste savely over a long time period
•
NES as the centralized waste management organization is 100 % financed by long-term
contracts with the government until 2045
•
A secured financing guarantees continuity and professionalism in waste management
•
Producer pays for handling, storage and later transfer into a final repository. Orphan
sources have to be paid by the government
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Strategic goals and techniques at NES1)
•
Goals:
- Volume reduction
- Transformation of waste into stable form
(long term stability)
- Safe storage in new 200 l drums or in special containers
in new transfer storage halls
•
Main techniques:
- Combustible waste is incinerated, metals are melted
- Non-combustible waste is (if possible) supercompacted
- Liquid waste is treated, resulting sludge is conditioned and stored
- All waste is dryed in a drum drying station
- Sealed sources are segregated and separately stored
1)
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Site of NES
Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf Ltd. (NES), the central Waste Management
Organisation for LILW in Austria
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New Waste Management Concept for risk reductions
Waste conditioning facilities and interim storage
has to be state of the art (contract by law and
with BMLFUW):
 High investments in new buildings and technical
equipment (ca. € 70 mio.)
 Assuring the long-term stability of the waste
until final disposal
 Additional safety and security installations
Waste treatment facilities
Main projects:
- Construction of a New Handling Center (NHC) for radioactive waste treatment
- Construction of new interim storage halls (Transfer storage)
- Renewing existing facilities
- Repacking/Reconditioning of old waste drums  volume reduction, long-term stability
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Modernisation of the waste treatment facilities at NES
LH 14
LH 13 LH 12a LH 12
NHZ
LH 9/10
PLH
TE
VA
ZEG
EZ
EA..
LH
WR
UNG
RH
MIZ
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Construction of a New Handling Center for RAW
•
•
•
Optimization of workflow, logistics and
working safety for staff
Optimization of radiation protection
Centralizing and renewal of most waste
conditioning facilities in one building:
New Handling Center
Modernizing of equipment



2 stainless steel handling caissons
Center for manipulation of sealed
soures
Vertical high force compactor (1500 t)
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



Drum drying system (32 drums)
Hot cell with underground storage
Cementation and mixing equipment
Decontamination chamber
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Safety zone concept for the New Handling Center (NHC)
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New Handling Center (NHC): Example Hot cell
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New Handling Center (NHC): Example Caissons
13
NURIS 2015, 17. April 2015
New Handling Center (NHC): Example High force compactor
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New Handling Center (NHC): Example Drum dryer
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New Handling Center (NHC): Example: Decontamination chamber
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Waste reduction – a strategic goal at NES
Different treatments for different materials:

Reducing volume by high-pressure compaction
(~ 3 : 1)

Incinerating combustible waste (~ 100 : 1)

Melting metals with Siempelkamp (~ 20 : 1)

Sorting, decontamination and release measurement
(from ~ 10 : 1 to ~ 20 : 1)
Cost-reduction potential:

Saving effect per 200 l drum content as
governmental fee for final storage
(= „Vorsorgeentgelt“ 1)) approx. € 12 800,-
Reduction of future burdens
1) annual
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index increase
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III. Example of waste reduction
Melting of contaminated metals

Bilateral contract with Austria and a German
Melting Company (Siempelkamp)

Separation from the primary metal out of the
radioactive slag which is returned to Austria

Total reduction of radwaste approx. 95 %

Cost savings of approx. € 500.000,- per charge

Total amount of savings approx. € 3,6 Mio.
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Use of an Ultrafiltration Waste-Water Treatment Plant
The use of chemical precipitation creates secundary waste!
 Use of an ultrafiltration membrane
technique, in operation since 2011
 Reducation of secondary waste
from 42 drums/a to 2 drums/a
 Annual savings approx. € 500.000,-1)
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III. Example of waste reduction
Construction of a Soil1) Measurement Facility

Soil selection through clearance
measurement

Reduction factor approx. 90 %

Flow rate capacity: 20 m³/week
(approx. 100 drums)
Measurement unit
Drum filling station
Transport belt
Waste
selection
unit
Material feeding
Mixed waste
drum feeding
Material transport
1) Complex
nuclide spectrum
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Problem: Complex Nuclide Spectrum:
Sr90, Am241, Co60, Cs137
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III. Example of waste reduction
Soil Measurement Facility at NES
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
Reduction of radiation exposure for the staff

Faster clearance through automatization

Reduction of waste quantities
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New interim storage at NES – Transfer storage
LH 14
LH 13
LH 12
•
•
Contract with BMLFUW, municipality
Seibersdorf and NES for LILW until
2045
Each drum must be inspectable
Transfer storage buildings
Design concept:
•
•
•
Stability of drum-staples in line with new
earthquake standards (EUROCODE 8)
Designed for the consequences of a long haul
aircraft crash (full fuel tank)
Controlled climatic conditions in all storage
halls (> 10°C, < 60 % humidity)
New transfer storage concept
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Safety Management is part of Quality Management
NES – Integrated Management System in compliance with EC-Directive
1st Step
2005
2nd Step
2008
3rd Step
2015/16
Quality
Management
(QM)
 Core Process
 Parts of Work Safety
 Support Process
 Parts of Environmental
 Work Instructions
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Safety
 Full integration of ISO
14001 and
 OHSAS 18001
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„Dokurad“
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Active Waste Water
Transfer Storage
TGS
Drum drying
Separation
Gamma
Scanning
Deposite
Deponie
Incineration
Verbrennung
Buffer
Storage
Take over
High pressure
compaction
Precipitation sludges Trocknung
Drying
Active
waste
Wasserwater
treatment
Reinigung
Alpha active waste water
Active waste water
Inactive waste water
Treatment
Bearbeitung
Lab
Measurement
Sources
Damping waste
Non burnable, liquid
Burnable, liquid
Burnable, solid
Non burnable, solid
Transport
Waste producer
Waste Stream Management as part of IMS
Ash
Cleaned waste water
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Resumée
•
All necessary measures for the implementation of the EU-Directive
have been introduced
•
A central institution for RAW Management in Austria does exist
•
All handling processes were modernized and adapted to “state-of-the-art”
•
The necessary financial resources for RAW Management are secured until the
scheduled final repository
•
Annual safety- and ordinance checks are obligatory, international reviews will be
executed
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Thank you for
your attention!
I‘m pleased to answer your questions…
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Implementation of EC-Directive 2011/70 (II)
•
Art. 8: Expertise and skills
Education and training is laid down in Austrian Radiation
Protection Act and provided in QM-processes of NES.
An Austrian-wide acting „Radiation Protection Academy“ is
in place
•
Art. 9: Financial resources
A disposal fee for final storage is part of law. Financial
resources for management of RAW are assured by
longterm contracts with NES
•
Art. 10: Transparency
Transparency is part of our „Environmental Assessment Act“.
New Information Policy – change NES from „closed job“
to „open house“. A participation process with general public will be
started, case by case.
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Implementation of EC-Directive 2011/70 (I)
•
Art. 4: General Principles
Basic points of National Waste Management Policy do
exist, waste minimization is part of the Policy and international
disposal solution is only an option
•
Art. 6: Competent Authority
Austrian Regulatory Authority has legal power, human and
financial resources
•
Art. 7: Licence Holders
NES ist national licenceholder for waste management, regularly
safety checks of all facilities are based on Radiation Protection
Ordinance. An integrated management system (IMS) is under
development
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Clear legal and contractual situation
A clear organizational structure in Austria
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•
Longterm contract until 2045 for
conditioning and storage
•
Government takes over financial
liabilities for infrastructure and
equipments
•
NES as the national licenceholder is
the centralized waste management
organisation in Austria
•
NES supports government by
implementation of EC-Directive
2011/70 EURATOM
•
NES supports government by
realizing a final repository concept
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Financial Aspects of NES
 100 % financed by long-term contracts with the Republic of Austria
 100 % of the work programme is defined by law in general and by contracts in detail
 All annual budgetary demands are valorized annually until 2045
 NES is a non-profit organization, working for public interest (10 % Tax-vote)
 „Polluter Pays Principle“ for all producers: Producers of radioactive waste have to pay for
waste transferred to NES for treatment and interim storage including a charge for future
costs of final disposal „Vorsorgeentgelt“, currently € 12.500,00 per 200 l - drum)
BMLFUW
Contract for conditioning
& facilities
2003 – 2045
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BMVIT
Contract for decommissioning
of historical burden
2003 – 2025
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Legal situation in Austria
General Radiation
Protection Ordinance
2006, amended 2012
Ordinance on the Shipment
of Radioactive Waste 2009
Medical Radiation
Protection Ordinance
2005, amended 2010
Ordinance on Protection of Air
Crew against Cosmic Radiation
2006
Radiation Protection
Act 1969,
amended 2013
Ordinance on
Interventions
2007
Ordinance on Hazards from
Naturally Occurring Radioactive
Materials
2008
Source: BMLFUW
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Producers of radwaste and quantities in Austria
Research
approx. 80 – 100 t/a primary waste
Industry
Medicine
approx. 15 – 20 t/a
primary waste
approx.
200 drums
conditioned
waste,
out of 120 t/a
IAEA
Laboratories
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Why is waste reduction so important for NES?
The 2 contracts demand: Cost-effectiveness, efficiency and economy
(checked by authorised experts, ministries, internal revision by AIT and others)
Innovative solutions reduce liabilities for future generations
(e.g. reduction of quantities)
Savings can be used for additional unforeseen costs
High-pressure compaction
Cost-effectiveness and innovations creates renomée and image in the professional world
 BUT: Security and safety drives economic efficiency
SAFETY FIRST!
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Reactor Decommissioning sets „BENCHMARKS“ in Europe
 Short decommissioning time
from 2000 to 2006
 Decommissioning work without
accident and significant radiation
exposure
 Amount of radioactive waste approx.
3.8 % of total volume
 Financial funds of 15 million Euros
provided for by the Federal Ministry were
extremely low compared to similar
reactor decommissioning projects
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