Waste management technologies development for the accident of TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. JFY2012 annual research and development report

In regard to the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, TEPCO, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) initiated research and development (R and D) in order to cope with the accident just after its occurrence. Among the R and D, waste management technologies for secondary wastes from contaminated water treatment concerning reactor cooling, contaminated rubbles and trees was the imminent problems, and JAEA eagerly conducted them. Materials contaminated with radionuclides were generated due to the accident. They contain radionuclides originated from the damaged nuclear fuels as well as seawater salt, they are highly contaminated and a sort of wastes that had not been disposed of, and the amount as waste would be enormous. The properties mentioned are different from those of current reactor wastes. Toward decommission and demolition (D and D) of the reactor units 1 through 4 of the Fukushima Daiichi NPS, safety on waste management for the contaminated material should be ensured and technology development considering the characteristics different from the current radioactive waste is needed. The R and D roadmap was released by the Government and TEPCO's Mid-to-Long Term Countermeasure Meeting in December 2011. For D and D of the reactors, some activities of cooling reactors, contaminated water treatment, preventing sea pollution, retrieving fuel debris and spent fuel, and radioactive waste management et al. are required, and their R and D must be conducted besides the countermeasures made by TEPCO. The working team was organized under management by the R and D Headquarters and R and D for waste management was initiated in a systematic manner. JAEA has been playing an important role as a member of project operator for the working team. This report summarizes the results on waste management obtained in JFY 2012 based on the mid-to-long term roadmap. Moreover it includes some results obtained in JFY 2011 just after the accident. (author)