Managing the Unexpected in Nuclear Waste Disposal -A WIPP Experience Paper - 23478

It is reasonable to anticipate surprises or unexpected events in the management and disposal of nuclear waste because nuclear waste management is not only technically challenging, but also highly political. This paper describes some of the expected events that occurred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) during waste disposal operations with a particular emphasis on those events with radiological implications. It also discusses how these events were analyzed and lessons learned. An understanding of the nature, mitigation, management, and response to unexpected events provides operational experience that will be useful to future licensees and applicants. At some point in the future, the lessons learned from more than two decades of WIPP operations will be a valuable resource for future repository programs. (authors)