New technical standards for radioactive waste management in Japan

The technical standards for radioactive waste disposal, prepared by the ad hoc committee and reported to the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan, and approved by the latter, are explained. The feature of the new standards is to divide the disposal of radioactive wastes into that in the factories and enterprises concerned and that outside organizations; for the latter, sea disposal of radioactive wastes is stipulated. Thereby, the long-range points of view concerning the management are introduced. In the sea disposal, the international standards are extensively incorporated. In the management on the sites of factories and enterprises, radioactive wastes are grouped in gas, liquid and solid ones; and the respective techniques of disposal are specified. In the disposal outside organizations, storage on the sites and sea disposal are performed. For sea disposal, radioactive wastes are contained in vessels, or otherwise, they are solidified within metallic vessels using hydraulic cement. (J.P.N.)