Synthesis of the workshop

At the completion of the International INTRAVAL Project, the characterisation of geologic complexity in the field, and its impact on the prediction of flow and transport were considered to be by far the greatest issues encountered during performance assessment. Twenty-two national waste management organisations (implementing agencies and regulatory authorities) from twelve OECD Member countries were represented at the workshop, along with representatives from the European Commission and from nuclear research institutes, the academic community and scientific consulting companies. The aim of the workshop was to follow data from their acquisition in the field, through the identification and handling of uncertainties, to their direct or implicit use in the representation of Water-Conducting Features in assessment models. The main conclusions and recommendations that were drawn at the workshop and that deal specifically with Water-Conducting Features, can be summarised. (author)