A preliminary investigation into the possibility of burial of packaged low level wastes in Belgium

For 20 years Belgium has been regularly dumping its packaged low level wastes at sea in accordance with the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution. In view of the uncertainties since 1982 regarding the possibility of resuming and continuing this waste disposal technique, the National Organization of Radioactive Wastes and Fissile Materials (ONDRAF/NIRAS) decided, at the end of 1984, to investigate the possibility of burial of these wastes on Belgian territory. The objective of this study is to develop a method for evaluating the safety of the disposal concept. First, a scenario for the normal development of the disposal site was considered. Then, certain accident scenarios which could lead to substantial releases of radionuclides were envisaged. For each scenario a methodology for calculating the doses is proposed and the probability of such accidents occurring is estimated. Together with this study, a survey of potentially favourable zones for burial of the wastes in Belgium was begun. An initial selection has been made by eliminating a number of regions on the basis of exclusion factors. In the second stage, the zones which have not been excluded are evaluated in terms of the factors regarded as favourable for the installation of disposal facilities. Finally, on the basis of this list of favourable zones, a number of potential sites may be proposed for further study. In this context decisions are to be taken by the national authorities towards the end of 1986 on the choice of sites selected for more detailed investigation with a view to final burial operations. (author)