Local Communities' Expectations and Demands on Monitoring and the Preservation of Records, Knowledge and Memory of a Deep Geological Repository

This report explores the role, needs and expectations of local communities regarding monitoring and RK and M preservation of radioactive waste management facilities, in particular deep geological repositories. It was developed through both field and desk research. A questionnaire survey to FSC members was undertaken in July and August 2012, followed by interviews with a broad range of involved stakeholders. A brief update survey in August and September 2013 gathered replies from a subset of countries. A literature review was carried out, focusing on FSC publications and other documents and publications found through internet or suggested by interviewees. After a brief presentation of the study rationale and methodology in section 1, section 2 reviews the FSC literature on aspects related to RK and M and monitoring. In section 3 the report identifies concerns and expectations of local communities regarding monitoring in the different phases of the repository life cycle and in the different national contexts, according to the results gathered from the survey and interviews undertaken as part of this project. The fourth section discusses how RK and M preservation may emerge as a subject of debate with local stakeholders in different countries in the years to come. Section 5 recognises that monitoring and RK and M preservation potentially serve to build and maintain confidence in the long-term safety of deep geological repositories. Finally, the concept of oversight is considered in section 6 as a term that embraces monitoring and RK and M, and its interpretation in different reports is illustrated. Final reflections, with some conclusions, are provided in section 7. Four appendixes are offered. Appendix I summarises in a table the design features of a radioactive waste management facility that may help the memory of the site to be preserved over generations, as suggested in NEA (2007). Appendix II reports statements related with monitoring and RK and M preservation in the reviewed FSC literature. Appendix III includes the online survey questions as well as the interview guide. Finally, Appendix IV acknowledges the authors, reviewers and especially the stakeholders who provided detailed input for this report