Nordic nuclear safety research. Project plans for the 1994 - 1997 program

A new four-year Nordic nuclear research (NKS) programme starts in 1994 as a follow-up of four previous programmes carried through since 1977. The five Nordic countries have similar interests in maintaining their competence in the field of reactor safety and waste management, and are exposed to the same outside threats from reactors in neighbouring countries, nuclear powered vessels, and the ensuing risk of contamination of terrestrial and aquatic areas. Joint Nordic project work appears to be an efficient means of promoting a unified view on safety issues, for the regulatory authorities. It should also increase the possibilities for individual countries to join the programmes of the European Union in fields related to nuclear safety. The programme is made up by seven projects, supplemented by a coordination function. There are two projects in the field of reactor safety, the first one on all the essential aspects that need to be taken into account in order to ascertain safety (project RAK-1), and the other one dealing with tools that are needed when examining the question of severe accidents (project RAK-2). In the field of waste management, methods are investigated (in project AFA-1) that permit to deal with low- and intermediate level waste containing long lived radionuclides. Consequences of radioactive contamination are dealt with in two radioecology projects: the role played by sediments, assuming contamination of the sea around the Nordic countries (project EKO-1), and the different time constants involved in the reduction of contamination in case of fall-out over various parts of the Nordic countries (project EKO-2). Two projects are in the area of emergency preparedness. One deals with measuring techniques that should yield the same results regardless of where and by which method they are performed (project EKO-3), the other involves testing whether corresponding professional knowledge exists in specific fields that are essential in the handling of an emergency situation (project EKO-4). (EG)