Safety Assessment of El Cabril, the Spanish Surface Disposal facility for LILW and VLLW - 17233

El Cabril project was launched in 1986, for Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) disposal, based on concrete barriers and concrete disposal units. The operation of a Very Low Leve Waste (VLLW) complementary facility based on clay and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) barriers and different types of disposal units started in 2008. Two main objectives are considered in the design: Immediate and post-closure protection and no radiological restrictions, after institutional control period. To fulfil these objectives several design criteria like waste isolation through a multi-barrier system, surveillance period no longer than 300 years and limitation of activity are applied. The Safety Assessment process follows a methodology which, taking into account important facts like safety and design criteria, time frame, radiological protection criteria, waste characteristics, environment, FEPs (features, events and processes), etc., develops different scenarios, models and calculations to define the safety approach. This safety approach follows the current guides and recommendations of international organizations, it covers the potential impact of the facility for the operational and long-term periods and it includes normal evolution and less likely accidental and inadvertent human intrusion events. All the studies and considerations done for the Safety Assessment have to be included in a safety Report, required for getting the Operation License for Nuclear Installations in Spain. The content of this Report is defined by the Spanish regulation and it has to be revised if there is a change in the facility that may affect the safety. It is also mandatory making a Safety Periodic Review (every 10 years in the case of El Cabril) that has to be presented to the Regulatory Council. This paper outlines the principles, objectives and criteria of El Cabril's disposal installation and it explains the safety assessment performed, for both LILW and VLLW disposal, as part of the documentation produced to obtain the authorization to operate. (authors)