Development of a system to maintain, monitor and check waste packages during interim storage

This paper describes the development of a systematic approach to the maintenance, monitoring and checking of the integrity of waste packages during interim storage. The approach consists of: the control of environmental conditions in stores; monitoring of waste package condition during storage, and; application of test techniques prior to transport. Because of the long timescales over which waste packages will be stored, application of best practice is considered prudent. Observations to date indicate that these measures are robust. Monitoring of inactive waste packages will continue, and will be supplemented by information from coupons and dummy packages in active stores. This should enable guidance to be refined and updated in the future. (orig.)