Safety reassessment and decision making for existing waste disposal facilities

Decision making for existing waste disposal facilities is a complex subject with potentially significant technical, environmental, financial and stakeholder aspects. A properly structured safety case, including a safety assessment and supporting arguments is a key element in the appraisal of these complex problems, and for formulating and communicating the issues so that transparent and equitable decisions can be taken. The paper discusses some of the difficulties and how they might be resolved. The work is illustrated by ongoing work in the United Kingdom. (author)