Radioactive waste management in Japan

The historical review of past 20 years is made, and the present status of radioactive waste management is given together with the international trends and future problems. In the first part, 20 years history of radioactive waste disposal in Japan is given regarding the utilization of radio isotopes, the operation of reactors, and fuel reprocessing. The unique activities being undertaken by the Japan Isotope Association are presented. In the second part, the present status of managing low- and medium-level wastes, the wastes containing uranium, the wastes from nuclear power plants, and the high level wastes from fuel reprocessing is presented. As for abandoning into sea, the activities of OECD-NEA are briefly presented. Regarding the storage of wastes on land, RSSF (Retrievable Surface Storage Facility) and GDPP (Geologic Disposal Pilot Plant) are explained. As for high-level radioactive wastes, the necessity of having domestic storage sites is emphasized. The recent movement of IEA is also presented. In the third part, the author proposes a ten year national project for establishing the radioactive waste management system. Various methods of disposal now under consideration in the world are also explained. (Aoki, K.)