International safeguards relevant to geologic disposal of high-level wastes and spent fuels

This paper identifies some of the international safeguards issues relevant to the various proposed scenarios for disposing of spent fuel. In the context of the U.S. program for geologic disposal of spent fuels, this paper highlights several issues that should be addressed in the near term, before the geologic repositories for spent fuels becomes a reality. Based on U.S. spent fuel discharges, and example is presented to illustrate the enormity of the problem of verifying spent fuel inventories. The geologic disposal scenario for high-level wastes originating from defense facilities produces a practicably irrecoverable waste form