DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Working group on Integrated Performance Assessments of Deep Repositories LESSONS LEARNT FROM TEN PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT STUDIES

Pursuant to Article 1 of the Convention signed in Paris on 14th December 1960, and which came into force on 30th September 1961, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shall promote policies designed: − to achieve the highest sustainable economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in Member countries, while maintaining financial stability, and thus to contribute to the development of the world economy; − to contribute to sound economic expansion in Member as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development; and − to contribute to the expansion of world trade on a multilateral, non-discriminatory basis in accordance with international obligations. The primary objective of NEA is to promote cooperation among the governments of its participating countries in furthering the development of nuclear power as a safe, environmentally acceptable and economic energy source. This is achieved by: − encouraging harmonization of national regulatory policies and practices, with particular references to the safety of nuclear installations, protection of man against ionising radiation and preservation of the environment, radioactive waste management, and nuclear third party liability and insurance: − assessing the contribution of nuclear power to the overall energy supply by keeping under review the technical and economic aspects of nuclear power growth and forecasting demand and supply for the different phases of the nuclear fuel cycle; − developing exchanges of scientific and technical information particularly through participation in common services; − setting up international research and development programmes and joint undertakings. In these and related tasks, NEA works in close collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, with which it has concluded a Cooperation Agreement, as well as with other international organisations in the nuclear field. FOREWORD The management of radioactive wastes and, in particular, the safety assessment of radioactive waste disposal systems are areas of high priority in the programme of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The NEA's Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and its Performance Assessment Advisory Group (PAAG) and Coordinating Group on Site Evaluation and Design of Experiments (SEDE) are committed to promoting information exchange and cooperation among OECD member countries on subjects related to radioactive waste management strategy, safety assessment of disposal systems, and characterisation of potential disposal sites. Through international exchanges coordinated by the NEA, a general consensus has been reached that: • the responsibilities of this generation to future generations are better discharged by …