Disposal facilities for radioactive waste shall be developed, operated and closed in a series of steps. Each of these steps shall be supported, as necessary, by iterative evaluations of the site, of the options for design, construction, operation and management, and of the performance and safety of the disposal system.
4.2
A step by step approach to the development of a disposal facility for radioactive waste refers to the steps that are imposed by the regulatory body and by political decision making processes (see para. 1.18). This approach is taken to provide an opportunity to ensure the quality of the technical programme and the associated decision making. For the operator, it provides a framework in which sufficient confidence in the technical feasibility and safety of the disposal facility can be built at each step in its development.
4.3
Confidence has to be developed and refined by means of iterative design and safety studies as the project progresses [19]. The process has to provide for: the collection, analysis and interpretation of the relevant scientific and technical data; the development of designs and operational plans; and the development of the safety case for safety in the operational stage and after closure. The step by step process provides access for all interested parties to the safety basis for the disposal facility. This facilitates the relevant decision making processes that enable the operator to proceed to the next significant step in the development of the facility, and on to its operation and, finally, its closure.
4.4
The step by step approach to the development of a disposal facility also allows opportunities for independent technical review, regulatory review, and political and public involvement in the process. The nature of the reviews and involvement will depend on national practices and on the facility in question. Technical reviews by, or on behalf of, the operator and the regulatory body may focus on site selection and evaluation and design options, the adequacy of the scientific basis and analyses, and whether safety standards and requirements have been met.
4.5
Alternative waste management options, the site selection and evaluation process and aspects of public acceptability, for example, may be considered in farther reaching reviews. Technical reviews have to be undertaken prior to selection of a disposal option, prior to selection of a site, prior to construction and prior to operation. Periodic reviews also have to be undertaken during the operation of the facility and following closure, up to termination of the facility licence.