A Socio-Technical Perspective on Repository Monitoring - 12229

Conference · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2012

OSTI ID:22293519

Bergmans, Anne ^[1]; Elam, Mark; Sundqvist, Goeran ^[2]; Simmons, Peter ^[3]

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1. University of Antwerp, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium)
2. University of Gothenburg, Department of Sociology, Box 720, 40530 Gothenburg (Sweden)
3. University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich NR4 7TJ (United Kingdom)

Monitoring geological repositories for high-activity radioactive wastes has both technical and social dimensions, which are closely interrelated. To investigate the implications of this for geological disposal, data on experts' expectations of repository monitoring and the functions that it is expected to serve were analysed. The analysis drew on strategic and technical documents on monitoring produced by national agencies and by international organisations or projects; interviews with specialists in radioactive waste management organisations on monitoring and on their perceptions of societal concerns and expectations; and observations from technical workshops on repository monitoring. Three main rationales for monitoring were found: performance confirmation; decision support in a step-wise process; and public and stakeholder confidence building. The expectation that monitoring will enhance public confidence is then examined from a social scientific perspective and the potential for and challenges to using monitoring in this way are reviewed. In conclusion, implications for stakeholder engagement in the development of monitoring objectives and strategies are discussed. (authors)

• Research Organization: WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9-332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 22293519
• Report Number(s): INIS-US--14-WM-12229
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES