Development of a low-level radioactive waste disposal system in Canada

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:5909022

Cameron, D J ^[1]

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1. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River, Ontario (Canada)

AECL, the Canadian national nuclear development agency, has operated a research and development centre at Chalk River Laboratories (CRL), Ontario since the 1940s. Wastes from AECL's research and development activities are managed at CRL, as well as low-level wastes from hospitals, universities research institutes and industries from across Canada, which are accepted on a commercial basis. Each of the nuclear electric utilities in Canada operates its own low-level radioactive waste storage facility. AECL's activities at CRL are considered as waste management, without formal distinction between storage (a situation for the wastes which is intended to be temporary) and disposal (a situation intended to be permanent). Currently, wastes with only low levels of activity are placed in a large unlined trench, while wastes with higher levels of activity are put into concrete bunkers and steel-lined concrete pipes, embedded in the ground, known as tile holes. It is anticipated that, with some additional upgrading of the cover, the trench facility will eventually be classified as disposal, whereas the wastes going into bunkers and tile holes will have to be recovered for disposal in some other type of facility.

• OSTI ID: 5909022
• Report Number(s): CONF-920414--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 65
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LTD
CANADA
CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES