IGSC technical activities

Overview

The technical activities of the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) examine those technical issues important for the integration of the safety case. The majority of IGSC members participate in the advancement of the technical and scientific bases of the safety case.

Approaches and Methods for Integrating Geologic Information in the Safety Case (AMIGO)

The Approaches and Methods for Integrating Geologic Information in the Safety Case (AMIGO) programme aims to advance current understanding of the the safety case, identify where future work is needed and reduce uncertainties. It will contribute to the development of methods for geosphere representation in a safety case. A first AMIGO workshop on Geological Disposal: Building Confidence Using Multiple Lines of Evidence took place on 3-5 June 2003 in Switzerland. A second AMIGO workshop on the Linkage of Geoscientific Arguments and the Line of Evidence supporting the Safety Case took place on 20-22 September 2005 in Toronto, Canada. A third workshop, addressing Approaches and Challenges for the Use of Geological Information in the Safety Case was held in April 2008, hosted by the French Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs (ANDRA). The aim of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of information and in-depth discussions on the collection and integration of all types of geologic information in repository siting and design, performance assessment models and the overall safety case for the deep disposal of radioactive waste. A compendium detailing the current state of geoscientific data and its use in safety cases is now in prepartion. The report is based on the responses to a questionnaire distributed in 2005-6.

AMIGO publications and reports

Linkage of Geoscientific Arguments and the Line of Evidence supporting the Safety Case
Second AMIGO Workshop Proceedings, Toronto, Canada, 20-22 September 2005

Geological Disposal: Building Confidence Using Multiple Lines of Evidence
Workshop Proceedings, Yverdon les bains, Swizerland, 3-5 June 2003

The Evolving Roles of Geoscience in the Safety Case: Responses to the AMIGO Questionnaire

Engineered Barrier System (EBS)

The IGSC's work on engineered barrier systems has centred on a series of workshops intended to improve the understanding of how to succesfully design, construct, model and assess the performance of engineered barrier systems for the disposal of long-lived, high-level radioactive waste. A workshop on the Engineered Barrier System in the Context of the Entire Safety Case was held in 2002, based on a state-of-the-art report. The first EBS workshop on design requirements and constraints took place in Turku, Finland, in 2003. The second EBS workshop on process issues took place in Las Vegas, USA in September 2004. The third EBS workshop on Integration of EBS in a Safety Case: The Role of Modelling took place in La Coruna, Spain in 2005. A fourth EBS workshop on design confirmation and demonstration was held in Tokyo, Japan on 13-15 September 2006. The proceedings of this workshop are currently in preparation.

Engineered Barrier Systems publications and reports

The Joint EC/NEA Engineered Barrier System Project: Synthesis Report (EBSSYN)
Final Report, 2010

Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) in the Safety Case: Design Confirmation and Demonstration
Workshop Proceedings, Tokyo, Japan, 12-15 September 2006

Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) in the Safety Case: The Role of Modelling
Workshop Proceedings, La Coruna, Spain, 24-26 August 2005

Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) in the Context of the Entire Safety Case: Process Issues
Workshop Proceedings, Las Vegas, USA, 14-17 September 2004

Engineered Barrier System (EBS) in the Context of the Entire Safety Case: Design Requirements and Constraints
Workshop Proceedings, Turku, Finland, 23-27 August 2003

Engineered Barrier Systems and the Safety of Deep Geological Repositories
State-of-the-Art Report, In co-operation with the European Commission

Engineered Barrier System (EBS) in the Context of the Entire Safety Case
Workshop Proceedings, Oxford, UK, 25-27 September 2002

GEOTRAP

This technical activity addressed the scientific basis for the modelling of radionuclide transport in actual geologic media and was organised as a series of five workshops. The last in the series, GEOTRAP 5, took place on 7-9 June 2001. A synthesis of all GEOTRAP workshops held to date is also available.

GEOTRAP publications and reports

GEOTRAP: Radionuclide Migration in Geologic, Heterogeneous Media
Summary of Accomplishments

Radionuclide Retention in Geologic Media
Proceedings of a Workshop held in Oskarshamn, Sweden on 7-9 May 2001

Confidence in Models of Radionuclide Transport for Site-specific Assessments
Synthesis and Proceedings of the fourth GEOTRAP Workshop, Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States, 14-17 June 1999

Water-Conducting Features and their Representation in Models of Radionuclide Migration
Synthesis and Proceedings from the third GEOTRAP Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, 10-12 June 1998

Modelling the Effects of Spatial Variability on Radionuclide Migration
Synthesis and Proceedings from the second GEOTRAP Workshop, Paris, France, 9-11 June 1997

Field Tracer Experiments: Role in the Prediction of Radionuclide Migration
Synthesis and Proceedings of an NEA/EC GEOTRAP Workshop, Cologne, Germany, 28-30 August 1996 - Coedition with the European Communities Series Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Biosphere role

A topical session on the role of biosphere was held during the plenary IGSC meeting on 24-26 October 2001. The proceedings of this session are now available (restricted document, requires password).

Scenario development

A workshop on scenario development was organised in Madrid during May 1999, with the objective of reviewing developments in scenario methodologies and applications in safety assessments since 1992. In addition, a document on state-of-the-art scenario development is also available.

Scenario development publications and reports

Scenario Development Methods and Practice
An Evaluation Based on the NEA Workshop on Scenario Development held in Madrid, May 1999

Related links

IGSC overview

IGSC core activities

IGSC co-operative activities

E-mail contact: igsc@oecd.org.

Last updated: 30 July 2008