Radioactive Waste from Nuclear Power Plants

Thomas B. Johansson, Peter Steen

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9780520339194
• eBook ISBN: 9780520339200
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Applied Sciences
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Radioactive Waste from Nuclear Power Plants provides a comprehensive examination of Sweden’s evolving nuclear waste management policies and the political landscape that shaped them. With a focus on the Nuclear Stipulation Act of 1977, the book outlines the stringent requirements imposed on reactor operators to ensure the safe long-term disposal of radioactive waste. The Swedish nuclear industry’s response to these demands, particularly the KBS (Nuclear Fuel Safety) project’s approach to vitrified waste management, is analyzed in detail, alongside the broader political debates that influenced Sweden’s nuclear future. The book serves as both a technical and historical account of the country's nuclear energy policy, detailing the transition from early optimism about nuclear power to increasing public skepticism and government intervention.

Beyond Sweden’s domestic policies, Radioactive Waste from Nuclear Power Plants explores the international implications of nuclear waste disposal, offering insights into how other nations might approach similar challenges. The detailed safety assessments, site evaluations, and legislative measures presented in the book underscore the complexities of balancing energy needs with environmental and public health concerns. The analysis of Sweden’s 1980 nuclear referendum, which ultimately led to a commitment to phase out nuclear energy, highlights the intersection of science, policy, and public opinion in shaping national energy strategies. This work is essential for anyone interested in the governance of nuclear energy, the intricacies of waste management, and the broader implications of transitioning away from nuclear power in the face of mounting environmental and political pressures.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1981.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS 1
• Preface
• PART I Introduction and Summary
• 1 Background: Nuclear Power and Nuclear Waste Management in Sweden
• 2 Introduction
• 3 Summary
• PART II The Technical and Legal Settings for the Ringhals 3 Decision
• 4 The Legal Background
• 5 The Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• PART III Detailed Summary and Discussion of Remiss and Review Comments
• 6 How To Interpret “Has Shown”
• 7 What Constitutes “Highly Radioactive Waste Resulting from Reprocessing”?
• 8 What Is “Absolute Safety”?
• 9 Central Spent Fuel Storage Pool (Centrallager)
• 10 Transportation
• 11 Reprocessing and Vitrification
• 12 Intermediate Storage of Vitrified Waste (Mellanlager)
• 13 Final Repository
• PART IV Sensitivity Analysis and “Where” the Wastes Can Be Finally Stored
• 14 Sensitivity Analysis
• 15 Has It Been Shown Where the Wastes Can Be Stored Finally?
• PART V Appendix
• Abbreviations
• Reviewers
• Notes and References
• Handling of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Final Storage of Vitrified High-Level Reprocessing Waste: Summary (Reprint of the Summary Done by Nuclear Fuel Safety Project)
• Index