CONCLUSIONS

Chapter 7. Conclusions

The concept of a key information file (KIF) emerged in response to the challenge presented by the expected large amounts of records and knowledge that national disposal programmes are likely to generate. The KIF is intended to be a single, short document, produced to a standard format across national programmes. Widely distributed and openly available, it is intended to contain some sections in several languages.

The KIF is designed to provide a fully integrated summary record covering all of the aspects of RK&M. In particular it is designed to:

•provide a summary “record”, directing the reader to further detail;

•support “knowledge” through the provision of enough context for an educated reader to draw appropriate conclusions;

•contribute to “memory” by ensuring that successive generations do not forget the location of the repositories.

Because of the long time frames involved in the geological disposal of radioactive waste, many uncertainties exist, and a solution for “perfect knowledge preservation” is unrealistic. It will therefore be key to allow redundancy and to plan for periodic review so as to ensure the transfer of relevant information.

As of 2018, the KIF concept is being tested with encouraging results via the preparation of draft documents for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant at Carlsbad in the United States (deep geological disposal), the planned repository for spent nuclear fuel at Forsmark in Sweden (deep geological disposal) and the closed Centre de la Manche facility in France (surface disposal) (see annex for further details on these tests).

The concept of a KIF has the full support of the RK&M initiative, which is overseen by the NEA Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC). It is strongly recommended that disposal projects include a KIF in their RK&M planning.