Analysis of Critical Issues in Biosphere Assessment Modelling and Site Investigation

Quintessa undertook a project for the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) to review issues concerned with the treatment of the biosphere and geosphere-biosphere interface in long-term performance assessment studies for nuclear waste disposal in Sweden. The review covered three main areas of investigation:

• a review of SKB's plans for undertaking site investigations at candidate locations for the development of a deep geological repository for spent fuel;
• identification of critical uncertainties associated with SKB's treatment of the geosphere-biosphere interface in recent performance assessments; and
• a preliminary modelling investigation of the significance of features, events and processes in the near-surface environment in terms of their effect on the accumulation and redistribution of radionuclides at the geosphere-biosphere interface.

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For more information, please contact Richard Little.