Prague, Czech Republic, 14 – 23 June 2011

In collaboration with the Czech Technical University (CTU), Prague and the IAEA Network of Centres of Excellence and in association with the PETRUS II project
 

Online course registration is available here.

The charming centre of Prague

Prague Castle from the River Moldau

This nine-day course is presented by the ITC in collaboration with the CTU, Prague. It is a component of the IAEA Network programme for 2011 and the PETRUS II project Pilot Professional Development Programme (PPDP). The course is designed for geological repository project managers and scientists, implementing and regulatory agencies, geoscience, environmental and engineering companies involved with the site investigation, safety assessment and construction of underground disposal facilities. This course ranges across all key aspects and topical issues concerned with managing a geological disposal programme (previous ‘Fundamentals’ courses were held in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2010). The extended 2011 course includes two days working in CTU’s Underground Educational Facility JOSEF, near Prague

The 9-day programme for 2011 consists of;

• Lectures on topics ranging from evaluating the wastes to be disposed of, right through all the technical stages of identifying and implementing geological disposal to the societal interactions required of repository development projects. Sufficient time will be allocated for questions and discussions in each presentation module.
   
• A course group exercise will be held at the end of the first week. Looking at ‘Stakeholder Dialogue: theory and practice’, the course participants will be introduced to the background of communicating with a wide range of stakeholders, including examples from around the world. The participants will then be split into small groups to work together and produce their own programme for stakeholder dialogue. They will then present their ideas to their peers and course tutors and face questioning from sceptical ‘stakeholders’.
   
• Two full days working in the UEF JOSEF will enable participants to go underground into the tunnels and shafts and to learn directly about experiments to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of geological disposal.
   
• A second course exercise on repository siting decisions. This will take the form of a MAA (Multi-Attribute Analysis), examining the multi-facetted factors which have to be considered, then weighed and balanced when deciding on optimum sites for a waste repository. Once again, the participants will then present their ideas to their peers and course tutors and face questioning from worried members of a potential repository community.
   
• The course is ideal for those involved in any component of a national waste disposal programme. The previous fundamental courses were attended by participants from a wide range of stakeholders in sectors such as national/ provincial level decision-making authorities, implementing and regulating organisations, research organisations and universities, including both member and non-member organisations of the ITC-School.

Czech Technical University, Prague

Details of the course modules

Module I: The basic concept of geological disposal

This module includes presentations on the basic concepts of deep geological disposal as a course primer. Enough information will be provided for a novice in this area to understand the following modules and will cover the reasoning behind deep waste disposal and includes a brief look at different EBS designs for different waste streams. The various waste types (including their origins and physical and radiological properties) will also be examined and the requirements for a full national waste inventory will be discussed (looking at good and less good examples from around the world). This module will be wrapped up by an examination of the large range of potential geological environments in which a repository can be hosted. Examples of sedimentary and crystalline rock will be discussed as will different hydrogeological regimes and the positive and negative aspects of all variants will be explored.

Module II: Repository design and construction

Despite public concerns and the common emphasis on the difficulty of safe geological disposal, there are many different options that can ensure containment of radioactive waste and ensure no risk to humans or the environment. A common factor of such designs is that they incorporate multiple engineered barriers that complement the isolation provided by a deep geological setting. The challenge is to develop a safety concept that is appropriate to the waste to be managed and a design that allows such safety to be demonstrated. This module briefly describes near surface disposal options, then focuses on deeper disposal, overviewing some of the “classic” concepts developed in the ‘70s and ‘80s and contrasting these with alternative disposal concepts. This leads to a consideration of design optimisation, taking into account the need to ensure practicality and construction and operational safety, as simple designs developed for feasibility demonstration move towards implementation.

Module III: Site selection

Over the last few decades, there has been an evolution in approaches to selecting specific potential sites. In the early days of nuclear technology, sites for facilities were commonly chosen to be remote, occasionally because of the military connections, often simply to minimise the number of directly affected people. Subsequently, additional facilities were often sited adjacent to existing installations because the infrastructure was available and often public acceptance was easier, because of prior familiarity of the locals with nuclear technology. Other approaches, including expert judgement, the use of multi-attribute analysis and eliciting a volunteer community are also examined and the positive and negative aspects of each approach are examined.
This module will include a group discussion on how best to structure a national disposal programme and will be introduced by a short examination of the approaches used in some national programmes around the world.

Module IV: Stakeholder dialogue

This day-long module will examine who the stakeholders are and how we in the waste disposal industry can develop a dialogue with the various stakeholder groups. Case studies from around the world will be examined and successful and less successful programmes examined. The lessons learned in these discussions will then be applied by the participants in the first group exercise of the course.

The participants will be split into small groups and will be tasked with designing a programme of stakeholder dialogue for a hypothetical repository site. Tutors will be available to support the groups should the need arise and, on completion of the exercise, each group will present their approach to their peers. Robust questioning of the presenters by the audience is to be expected!

Module V: Site characterisation

Generally, site investigations are preceded by desk-top investigations to identify potential sites as comprehensive material is often available in the literature (e.g. from national Geological Surveys). The desk studies generally provide background data that is used to plan the site specific characterisation work. Site investigations are comprehensive investigations of the bedrock from the ground surface and in boreholes. Site investigations for a geological repository are made to:

• Show whether the site satisfies the requirements for a safe repository,
• Serve as a basis for adaptation of the repository design to local geologic conditions,
• Permit comparisons with other sites (if such are investigated), and
• Provide data for assessing the environmental impact of the repository during construction and operation.

In this phase, detailed studies are also made of alternative designs of the facilities and how transport of waste containers and other materials to the facility can safely take place. In this module, these steps will be examined for a few example sites and the differences between approaches (e.g. for different rock types) will be assessed. The participants should come away with the understanding that there is no unique or perfect characterisation methodology, rather it is necessary to adapt the available tools and approaches to the specific site.

Module VI: Retardation of radionuclides in the repository multi-barrier system

This short module will provide an overview of the processes involved in radionuclide retardation in the repository multi-barrier system. The roles of each barrier (including the geosphere) will be examined as will the temporal changes in the barriers and the impact that these changes have on radionuclide retardation. The methods used to define radionuclide retardation will be explored and examples provided from the laboratory, field (and URL) experiments and natural analogues.

Module VII: Group exercise in requirements for a repository site and evolution of siting approaches

This day-long module will examine what is currently the most common siting approach– multi-attribute analysis. This is a technique that attempts to identify all criteria influencing the choice of options, to quantify how well each option matches the criteria and to combine the quantified scores, using appropriate weighting factors in order to give a ranking of preferences. The scores and especially the weightings can be allocated by different stakeholder groups, which allow inclusion of the wider, non-technical issues. This approach is promising – provided that there is full transparency concerning the parameters and also the weighting factors, which are employed when combing judgements on the individual parameters.

The methodology will be examined and a simplified version of the approach used by the course participants to decide on a repository site. Each group be asked to examine the same parameter set, but from the viewpoint of a different stakeholder group. Once again, each group will present their approach and findings to their critical peers and the variations between the results will be discussed to provide a deeper understanding of the MAA approach.

Module VIII: Practical aspects of waste disposal in the Josef UEF

The JOSEF Underground Educational Facility is about 60 km from Prague

This module provides a step-change and a move away from the classroom with a look at some of the practical aspects of waste disposal in CTU’s underground education facility at JOSEF. Various aspects of work underground will be highlighted, including

• downhole equipment installation (site characterisation stage)
• core drilling and core evaluation (site characterisation stage)
• tunnel convergence measurements (repository construction and operational phases)
• in-tunnel equipment installation (repository operational and monitoring phases)
• data recording (repository operational and monitoring phases)
• buffer and backfill technology, including buffer installation (operational phase)
• gas permeability tests (repository operational and monitoring phases)

This range of tasks, carried out in a ’hands-on’ manner, will give the course participants a feeling for the wide range of technical skills required in a repository programme and may be the only time that many of them will experience working in a tunnel system. See http://uef-josef.uef-josef.eu/misc/mereni/kamera.php for the JOSEF online webcam.

Module IX: Performance and safety assessment

In this last module of the course, the processes inherent in showing that a particular repository design and site will function safely and perform appropriately will be examined in detail. Safety assessment involves developing an understanding of how, and under what circumstances, radionuclides might be released from the repository, how likely are such releases and what are the radiological consequences of such releases to humans and the environment. This in turn involves the collating of necessary data, developing models and performing analyses related to safety – all these aspects will be examined in an open, simple way to demystify what many experienced people in the waste disposal industry struggle to understand.

As a repository will only be licensed for construction, operation and closure if it can be shown to be safe, different approaches to showing it is safe will be elucidated and discussed.

Course Location

The course will take place at the Hotel Silenzio (http://www.silenziohotel.cz/en/location), very close to the CTU campus and the ancient city centre of Prague. Two days will also be spent in the JOSEF Underground Teaching Facility (UEF – see www.uef-josef.eu), near Jilové, some 60 km southeast of Prague. The UEF was officially opened in 2007 and is run by the CTU as a teaching and R&D facility.

Hotel Silenzio, Prague

Course Programme

Download the Course Programme PDF: Fundamentals_of_Geological_Disposal_2011_course_agenda.pdf (27 kb PDF)

Other activities

On Sunday, 19th June, there will be an opportunity to enjoy the beauties of the ancient city of Prague, the centre of which is just a short stroll from the hotel.

Course Fee

The course fees directly cover tuition, course notes, room and equipment hire, transport to the UEF and other materials. The accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon refreshments for nine days (arriving Tuesday 14th June, departing Thursday, 23rd June after the course), plus a course dinner and a welcome reception are charged separately. Accommodation at the course hotel on 23rd June can be arranged at additional cost.

CHF8100 for ITC members. This total is split between

• accommodation etc– CHF1100
• ITC course fee – CHF7000

CHF8950 for non-members. This total is split between

• accommodation etc– CHF1100
• ITC course fee – CHF7850

Final deadline for registration is 15th May, 2011. The course fee is due within four weeks of your registration and registration is not guaranteed until we have received the course fee. If you have to withdraw from the course after paying your fee, it will be refunded in full up to 1st May, 2011. After this date, it is not refundable.

Application form

Online course registration is available here. The number of places is limited, so we would advise you to register early.

Insurance

Please note that participants on this course, or their employing organisations, are responsible for their own personal insurance.

Course Organisers

The course is organised by the ITC-School in collaboration with, and supported by, CTU, Prague, and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) within its network on Training and Demonstration of Waste Disposal Technologies in Underground Research Facilities (http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/default.asp).

Teaching

The course will be held in an informal, workshop atmosphere and participants will be encouraged to interact and question at all times. Each course topic will be taught by highly qualified and internationally recognised specialists from around the world. They will provide the most up to date and comprehensive information and discussions. Course materials will be provided for each topic. Modules will generally be taught throughout the day, with an extended lunch break. In addition, the course tutors will be present at dinner and afterwards in the hotel for free discussion and information exchange. The course language is English and course materials are printed in English.

Learning outcome – is this course for you ?

Your learning outcome should be statements of what you would expect to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate at completion of a period of learning. So what will this course do for you? You should expect to:

• have a strong grasp of the basic concepts of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste
• understand the importance of a waste inventory to a disposal programme
• be aware of the numerous different repository designs and be able to assess which design will be most applicable to which site and waste stream
• be knowledgable in site selection and characterisation procedures and have developed an awareness of the flexibility required to address each different site
• be more aware of the complexity (and dangers) of on-site working from your time in the JOSEF facility
• have demystified the process of repository safety and performance assessment and have an understanding of the limitations of the methodology
• a much better understanding of the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders and not just the views of industry insiders. With your new understanding of the basic concepts of radioactive waste disposal you should also be better equipped to enter into dialogue with a wider range of stakeholders – not just those in the waste industry
• most importantly, you will be in possession of a rare asset for you and your employer: an excellent overview of how the different disciplines need to be integrated to deliver a successful national deep disposal programme. Waste disposal is full of specialists and the benefits of having a unique overview should never be underestimated.

As such, the course is ideal for those involved in any component of a national radioactive waste programme and who have a desire to learn about the wider aspects of working in radioactive waste disposal. While some background in radioactive waste is useful, the modules have been so designed as to ensure that any participant who currently only has limited grasp of waste disposal will profit from this course. As such, interested people who are new to waste disposal should not be put off from attending. If you are unsure if this course is for you, please feel free to contact the ITC Director of Courses, Russell Alexander ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), for an informal chat.

To help you to get the most out of this course, we would like you to produce a short pre-course assignment. But don’t worry, we are not asking you for much effort, just a little thought in advance of attending the course which will focus your thinking and give us an insight into your requirements. And don’t worry if you cannot express yourself fluently, this is not a test, rather it is simply intended to help us get to know you a bit in advance. In return, you will be giventhe course tutors’ CVs when you start the course.

The Course Assignment can be found at the bottom of this course description [ See the And finally ... section below] and should be returned by 13th May, 2011. On-line course registration: www.itc-school.org.

Participants from IAEA Technical Co-operation Project

The IAEA will finalise arrangements for the INT 9.173 Technical Co-operation Project "Training in Radioactive Waste Disposal Technologies in Underground Research Facilities", of which this course is a part. A draft prospectus will be circulated by IAEA to target countries in the scheme which explains the application procedure and the support arrangements. Participants from the countries within the IAEA training scheme (Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, the Peoples Republic of China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, India, Lithuania, Kazakstan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Republic of South Africa, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine) should contact responsible officers at the Agency.

IAEA Support

Under the auspices of the IAEA, nationally developed Underground Research Facilities (URFs) and associated laboratories are being offered for use by other nations. The URFs and laboratories form a “Network of Centres of Excellence” for training in and development of waste disposal technologies. If your organisation is from a participating country in the IAEA training network scheme you may be able to request financial support from the IAEA for courses run as part of the Network scheme.

Geological Society of London

The ITC is directly associated with the CPD training scheme of the Geological Society of London (GSL – see http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/op/www%3C/page1.html) and periodically runs courses which have been endorsed by the GSL. These enable Fellows of the GSL to earn credits towards their CPD and offer them a 10% discount on the normal registration fee. This course is currently under consideration by the GSL and the results will be posted soon.

The PETRUS II Pilot Professional Development Programme (PPDP)

PETRUS II is an EC project launched during FP7 with the objective of ensuring the renewal, continuation and improvement of professional skills in the field of radioactive waste disposal by building suitable frameworks for implementing and delivering sustainable training programmes. The project aims to mobilise resources from a strong partnership between academic and non-academic institutions and to use the developing EU common instruments that meet the needs and vision of a common European Union nuclear safety culture. The ITC-School is a member of the PETRUS network and this course has been accredited with 4 ECTS as part of the PETRUS PPDP (see attached brochure for more information). Any participant taking the course under the auspices of the PETRUS PPDP will earn a 10% discount on the normal registration fee.

And finally….

Course Assignment – please email to Christine Wiestner ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by 15th May, 2011 with ‘Fundamentals Prague’ in the subject line.

• why have you chosen this course?
• what are your learning objectives for the course?
• what other objectives do you have for the course?
• tell us a little (a couple of sentences) about your educational and professional background
• tell us a little about your current job – and about any relevant projects you are currently working on or have recently completed. How do these relate to the fundamental aspects of geological waste disposal?
• if not covered in the previous question, what is your previous experience in the field of waste disposal?
• is there any specific area of the geological disposal of radioactive waste where you expect to increase your knowledge by the end of the course?

- pick at least one topic bearing in mind that this should be your ‘guiding theme’ during the course
- how is this topic relevant to your disposal system?
- what is already known about the topic?
- what more do you need to know on the topic?

As an outcome of the course, we expect you to prepare a short note (a couple of paragraphs will be sufficient) on how you are going address your topic using the additional knowledge gained during the course – this will help both you and us assess if we have addressed your training requirements appropriately.