SOLUTIONS FOR THE SAFE HANDLING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL FROM RUSSIAN NUCLEAR SUBMARINES

The paper contains a review of the activities performed in 1999-2003 in the framework of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program aimed at the creation of an infrastructure for solid and liquid radioactive waste processing in the RF and safe temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel originated from the dismantlement of Russian nuclear-powered submarines. The main parameters and a comparative analysis of the installations for solid and liquid radioactive waste processing at two Russian shipyards (SUE Zvezdochka and FEF Zvezda (Low Level Radioactive Wastes (LLRW) Project implemented in 1999-2001)) are considered. The paper includes a consideration of the options for safe handling of irradiated nuclear fuel in the process of its reloading and storage at accumulative sites and justification of the construction expediency for a container-type temporary dry storage facility at PO Mayak. The paper analyzes the environmental aspects of safe interim storage of irradiated nuclear fuel at regional dry facilities. The paper comes to a conclusion about the expediency to use the experience gained during development of complex science-intensive projects within the CTR Program framework for similar international activities envisioned within the framework of the “global partnership”