Radioactive Waste Management

JAI has extensive experience in the management of radioactive wastes, including spent nuclear fuel, high- and low-level radioactive waste, TRU-contaminated wastes, and uranium mill tailings.

One of the most important aspects of the use of nuclear energy for electric power production, in research, and in medicine is the management and disposal of the resulting radioactive wastes in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. Since 1970 JAI has been involved in research on the management of radioactive wastes and in the analysis of alternative waste management systems and their economics. This works waste management activities associated with spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive wastes, TRU-contaminated wastes, low-level radioactive wastes (including mixed wastes), and uranium mill tailings. Included in the waste management services that JAI provides to clients are the following:

• PROCESS AND FACILITY DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
  • Disassembly and canning of spent fuel
  • Interim spent fuel storage (water pool, drywells, silos, storage casks, air-cooled vaults)
  • High level waste solidification
  • Waste packaging
  • Geologic repositories
  • Tailings fixation
  • TRU and low level waste immobilization
  • Near-surface burial
• WASTE MINIMIZATION
  • Identification of process efficiencies
  • Recovery & recycle of waste components
  • Volume reduction
• ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS OF WASTE PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
• TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC EVALUATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS
• WASTE SPECIFICATIONS
  • Analysis of waste characteristics
  • Identification of waste treatment requirements
  • Development of databases & tracking systems
  • Development of packaging specifications
  • Development of waste acceptance criteria
  • Verification of waste description
• DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES FOR WASTE ACCEPTANCE
• SAFETY STUDIES
• SITING OF LOW-LEVEL WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES
• WASTE TOXICITY STUDIES
• WASTE POLICY STUDIES
• EVALUATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
• BRIEFINGS TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC ON WASTE MANAGEMENT