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<p>There is general agreement internationally that geological disposal provides the
safest long-term management solution for higher activity radioactive waste. The evidence
of this is set out in documents such as the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 2003
report <em>‘Scientific and Technical Basis for the Geological Disposal of Radioactive
Wastes’</em> and the Nuclear Energy Agency’s Radioactive Waste Management Committee
2008 collective statement <em>‘Moving Forward with Geological Disposal</em>’.</p><p>
</p><p>Having taken into account significant public and stakeholder involvement, many
countries have adopted geological disposal as their long-term management solution
for higher activity radioactive waste. With the Joint Convention on the Safety of
Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, the Safety
Standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the recommendations of the
International Commission on Radiological Protection, there is now a common framework
that guides national regulatory oversight and implementation of geological disposal.</p><p>
</p><p>While there are countries that have yet to decide or issue long-term waste
management policies, no country has adopted a permanent solution other than geological
disposal.</p><p> </p><p>Detailed evidence that Sweden, Finland, Canada and the US
are among those implementing geological disposal is publicly available, but I have
provided brief summaries of these programmes below, for your convenience.</p><p> </p><p>In
Sweden, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, SKB, is planning to
construct a Spent Fuel Repository at Forsmark.</p><p> </p><p>In Finland, the Onkalo
spent nuclear fuel repository is currently under construction. In February 2015, Finnish
regulations produced a safety evaluation and issued a statement to the Finnish Government
confirming that the facility designed by Posiva can be built to be safe.</p><p> </p><p>In
Canada, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is carrying out preliminary assessments
with communities that have expressed interest in learning more about hosting a deep
geological repository and an associated Centre of Expertise.</p><p> </p><p>In the
US, the US Government endorsed the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on
America’s Nuclear Future in January 2013. These included a call for prompt efforts
to develop one or more GDFs.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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