Burying radioactive waste deep into the earth: nuclear safety policies from an international and socio-historical perspective

• In Event: Governing Toxic Waste 1

Abstract

The management and disposal of nuclear waste became a main issue for nuclear countries in the 70s, when nuclear industry development brings along a huge increase of radioactive waste. In some countries, the government established as a condition to continuing with construction of new nuclear power plants, the demonstration that a safety solution already exists to the disposal of radioactive waste. Especially concerning highly radioactive waste. This type of waste is particularly hazardous to humans and the environment for hundred of thousands years. In a context of important environmental and anti-nuclear movements, many countries consider deep geological disposal as a reference solution to the disposal of highly radioactive waste. This paper aims to examine how nuclear safety policies of deep geological repositories had been constructed at the international level. Considering geological repositories as safety infrastructures, this study takes into consideration the different spaces where nuclear safety expertise of deep geological repositories is producing and audiences for which it is carrying out. My argument is this expertise contributing to national’s waste management policy-making processes. French case will be introduced in order to illustrate it. This research work mobilizes a varied of empirical material: interviews with international experts, NEA’s historical records (1970-1990) and NEA and IAEA’s publications.

Author

• Tania Navarro Rodriguez, Université Paris Descartes