| Radioactive waste disposal is reaching a critical juncture as the number of facilities requiring decommissioning increases and disposal space remains stagnant. Studies searching for disposal facilities have identified human intrusion as the dominant pathway by which radionuclides may reach the biosphere. Countermeasures have been identified that would deter human intrusion, reducing future risks. However, these countermeasures are not included in the radioactive waste disposal siting process.This thesis investigates methods to include countermeasures in the radioactive waste disposal siting process. A framework, to ascertain design strategies, was developed using systems theory and 'defense-in-depth' philosophy, building on data collected from existing safety assessment and siting research.The resulting framework is a tool that can be used by future researchers to identify appropriate countermeasure strategies for inclusion in the radioactive waste disposal siting process. |
