GTC-NTS Fundamentals of Geological Disposal 2018

Education and training is your organisation's passport to the future… for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare today!

This five-day course is presented as a collaboration between the GTC (Grimsel Training Centre) and NTS (Nuclear Training Solutions). The course provides a basic background in deep geological disposal for project managers and scientists, implementing and regulatory agencies, geosciences, environmental and engineering companies involved with site investigation, safety assessment, repository design and the construction of underground facilities. The course will take place in the GTC, part of Nagra’s Grimsel Test Site, situated in the stunning Bernese Alps in south-central Switzerland.

Course Downloads

Fundamentals Registration Form 48 kb
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Fundamentals Flyer 352 kb

Grimsel location Location of the Grimsel Test Site (GTS) in Switzerland - (1) Grimsel Test Site, (2) Rätrichsbodensee, (3) Grimselsee and (4) Juchlistock

This is an extended and updated version of NTS’ regular ‘Fundamentals’ course which ranges across all key aspects and topical issues concerned with managing a national geological disposal programme. The extended 2018 course will be taught in the fabulous surroundings of the Grimsel Test Site and will feature an in-depth examination of the past, present and future roles of underground rock laboratories in waste disposal.

Time	Day 1 – 25th June	Day 2 – 26th June	Day 3 – 27th June	Day 4 – 28th June	Day 5 – 29th June
09:00-09:15 10:00	Introduction to course	4b Basics of post-closure performance (PA) and safety assessment (SA) Setting PA/SA objectives: deciding what to evaluate and when	7 Building the Safety Case What constitutes a safety case (SC)? What are the differences from SA and PA?	12 Retardation of radionuclides in the repository multi-barrier system Degradation of engineered barriers and the mobilisation, migration and retardation of radionuclides in the deep geological environment	14 Repository construction and operation Construction techniques Operational considerations/safety
09:00-09:15 10:00	1 Nuclear Power – outlook from a global perspective and the relevance of radwaste management – strategies and challenges for the next 150 years
10:00-10:20	break	break	break	break	break
10:20-11:20	2a Waste classification and properties Types, origins and properties 2b Waste classification and properties The fundamental importance of a national waste inventory	5a Repository design The basics design options	8 How do we support the safety case (SC)? Examination of the data requirements Approaches (laboratory, URL and natural analogues) to provide that data	13a The societal dimension of radioactive waste management: stakeholder dialogue Overview Who are the main stakeholders? International examples of stakeholder communication programmes	15 Repository closure, monitoring and retrievability & reversibility (R&R) Closure methods Monitoring: does it make any sense? Impact on design The NEA’s position on R&R
11:20-11:40	break	break	break	break	break
11:40-12:40	3a Principles of geological disposal Concepts and time scales	5b Repository design Alternative designs New thinking	9 Details of the use of natural analogues (NA) in an integrated safety case and challenges for the future NA can support the SC directly (by provision of quantitative data), indirectly (via qualitative data) or by other means such as model testing and ground truthing of processes	13b Group exercise in stakeholder dialogue (who are the stakeholders, what is at stake, how do we build a dialogue?) Short introduction to the exercise followed by break into groups to design a programme of stakeholder dialogue at a hypothetical repository site	16 Introduction to Quality Management Systems Can you defend your technical & scientific basis for safety? International perspective Where we have gone wrong in the past: lessons learned?
12:40-14:00	lunch	lunch	lunch	lunch	lunch
14:00-1500	3b Principles of geological disposal Examples of host geological environments	6a Site characterisation Fundamentals Crystalline host rocks	10a The role of underground research facilities 10b The use of URLs in an integrated safety case and challenges for the future – case studies from URL projects Overview Introduction to the GTS break 11a Visit of Grimsel Test Site introduction to the facility short overview of research h activities visit the site and experiments 11b from subsurface to surface - geological excursion back to the valley Finish ca. 17:30	13b Group exercise continues ca. 15:30 11c Presentation of results by each group and discussion by peers	17a Group discussion: structuring a national radioactive waste management programme This will be introduced by three 20 minute presentations: Decision points and staging of programmes Historical lessons from waste management programmes Case History: example from an ongoing national programme
15:00-15:20	break	break			break
15:20-16:20	4a Basics of post-closure performance and safety assessment Common basis of radiological safety standards and different regulations worldwide	6b Site characterisation Sedimentary host rocks			17b Group discussion
16:20-16:50	Coffee break and wrap-up discussion	Coffee break and wrap-up discussion			break
					18 Course wrap-up and presentation of course certificates

If you wish to discuss your potential participation further, please contact any of the course co-directors:

Dr. Russell Alexander (NTS: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Dr. Ingo Blechschmidt (GTC: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Dr. Andrew Martin (GTC: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

NOTE : There will be a visit to the Mont Terri URL on Saturday, 23rd June. If you would like to join us, please tick the appropriate box in the registration form.