THE FIRST STAGE OF LIQUIDATION OF TEMPORARY RADWASTE REPOSITORIES AND REHABILITATION OF THE RADWASTE DISPOSAL SITE AT THE RUSSIAN RESEARCH CENTER "KURCHATOV INSTITUTE"

The paper presents basic results of the first stage of implementing the “Rehabilitation” Project at the Russian Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” (RRC KI) located in the city of Moscow. This Project was developed with the aim of conducting activities on cleaning-up contaminated areas and liquidation of old radwaste repositories found at the RRC KI Site. These old radwaste repositories were built at the RRC KI Site in 1943-1974 when the Institute was closely involved in research and other efforts under programs on development of nuclear weapons and formation of nuclear power in the former USSR. The old radwaste repositories were for the most part filled with low- and intermediate-level waste, however, high level waste was also placed in these repositories in minor amounts. At the first stage of the “Rehabilitation” Project implementation in 2002-2003, there were fulfilled tasks pertaining to organization and assurance of radiation and environmental safety when conducting the rehabilitation activities. This stage also included activities on comprehensive survey of the old repositories, which allowed refining geometric boundaries of their locations, their design features and characteristics of radwaste contained therein. The same stage involved development of technical solutions on liquidation of those of the old repositories from which radwaste can be easily withdrawn, and commencement of the work on liquidation of these repositories. The work performed resulted in significant reduction in the amount of old radwaste found at the RRC KI Site. A number of old repositories that had been in service for over thirty years and thus presented a potential hazard to the environment were liquidated. Currently the work is underway on liquidation of “accessible” old repositories, preparations are being made for liquidation of “not easily accessible” repositories, efficient technologies for cleaning-up contaminated soil and technologies for reducing the radwaste volume are being sought and developed. In view of this, RRC KI is interested in establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners for solution of the problems mentioned above.