NWMO BACKGROUND PAPERS 4. SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT 4-3 NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC ANALOGUES – INSIGHTS FOR MANAGEMENT OF SPENT FUEL

NWMO has commissioned a series of background papers which present concepts and contextual information about the state of our knowledge on important topics related to the management of radioactive waste. The intent of these background papers is to provide input to defining possible approaches for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel and to contribute to an informed dialogue with the public and other stakeholders. The papers currently available are posted on NWMO’s web site. Additional papers may be commissioned. The topics of the background papers can be classified under the following broad headings: 1. Guiding Concepts – describe key concepts which can help guide an informed dialogue with the public and other stakeholders on the topic of radioactive waste management. They include perspectives on risk, security, the precautionary approach, adaptive management, traditional knowledge and sustainable development. 2. Social and Ethical Dimensions- provide perspectives on the social and ethical dimensions of radioactive waste management. They include background papers prepared for roundtable discussions. 3. Health and Safety – provide information on the status of relevant research