Analysis of International Regulatory Requirements for High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites and Natural Barriers

Taeyoo Na; Byung-Gon Chae

doi:10.9720/kseg.2025.2.249

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2025 Vol.35, Issue 2 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

Analysis of International Regulatory Requirements for High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites and Natural Barriers 고준위방사성폐기물 처분 부지 및 천연방벽 규제 요건에 관한 국제 규제 동향 및 분석

30 June 2025. pp. 249-263

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Abstract

Ensuring the long-term safety of high-level radioactive waste disposal requires securing the geological stability of the disposal site and the long-term performance of natural barriers. To achieve this, clear regulatory guidelines and requirements are essential for evaluating site suitability and establishing the necessary technical standards. This study considers the regulatory requirements and guidelines related to candidate disposal sites and natural barriers established by authorities in Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, and the United States, and compares them with the current regulatory framework in Korea. The analysis revealed that these countries have developed specific and quantitative criteria for key factors affecting long-term safety, such as geological stability, hydrogeological conditions, the geochemical environment, disposal depth, and the presence of natural resources. In particular, their approaches to natural barriers involve a comprehensive evaluation of radionuclide retardation and groundwater chemistry. In contrast, the current guidelines in Korea remain largely qualitative, highlighting the need for improvements in the specificity of regulatory criteria. Based on this comparative analysis, this study offers guidance for establishing a more-robust site selection process and regulatory system in Korea and provides a foundation for developing performance requirements and regulatory guidelines that are suitable for the country’s geological conditions.

Keywords

high-level radioactive waste

disposal site

natural barrier

regulatory guideline

regulatory requirement

고준위방사성폐기물의 안전한 처분을 위해서는 처분 부지의 지질학적 특성과 천연방벽 성능의 장기 안전성을 확보할 수 있어야 하며, 이를 평가하고 기술 수준 확보를 위한 명확한 규제 지침 및 요건이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 해외 처분 선도국인 스웨덴, 핀란드, 프랑스, 독일, 미국의 규제기관이 설정한 처분 후보 부지 및 천연방벽 관련 규제 요건과 지침을 분석하고, 이를 국내 규제 요건과 비교분석하였다. 분석 결과, 선도국들은 지질학적 안정성, 수리지질학적 조건, 지구화학적 환경, 처분 깊이, 천연자원 존재 여부 등 장기 안전성에 영향을 미치는 요소별로 정량적이고 구체적인 기준을 제시하고 있었다. 특히, 천연방벽에 대해서는 핵종 이동 지연, 지하수 화학 조건 등을 종합적으로 고려하고 있었다. 반면, 국내의 경우 현재 정성적 형태로 제시되고 있어 기준 및 지침의 구체성 보완이 필요한 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 이러한 비교분석 결과를 바탕으로, 국내 처분 부지선정 및 규제체계 정립에 필요한 시사점을 도출하고, 향후 우리나라 지질환경에 적합한 성능 요건과 규제지침 마련에 필요한 기초자료를 제공하는 데 그 의의가 있다.

키워드

고준위방사성폐기물

처분 부지

천연방벽

규제지침

규제요건

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Information

Publisher :Korean Society of Engineering Geology
Publisher(Ko) :대한지질공학회
Journal Title :The Journal of Engineering Geology
Journal Title(Ko) :지질공학
Volume : 35
No :2
Pages :249-263
Received Date : 2025-05-30
Revised Date : 2025-06-18
Accepted Date : 2025-06-25
DOI :https://doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2025.2.249

The Journal of Engineering Geology ISSN:1226-5268(Print) 2287-7169(Online) 지질공학

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