CSA N292.8:21

Characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel

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  CSA N292.8:21

  August 2021

  
  

  Title: Characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel

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CSA N292.8:21

Characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel

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ISBN 978-1-4883-3220-3

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Contents

Technical Committee on Radioactive Waste Management 3

Subcommittee on Characterization of Radioactive Waste and Irradiated Fuel 5

Preface 7

1. Scope 8

   1. General 8

   2. Steps in the management of waste 8

   3. Waste container 8

   4. Exclusions 8

1.5 CSA N292.0 9

1. Users 9

2. Terminology 9

1. Reference publications 9

   
   

2. Definitions and abbreviations 13

   1. Definitions 13

   2. Abbreviations 14

      
      

3. Application of other CSA Standards 14

   
   

4. Roles and responsibilities 14

   1. Waste generator 14

      1. Responsibility 14

      2. Waste characterization planning 15

      3. Waste characterization planning for waste with no receiver 15

   2. Waste receiver 15

      1. Responsibility 15

      2. Verification 15

      3. Waste characterization planning 15

      4. Receipt of waste 15

   3. Waste processor 15

      1. Re-characterization of waste 15

      2. Production of secondary waste 15

         
         

5. Waste characterization planning 16

   1. General 16

   2. Waste characterization strategy 16

      1. General 16

      2. Objectives 17

      3. Use of waste characterization data 17

   3. Waste characterization program 17

      1. General 17

      2. Objectives 17

      3. Graded approach 18

      4. Safety and control areas 18

      5. Stored waste 18

      6. Legacy waste 18

   4. Waste characterization plan 19

      1. Stages of waste characterization 19

      2. Components of a waste characterization plan 20

      3. Objectives 20

      4. Determination of waste characterization information 21

      5. Data collection and quality control 22

      6. Assessment of objectives 23

   5. Timing of waste characterization efforts 24

      1. General 24

      2. Waste characterization planning 24

   6. Extent of waste characterization 24

      1. Resource efficiency 24

      2. Consideration of objectives 25

      3. Consideration of potential future changes 25

      4. Waste characterization data to demonstrate compliance 25

      5. Waste characterization data to support management of radioactive waste 25

      6. Waste characterization data for disposition 25

      7. Waste characterization data for site remediation 25

         
         

6. Waste characterization implementation 26

   1. Waste characterization methods and techniques 26

      1. General 26

      2. Characterization of physical properties 26

      3. Characterization of chemical and biological properties 26

      4. Characterization of radiological properties 26

      5. Non-destructive characterization methods 26

      6. Destructive characterization methods 27

      7. Representative sampling 28

   2. Analysis and interpretation of waste characterization data 29

      1. Sample analysis 29

      2. Interpretation of waste characterization data 30

   3. Reporting of results 31

      
      

7. Documents and records 31

   1. General 31

   2. Quality management program 32

   3. Retention of records 32

   4. Retention of waste characterization data 32

Annex A (informative) — Application of DQO and DQA processes 33 Annex B (informative) — Methods of waste characterization 42 Annex C (informative) — Example laboratory QMS requirements 57

Annex D (informative) — Example applications of waste characterization 58

Technical Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

K. Gillin Vysus Group, Sundbyberg, Sweden

Category: Service Industry

Chair

1. Suryanarayan Kinectrics Inc.,

   Toronto, Ontario, Canada

   Category: Service Industry

   Vice-Chair

   
   

2. Abraham SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

P. Burton Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Category: Government and/or Regulatory Authority

C. Campbell New Brunswick Power (NB Power), Lepreau, New Brunswick, Canada Category: Owner/Operator/Producer

M. W. Chapman Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Limited (CNL),

Chalk River, Ontario, Canada

Category: Owner/Operator/Producer

P. A. D’Aubin Nordion Inc.,

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Category: Service Industry

N. C. Garisto ARCADIS Canada Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Category: Supplier/Fabricator/Contractor

R. Harrison Bruce Power,

Tiverton, Ontario, Canada

Category: Owner/Operator/Producer

B. M. Ikeda Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Category: General Interest

J. Mecke Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

A. Murchison Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

N. Persaud Kinectrics Inc.,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

R. Prokopowicz Kinectrics Inc.,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

F. Rodrigues Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Category: Owner/Operator/Producer

T. P. Smith Cameco Corporation Fuel Services Division, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Category: Supplier/Fabricator/Contractor

M. E. Stephens Retired professional,

Deep River, Ontario, Canada

Category: General Interest

J. D. Swann Department of National Defence, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Non-voting

F. Tourneur University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Category: General Interest

P. W. Yuen Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Category: Government and/or Regulatory Authority

X. Zhang Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Category: Supplier/Fabricator/Contractor

D. Mendolia CSA Group,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Project Manager

Subcommittee on Characterization of Radioactive Waste and Irradiated Fuel

K. Liberda Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Chair

R. Peters Cameco Corporation,

Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Vice-Chair

P. Andrade Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Pickering, Ontario, Canada

C. Bellman Calian Ltd.,

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

J. Brewer New Brunswick Power (NB Power), Lepreau, New Brunswick, Canada

C. Campbell New Brunswick Power (NB Power), Lepreau, New Brunswick, Canada

N. Chan Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Limited (CNL), Chalk River, Ontario, Canada

P. A. D’Aubin Nordion Inc.,

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

M. Dinesen Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Pickering, Ontario, Canada

R. Harrison Bruce Power,

Tiverton, Ontario, Canada

M. Herod Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

B. M. Ikeda Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

R. Prokopowicz Kinectrics Inc.,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

F. Rodrigues Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Pickering, Ontario, Canada

S. Suryanarayan Kinectrics Inc.,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

S. Thompson Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

P. W. Yuen Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Y. Zhuang Candu Energy Inc., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

D. Mendolia CSA Group,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Project Manager

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA N292.8, Characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel.

This Standard works in concert with CSA N292.0, General principles for the management of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel, which specifies common requirements for the management of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel.

This Standard reflects the operating experience of the Canadian nuclear industry, best practices, and international experience and guidance.

The CSA N-series Standards provide an interlinked set of requirements for the management of nuclear facilities and activities. CSA N286 provides overall direction to management to develop and implement sound management practices and controls, while the other CSA Group nuclear Standards provide technical requirements and guidance that support the management system. This Standard works in harmony with CSA N286 and does not duplicate the generic requirements of CSA N286; however, it might provide more specific direction for those requirements.

Users of this Standard are reminded that the design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities in Canada are subject to the provisions of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its supporting Regulations.

This Standard was prepared by the Subcommittee on Characterization of Radioactive Waste and Irradiated Fuel, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Radioactive Waste Management and the Strategic Steering Committee on Nuclear Standards, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

Notes:

1. Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.

2. Although the intended primary application of this Standard is stated in its Scope, it is important to note that it remains the responsibility of the users of the Standard to judge its suitability for their particular purpose.

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CSA N292.8:21

Characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel

1. Scope

   
   

   1. General

      This Standard pertains to the characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel. This Standard

      1. specifies the overall requirements for establishing and implementing a waste characterization strategy, program, and plan;

      2. specifies methodologies for the sampling and characterization of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel;

      3. provides guidance for the timing of waste characterization planning and execution;

      4. provides guidance on waste characterization during nuclear decommissioning and site remediation; and

      5. provides guidance for reporting of waste characterization results.

      Note: In this Standard, both the terms “waste” and “radioactive waste” are used to refer to “radioactive waste and irradiated fuel”.

      
      

   2. Steps in the management of waste

      This Standard applies to waste characterization during all steps in the management of radioactive waste and irradiated fuel, including

      1. generation;

      2. handling;

      3. processing;

      4. transport;

      5. storage; and

      6. disposal.

      Note: The objectives of waste characterization could be different for the various steps in the management of waste, and so the waste characterization data required could also vary to support these objectives.

      
      

   3. Waste container

      This Standard provides guidance on

      1. the characterization of stored waste (e.g., contained within waste containers), including the interactions between the waste and waste containers; and

      2. the characterization of waste not contained in a waste container, such as waste from site remediation and in-situ decommissioning.

      
      

   4. Exclusions

This Standard excludes characterization of nonradioactive waste, naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) and technologically enhanced, naturally occurring radioactive material (TENORM), and uranium mine and mill tailings.

Notes:

1) Nonradioactive waste refers to that which is cleared or exempt from nuclear regulatory control. See CSA N292.5 for guidance on the requirements for exemption and clearance.