[en] In line with the RK and M initiative's glossary, the 'long term' was introduced as the period of time after repository closure with no repository oversight, extending over hundreds of thousands of years. Anne Claudel focused on the RK and M initiative findings regarding markers. She explained that, although they have often been presented as the main method to preserve memory and deter human intrusion, the RK and M literature survey on markers shows that there are no straightforward, conclusive answers to the objectives, messages and methods of marking. Even if they remain physically intact and traceable over time, future neglect or misunderstanding of their meaning cannot be ruled out. It was thus announced that the potential role of markers for RK and M preservation should be studied within a systemic approach to RK and M preservation. For instance, RK and M will investigate further the interaction of markers with other methods and tools, and the potential of internationally standardised markers

[en] Management of spent fuel (SF), vitrified high-level waste (HLW) and long-lived intermediate-level waste (ILW) is based on the concept of deep geological disposal, namely long-term, effective isolation of the waste in suitable deep rock formations. The first project studies carried out by Nagra in this respect already lie more than 20 years in the past, when disposal in the crystalline basement and in clay was considered. The strategy developed by Nagra over the years agrees well with the concept of 'monitored long-term geological disposal' as formulated by (EKRA 2000) and contained in the new Nuclear Energy Act of 2003. This paper provides an overview of the concept for facilities and operation of a deep geological repository for SF/HLW/ILW, as prepared for the 'Entsorgungsnachweis' project, together with a geological synthesis report for the Zuercher Weinland and a report on long-term safety. The facilities and operation concept look at the feasibility of constructing a repository in the Opalinus Clay of the Zuercher Weinland. It also provides project-specific input for analysing and demonstrating the long-term safety of such a repository. The individual structural elements and facility components for which the feasibility study was conducted are brought together as a modular system to form a stand-alone reference project. They can be adapted later to meet local features and requirements. The main focus of the paper shall be on selected system elements concerning design, layout and operational aspects including operational safety. (author)

[en] Proposals for a set of provisions for long-term memory and knowledge to be defined for a radioactive waste disposal facility, near surface or deep underground, address two primary motives, related to two ethical principles. The first motive is to prevent future generations from interfering involuntarily with the repository. This requires maintaining awareness of the repository, and addresses the ethical principle of protection of man and environment. The second motive is to provide future generations all the available relevant information which might help them make informed decisions about intentional actions, and assess the consequences. This requires transmitting detailed knowledge of the repository, and addresses the ethical principle of preservation of freedom of action. The set of provisions to be implemented with respect to each of these motives may not be the same. In order to define and assess the set of provisions, it is also useful to identify the various components of the process of transmission of a given message, or set of messages, to future generations. Three sub-processes have been identified: (i) 'memorization', at the producer stage, where a full set of information to be transmitted is identified, organized and expressed; (ii) 'preservation', where the potential durability of records is extended, the preservation conditions are controlled and where the records may be restored, if their status is degraded; (iii) 'access', at the receiver stage, where the receiver has to be notified of the existence of the information, to find it and to interpret it properly. As a failure of transmission to future generations would result from the failure of any of the subprocesses, a minimal set of provisions may be defined from this decomposition. (authors)

[en] The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has coordinated an international initiative to develop understanding and guidelines related to the long-term preservation of records, knowledge and memory (RK and M) for radioactive waste repositories. After seven years of work, it has come to a close in 2018. Currently, the 'Final Report of the RK and M Initiative' is in the final process of publication [the status/sentence will be updated in early 2019]. It includes a historical review, sets out the RK and M fundamentals, presents a menu of approaches and mechanisms of RK and M preservation, and finally provides suggestions on how to develop a systemic strategy aimed at embedding radioactive waste repositories in society over extended periods of time. This paper highlights the 'multi-dimensionality' of RK and M preservation: Multiple time frames need to be considered, multiple transmission modes explored, and multiple actors brought together. The latter seems to be the primary aspect to be considered in the discussion about future (international) cooperation in the RK and M preservation field. (authors)

[en] The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has co-ordinated an international initiative to develop understanding and guidelines related to the long-term preservation of records, knowledge and memory (RK and M) for radioactive waste repositories. The initiative will come to a close in April 2018. Currently, a number of deliverables are in the process of publication and a preview and overview is presented in this paper. Central is the 'Final Report of the RK and M Initiative', which sets out the RK and M fundamentals, including basic principles of RK and M preservation, the concept of oversight and the relevant time frames, the mediated and non-mediated transmission of messages, and ultimately the need for a systemic strategy. Furthermore, it presents a menu of approaches and mechanisms of RK and M preservation, such as markers, time capsules, archives, the Key Information File (KIF), education, art, land use control, and monitoring. Finally, the main report provides suggestions on how to develop a systemic strategy. A bibliography and a regulatory catalogue on RK and M preservation, and concept reports describing the KIF and the Set of Essential Records (SER), will complement the set of deliverables of the RK and M Initiative. (authors)

[en] The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has co-ordinated an international initiative to develop a common approach to the preservation of records, knowledge and long-term memory (RK and M), focused on radioactive waste disposals. The work programme has run in two phases, starting in 2011, with the current phase of the project due to be completed in 2018. Preparations for final reporting are now underway. The detailed implementation of an approach to RK and M preservation for any disposal facility will always remain a national decision. However, the NEA project has produced a 'menu' of tools and techniques that can be accessed and adapted to suit national needs. The common source of these menu components will help to ensure that the memory of the repository is kept alive, that messages to future populations can be clearly understood, and that evidence derived from the disposal environment can be properly interpreted. This paper describes the vision for implementation of the RK and M initiative within national programmes. Practical testing of some components of the menu of tools and techniques is currently underway in France, Sweden and USA, with encouraging results. Other disposal facilities, both under development or in planning, are invited to 'road test' the products and provide feedback. Refinement and maintenance of the tools remains important, and the NEA is committed to ensuring the continued accessibility and availability of the project outputs into the future. (authors)

[en] Radioactive waste repositories are designed to isolate waste from the living environment without human intervention over extended periods of time. Nevertheless, the intention is not to abandon the repositories, but to provide the oversight that is necessary to ensure that they are not forgotten by society. In response to this challenge, the Nuclear Energy Agency launched the international initiative 'Preservation of Records, Knowledge and Memory (RK and M) Across Generations'. As a result, an in-depth understanding of this issue was developed, as well as a specific methodology to address it. The RK and M preservation toolbox, for example, offers a menu with 35 different preservation mechanisms and guidelines on how to combine and implement them. This report may be used as a general guide to the RK and M preservation topic. It presents a historical review, addresses ethical considerations, analyses the fundamentals of RK and M preservation, outlines various mechanisms and indicates how to develop these mechanisms into a systemic RK and M preservation strategy. The report aims to inspire and assist a variety of actors so that they can discuss and develop national and repository-specific RK and M preservation strategies