Photograph: Ammonite fossil in Callovo-Oxfordian clay drilling core © Steve Barlow

consultancy

Typical consultancy topics:

  • Review of safety cases against international standards and regulatory expectations

  • Peer review of safety strategies and arrangements including

    • strategy for safety case/design evolution

    • integration of pre- and post-closure safety arguments

  • Briefings and critiques on safety and environmental aspects of geological disposal

  • Advice on safety cases, environmental impacts, waste acceptance criteria/process

  • Advice on site evaluation and assessment of 'suitable site'

CASE STUDIES

Geosaf II

This project organised under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency utilised a core group of experts from waste management and regulatory organisations to develop best practice guidance on the integration of pre- and post-closure safety arguments. The output from this project is intended to be used by waste management organisations in developing the structure of disposal safety cases.

Steve Barlow was a member of the core group in the period 2012 to 2015 during which time the group developed a TECDOC on behalf of IAEA.

PEER review of Lithuanian safety case for near-surface disposal

In March 2015 Steve Barlow undertook a peer review of the proposals for construction of a near-surface disposal facility for low and intermediate level short-lived wastes in Lithuania. The peer review mission was undertaken at the request of the Lithuanian waste management organisation and organised under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Working with Mr Vincent Nys of FANC, the Belgian Nuclear Regulator, the review mission reviewed the safety documentation, visited the proposed site adjacent to the Ignalina power plant and quizzed the various technical experts involved in characterisation of the site and development of the facility design and safety assessment. The peer review mission concluded with a presentation of the outcome to key stakeholders including Lithuanian regulators and government officials.

EUROPE REGION TECHNICAL COOPERATION WORKSHOP ON THE SITING OF RADioactive WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES

Steve Barlow was one of three international experts employed by IAEA to speak to the Europe region Technical Cooperation workshop on the siting of radioactive waste disposal facilities held between 19 and 23 November 2018.

The workshop was attended by professionals involved in radioactive waste management in Europe region Member States, planning or preparing for a disposal facility siting process. The workshop was led by experts with extensive experience in site selection and evaluation, site investigation and safety case development.

Peer review of ghana atomic energy commission safety case for disposal of disused sources

Steve Barlow led an IAEA commissioned peer review of the safety case developed by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) for the disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS). Sealed radioactive sources are widely used in industry and medicine in both developed and developing countries but many developing countries do not have the infrastructure to safely manage these sources when they reach the end of their useful life. The IAEA has developed a borehole disposal concept for such DSRS, which it is intended can be implemented relatively easily to provide a safe and permanent way to manage these sources in the long-term.

GAEC has taken the borehole disposal concept and adapted it for implementation in Ghana. In preparation for making a licence application to the national nuclear regulator, GAEC requested IAEA to organise an independent peer review of their proposals including the Safety Case, post-closure assessment and associated site characterisation work. Steve Barlow led the independent peer review of the safety documentation in May 2019.