Comparison of the United States and IAEA Radioactive Waste Classification Systems

4 Comparison of the United States and IAEA Radioactive Waste Classification Systems 

The present classification system for radioactive waste in the United States summarized in Table 4.1 (see Section 4.1.2.1) and IAEA s recommended classification system summarized in Table 4.2 have certain similarities, but they also have important differences. These are briefly summarized below. 

However, the two radioactive waste classification systems differ in several important respects. First, in the United States, NARM waste is not included in the classification system for waste that arises from operations of the nuclear fuel cycle. In IAEA s classification system, fuel-cycle and NARM wastes are included in the same classification system. 

Second, high-level waste as defined in the United States includes only the primary waste from reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. In IAEA s classification system, any waste from sources other than fuel reprocessing with similar radiological properties would be included in high-level waste. 

Fourth, the definitions of waste classes in the United States are not related to requirements for disposal. In IAEA s waste classification system, there is some linkage between the definitions of waste classes and the types of disposal technologies that would be required, particularly for high-level waste. However, not all waste classes in IAEA s system are linked to required disposal technologies, because low-and intermediate-level waste could be acceptable for near-surface disposal or could require disposal in a geologic repository depending, for example, on the concentrations of long-lived radionuclides. 

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