ROLE OF THE WASTE FORM

Despite the secondary role of waste forms, as determined by total system performance assessments of nuclear waste repositories, there are logical and compelling reasons for emphasizing the importance of the material properties of the waste form (Ewing 1992)  

The strategy of radionuclide containment and isolation should emphasize near-field containment. This is primarily a function of waste form or waste package performance. Strategies that rely solely on long travel times, mineral sorption, and dilution, implicitly presume release and movement of radionuclides into the environment. 

---