The point of departure for the ARGONA project is that participation and transparency are key elements of effective risk governance and the acronym ARGONA stands for "Arenas for Risk Governance ". Given the overall objectives, ARGONA intended to demonstrate how participation and transparency link to the political and legal systems and how new approaches can be implemented in radioactive waste management programmes.

ARGONA is a project within the European Commission 6th framework programme. The overall objective was to support transparency of decision-making processes in the radioactive waste programmes of the participating countries, and also of the European Union, by means of a greater degree of public participation.

This report provides - a detailed description of the Austrian policy and the usual practices concerning the management of spent fuel of the Austrian research reactors and the management of radioactive waste (see Section B); - a detailed description of the Austrian legal regime concerning the management of spent fuel of the Austrian research reactors and the management of radioactive waste (see Section E).

In Austria there is neither a nuclear power plant (NPP) nor any other fuel cycle facility in op- eration. One NPP was constructed in Zwentendorf in the 1970s, but, as a consequence of the negative vote in a referendum never put into operation. Two out of three research reactors in Austria have been shut down (ASTRA Seibersdorf in 2000, SIEMENS Argonaut Graz in 2004) and are currently under decommissioning. The remaining TRIGA research reactor in Vienna is still in operation. Spent nuclear fuel is stored on site in wet or dry storage facilities.

1. Recognizing the importance of the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, the international community agreed upon the necessity of adopting a convention describing how such safe management could be achieved: this was the origin of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the “Joint Convention”), which was adopted on 5 September 1997 and entered into force on 18 June 2001. 2.

1. Recognizing the importance of the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, the international community agreed upon the necessity of adopting a convention with the objective of achieving and maintaining a high level of safety worldwide in spent fuel and radioactive waste management: this was the origin of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the “Joint Convention”), which was adopted on 5 September 1997 and entered into force on 18 June 2001. 2.

1. Recognizing the importance of the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, the international community agreed upon the necessity of adopting a convention with the objective of achieving and maintaining a high level of safety worldwide in spent fuel and radioactive waste management: this was the origin of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (the “Joint Convention”), which was adopted on 5 September 1997 and entered into force on 18 June 2001. 2.

1. The operation of nuclear reactors whether for the purposes of electricity production or research, generates spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Other activities also generate radioactive waste. The recognition by the international community of the importance of ensuring the safety of the management of spent fuel and the safety of the management of radioactive waste, led to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Convention).

These proposed guidelines are recommendations that have emerged from the European Union Research Project ARGONA (Arenas for Risk Governance), Contract no.: FP6-036413

Local support in favor of a final repository for spent nuclear in one's own municipality has increased somewhat in both Oskarshamn and Östhammar. This is shown by the annual public opinion poll that was conducted by Synovate on behalf of SKB.

Web page from SKB's website (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) discussing the ongoing cooperation between SKB and both Östhammar, where the repository is to be sited, and Oskarshamn, where the encapsulation plant is to be located.

Report prepared by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency, for preparing for public debate in 2013.

Press release from ANDRA, the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management, regarding the changes it will make in the siting process as a result of public debate on the Cigéo Project, disposal of radioactive waste in a deep geologic repository.

Presentation given by François-Michel Gonnot at the Stockholm Talks on October 2, 2013 regarding Cigéo, the French Geological Disposal Project.

Annual report by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency, regarding its activities in 2011.

Annual report produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency describing its activities in 2010.

Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.

Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.

Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.

Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.