As outlined in the overall program for high-level waste (HLW) management in Japan, defined by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), HWL separated from spent nuclear fuel during reprocessing will be immobilized in a glass matrix and stored for a period of 30 to 50 years to allow cooling; it will then be disposed of in a stable deep geological formation. An organization with responsibility for implementing HLW disposal will be established around the year 2000; this will be followed by site selection and characterization, demonstration of disposal technology, establishment of the necessary regulatory infrastructure, relevant licensing applications and repository construction. The aim is to start repository operation by the 2030s, but no later than the mid 2040s.
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