Posiva Oy is studying the Finnish bedrock for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The study is based on the site selection research programme started originally in 1983. The programme is in accordance with the decision in principle by the Council of State in 1983 and aims at the selection of one site in 2000. Four sites, Hastholmen in Loviisa, Kivetty in Aanekoski, Olkiluoto in Eurajoki and Romuvaara in Kuhmo, have been studied in detail. This report summarises the results of the site investigations carried out at Olkiluoto.

Posiva Oy is studying the Finnish bedrock for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The study is based on the site selection research programme started originally in 1983. The programme is in accordance with the decision in principle by the Council of State in 1983 and aims at the selection of one site in 2000. Four sites, Hastholmen in Loviisa, Kivetty in Aanekoski, Olkiluoto in Eurajoki and Romuvaara in Kuhmo, have been studied in detail. This report summarises the results of the site investigations carried out at Hastholment.

Posiva Oy is studying the Finnish bedrock for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The study is based on the site selection research programme started originally in 1983. The programme is in accordance with the decision in principle by the Council of State in 1983 and aims at the selection of one site in 2000. Four sites, Hastholmen in Loviisa, Kivetty in Aanekoski, Olkiluoto in Eurajoki and Romuvaara in Kuhmo, have been studied in detail. This report summarises the results of the site investigations carried out at Kivetty.

Posiva Oy is studying the Finnish bedrock for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The study is based on the site selection research programme started originally in 1983. The programme is in accordance with the decision in principle by the Council of State in 1983 and aims at the selection of one site in 2000. Four sites, Hastholmen in Loviisa, Kivetty in Aanekoski, Olkiluoto in Eurajoki and Romuvaara in Kuhmo, have been studied in detail. This report summarises the results of the site investigations carried out at Romuvaara.

Thorough long-term studies have shown that the Finnish bedrock is suitable for the permanent isolation of spent nuclear fuel from organic nature. Legislation requires that besides safety, an assessment be made of any other environmental impacts of the final disposal facility. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) in respect of the final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel got under way in 1997 when Posiva Oy, which is responsible for the project, began work on an EIA programme.

In mid-1997, a Wyoming-led group of companies announced plans to develop a private interim spent fuel storage project in Wyoming to be known as the Owl Creek Energy Project. The idea for the Wyoming project had been developed under the earlier 1990s Nuclear Waste Negotiator Program. During that earlier activity, the project would have been a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory<br/>Commission (NRC) is proposing<br/>licensing criteria for disposal of spent<br/>nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive<br/>wastes in the proposed geologic<br/>repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.<br/>These criteria will address the<br/>performance of the repository system at<br/>Yucca Mountain, a system that must<br/>comprise both natural and engineered<br/>barriers.

The concept of Geosphere Perfonnance Indices (GPis) is proposed. The &quot;performance&quot;<br/>refers to the geosphere&#39;s capacity to retain/contain radionuclides in the event of their accidental<br/>release at some point in time. The GPis are based on the Lagrangian stochastic-analytical<br/>framework for transport in the subsurface and are believed to render useful tools in performance<br/>assessment studies in general and in the site selection process in particular.

During the next few years, SKB will add the results of county studies and additional feasibility studies to the background data for siting of the deep repository. We plan to be able to choose at least two sites for site investigations in 2001. The investigations, which will include test drillings, should be able to be started in 2002. An important milestone will thereby be passed in the siting work.<br/><br/>The technology for deep disposal will be tested on full scale at our laboratories in Oskarshamn.

This report is a background to RD&D-Programme 98 /1-11. The report gives an account of most of the research and development being conducted by SKB. The current state of knowledge is described, along with the goals and programmes that govern the continued work. The period of immediate concern comprises the next three years, 1999-2001. Particulars for the three years following that are for natural reasons less detailed and mainly indicate a direction.