Repository Licensing

This chapter examines two regulatory determinations: for how long a repository should limit radionuclide releases to the environment and what is an acceptable dose. It also considers the range of methodologies regulators use to demonstrate compliance with those rules. The chapter makes a distinction between establishing performance projections using probabilistic risk assessments and preparing a safety case that includes, but is not limited to, quantitative estimates of dose to an affected population group. The chapter also explores the issue of how prescriptive the regulations should be. It contrasts the rules in the United States with those in Switzerland and Canada