| Chair(s): | Secretary: |
Linda OKPALA (linda.okpala@oecd-nea.org) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* | ||
| Russia (Suspended*) | |||
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. | |||
| EU participation: |
The European Union (EU) takes part in the work of the NEA, in accordance with the NEA Statute and the Supplementary Protocol to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. | ||
| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) By agreement | ||
| Date of creation: | 17 October 2024 | ||
| End of mandate: | 17 October 2026 |
Mandate (Document reference):
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract of document NEA/RWM/IDKM(2024)1/FINAL
Background
The NEA launched in 2011 the “Preservation of Records, Knowledge and Memory (RK&M) across Generations” initiative, which lasted until April 2018. This international initiative developed an in-depth understanding about how to preserve RK&M regarding radioactive waste repositories in future societies, as well as a specific methodology to address this issue. The group prepared a RK&M preservation toolbox, spanning a menu of 35 different preservation mechanisms and guidelines on how to combine and implement them. New concepts have been developed with the Key Information File (KIF) [1] and the Set of Essential Records (SER) [2]. The final report [3] of the RK&M-Initiative, by integrating all insights and results, can be read as a general guide to the RK&M preservation topic.
Stemming from the RK&M-Initiative, in 2019 the Radioactive Waste Management Committee established the Working Party on Information, Data and Knowledge Management (WP-IDKM) in order to support member countries in dealing with IDKM challenges in the development of national programmes for Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) and decommissioning. WP-IDKM established four third-level expert groups including the Expert Group on Awareness Preservation after Repository Closure (EGAP) and the Expert Group on Archiving for Radioactive Waste Management Activities (EGAR).
EGAP focused on the task of awareness preservation of nuclear waste repositories and related information over various timescales including when awareness is no longer self-evident through an ongoing major industrial activity. While the target human generations may be situated relatively far in the future, this requires tasks to be prepared or even implemented by present day and close future generations. EGAP functioned as a platform for experts from various disciplines and backgrounds to continue to develop ideas, establish collaborations, share findings and derive recommendations for different awareness preservation mechanisms such as the KIF. EGAP also performed complementary studies and analyses on awareness preservation approaches.
EGAR considered the archiving needs of RWM-related activities both for the shorter term (operational period archiving) and longer-term (archiving needs, tools and processes). This included both archiving of records which are no longer expected to be used during the repository lifetime but could be important in the future (for example, upon the decision of future generations to retrieve the wastes), and preservation of records that are no longer actively used but will likely be needed in the near future of the repository programme (for example, for the compilation of the next safety case). The main focus was applying and advancing the SER schema and exploring archiving practices and principles in the nuclear field.
After two successful mandate periods, both groups identified an increasing amount of overlap in activities that they wanted to pursue. In 2024, the WP-IDKM therefore decided to merge both groups to allow for better cooperation and alignment on common interest areas. This newly formed group is concerned with both, the archiving needs and processes, and the awareness preservation for radioactive waste repositories.
Scope
The EGAAP is concerned with the task of preserving data, information, records, and awareness for as long as possible, including timescales after closure of a repository.
This includes further improvement of selection and development processes for dedicated record sets and summary files (SER and KIF), further exploration and development of tools for archiving and awareness preservation, and the exchange of experience and lessons learned in these areas.
Objectives
The EGAAP will:
To support these primary activities, the EGAAP will also identify any relevant secondary activities to be pursued.
Working methods
The mode of operation of the EGAAP is based upon plenary meetings and an ongoing, project-oriented working programme.
A Bureau consisting of a Chair and one or more Vice-Chairs will co-ordinate and facilitate the work of the EGAAP. The Bureau will normally meet once or twice a year, with one meeting normally held in conjunction with the annual EGAAP plenary meeting.
Communication within the EGAAP will primarily take place through annual plenary meetings. The plenary meeting is devoted to:
The EGAAP will report to the WP-IDKM at the annual meetings of the working party.
Additionally, the EGAAP will: (i) identify resources (including funding) and schedules for its activities; and (ii) review the programme of work and its effectiveness.
In fulfilling its mandate, the EGAAP will be supported by the staff of the NEA Division of Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning (RWMD).
In particular, the EGAAP will take into account the following NEA publications and reports: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/50292bbb-en.pdf?expires=1657103054&id=id&accname=ocid194971&checksum=A884046FA784581E8E0248D89FF8FB73.
Membership
The EGAAP is a task-oriented expert group that is composed of a diverse range of experts in the field of archiving and awareness preservation in RWM, decommissioning and non-related fields from NEA member countries, e.g. engineers and scientists in RWM Organisations, decommissioning and other technical domains involved with data and information management, knowledge managers and social scientists involved in knowledge management on extended timescales (hundreds of years) and any other experts deemed relevant in light of the expert group’s mandate.
Interactions
The work of the EGAAP will be complementary to that of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission (EC). As such, the group will continue to co-operate with its relevant counterparts and provide relevant input to the activities of these institutions, as appropriate.
Through the RWMC and Secretariat, the EGAAP will co-operate with the NEA standing technical committees and their subsidiary bodies when relevant, in particular those of the Committee on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations and Legacy Management (CDLM) to identify (i) interfaces between the groups and (ii) overlaps and common issues. It may also collaborate with the NEA Data Bank.
Deliverables
The EGAAP will produce appropriate reports, presentations or workshops with the support of the Secretariat.
[1] As described in [NEA publication 7377].
[2] As described in [NEA publication 7423].
[3] As described in [NEA report 7421].
