COMMUNICATION ABOUT RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

Transcription

1 COMMUNICATION ABOUT RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT IAEA Technical Meeting on Stakeholder Involvement and Public Information June 2017 Rūta Jarašūnienė Public Relations Officer Radioactive waste management agency (RATA) Lithuania 14 June

2 Content Radioactive waste sources in Lithuania; Current situation on radioactive waste management projects; Communication experience during the NSR siting process; Key stakeholder concerns; Messaging related to the radioactive waste management; Key challenges and how are they managed; Conclusions. 14 June

3 Radioactive Waste Sources in Lithuania Ignalina NPP, which is under the decommissioning now (2 units with RBMK-1500 reactors); Maišiagala Waste from research, medicine and industry (1 5 m³/year); Maišiagala Radioactive Waste Storage Facility (about 120 m 3 of legacy waste). 14 June

4 Waste Sources in Lithuania In Lithuania more than 99% of waste is generated by Ignalina NPP: Operation; Dismantling. Institutional waste, orphan sources. 14 June

5 Current Situation Landfill facility for very-low-level short-lived radioactive waste will be constructed in the vicinity of the Ignalina NPP in 2018; Near-surface repository for low-and intermediate-level short-lived waste will be constructed close to the Ignalina NPP in 2020; Spent nuclear fuel in storage facilities; According to the National Radioactive Waste development programme DGR should be constructed by 2066 in Lithuania. 14 June

6 Waste disposal sites Ignalina NPP Unit 1 Unit 2 Landfill facility for VLLW Near-surface repository for LILW 14 June

7 Proposed DGR development timeline 1. Project planning and site selection for a representative investigations borehole ( ); 2. Site selection for additional boreholes ( ); 3. Site selection for an underground research laboratory (repository) ( ); 4. Repository site confirmation ( ); 5. Repository design development ( ); 6. Repository construction and preparation for operation ( ); 7. Repository operation ( ); 8. Repository closure ( ). 14 June

8 Structure of Communication Strategy Strategic objectives and tasks; Analysis of the current situation; Identification of target groups; The measures to be implemented; Communication strategy implementation plan. 14 June

9 Key stakeholder Mass media National and local level Authorities State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate Radiation Protection Centre Ministry of Energy, etc. Local population Politicians, government Local and national level NGO's Environmental organisations Neighbouring countries Young generation Scientists, public opinion leaders 14 June

10 Communication activities for siting of the NSR ( ) Events for Lithuanian media representatives; Activities informing neighboring countries; Public information activities for the Lithuanian public. 14 June

11 Events for Lithuanian media representatives A study tour for Lithuanian media representatives was organised to Sweden to the SFR repository for short lived radioactive waste (June 2005); Lithuanian journalists had a change to interview Swedish experts about they experience on radioactive waste management; Seminars, press conferences, visits to potential sites for NSR in Lithuania were arranged. 14 June June

12 Activities informing neighboring countries Joint meeting with Lithuanian and Latvian Greenpeas members was arranged for the Environmental Impact Assessment Report presentation (June 2005); Meeting with Daugavpils (Latvia) public was organized for the Environmental Impact Assessment Report presentation (September 2005); Press conferences for Lithuanian, Latvian and Belarus media representatives was organized after IAEA experts mission for evaluation of the potential sites for NSR in Lithuania (December 2005). 14 June

13 Activities informing neighboring countries Lithuanian delegation visited Lithuanian Embassy in Belarus and took part in press conference for Belarus media regarding NSR repository in Lithuania (November 2005); Lithuanian delegation s press conference in Lithuanian Embassy in Latvia (April 2006). 14 June June

14 Communication activities for Lithuanian public A study tour for Lithuanian key persons (national and local government representatives) was arranged to Swedish SFR repository (November 2005); Informal meetings with local residents were held on a regular basis. 14 June June

15 Meetings with the public for the EIA report presentation ( ) Two meetings in Lithuania: Ignalina and Visaginas (towns with the potential sites); Meeting in Daugavpils (Latvia); Meeting in Minskas (Belarus). 14 June

16 Achievements Good relationship with national and local media; Developed activities with neighboring countries; Task region inhabitants accepted that NSR is a necessity; The site for NSR was selected and approved by the government (will be constructed in 2020). 14 June

17 Key stakeholder concerns Safety and security; impact on economy and well-being of the nation and community; real estate prices; employment opportunities; infrastructure; election campaigns (politicians). 14 June

18 Key messages Radioactive waste already exists and requires safe management and disposal; Storage is a temporary solution and is not as safe as disposal; Disposal is safe and sustainable long-term solution that many countries use; Radiation doses which can be expected from proper waste disposal are trivial when compared with those from natural sources of radiation and the effects of radioactive fallout; Do not leave an unsolved radioactive waste management problem for future generations. This principle is emphasized on the international level. Waste disposal solves this problem. 14 June

19 Key challenges and how they are managed Trustworthy: it takes a long time to create it but it could be destroyed in a very short period; Consistency. Responsible authorities shall provide consistent information to the public without contradictions. Insufficient support for resources (financial and human); Dialogue with key persons and pro-active work with mass media are the main low-cost strategies for reaching he strategic goals. Radio phobia: You can not see or feel the radiation, but it is killing you softly (a title in the newspaper); Educational activities. 14 June

20 Conclusions Public understanding is the key to public acceptance and communication to the right audience is the most important connection between the two; To achieve public understanding and acceptance it is necessary to translate and communicate the technical solutions in an understandable way; Provide an opportunity to interested individuals and groups to give their views; Initiatives. Proactive rather than reactive approach to public information shows confidence and trustiness; Successful international examples creates trust and confidence in the radioactive waste management technologies; It is very good to have ambassadors for your messages; Communities living close to nuclear installations have better knowledge and understanding of the life processes of nuclear reactors, radioactive waste management and features of its disposal. 14 June

21 We are working to live in a safe environment RATA 14 June