Program Presentations No. 41 – Managing the Disposition of Low-Activity Radioactive Materials (2005)

The 2005 NCRP Annual Meeting focused on contemporary issues of national interest in managing the disposition of low-activity radioactive materials. The meeting was timely in light of ongoing regulatory efforts to establish viable disposition alternatives for many types of low-activity radioactive materials that are expected to be generated in large quantities as power reactors and other nuclear facilities are decommissioned over the coming decades. Participants in the NCRP Annual Meeting included representatives of federal and state regulatory agencies, industries involved in the disposal and/or recycling of low-activity materials, public policy experts, and representatives of international organizations dealing with issues similar to those faced by the United States. A primary goal of the meeting was to develop a clear perspective on the major issues and concerns related to the disposition and potential reuse of low-activity radioactive materials, and it provided a forum for exploring risk-informed decision-making processes. The NCRP Annual Meeting also facilitated the sharing of experiences by national and international experts, and provided insights into future regulatory approaches that could facilitate decisions at the federal and state levels on the disposition of large quantities of low-activity materials.