Member States continue to request guidance on introducing nuclear power to their power production strategy. This revised publication presents developments in managing siting activities since the 2012 edition. It provides the updated methodology and framework to assist Member States in site identification, selection, evaluation and licensing, and discusses aspects including nuclear safety and security, technology and engineering, economics and cost, land use planning and preparation, socioeconomic impacts and involvement of stakeholders. The intended users include decision makers, senior managers and other technical specialists involved in siting and site evaluation. It is also relevant for Member States seeking to expand existing nuclear power programmes.

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Objective
  • 1.3. Scope
  • 1.4. Structure
• 2. Siting and site evaluation activities in the framework of a nuclear power programme
  • 2.1. The Milestones approach
  • 2.2. Interfaces with infrastructure issues
    • 2.2.1. Management
    • 2.2.2. Legal framework
    • 2.2.3. Regulatory framework
    • 2.2.4. Electric grid system
    • 2.2.5. Human resource development
    • 2.2.6. Stakeholder involvement
    • 2.2.7. Environmental protection
    • 2.2.8. Emergency planning
  • 2.3. Climate change and sustainable development
  • 2.4. Use of past siting studies and reassessment of originally determined site characteristics
  • 2.5. Countries expanding their nuclear power programmes
  • 2.6. National radioactive waste facilities close to nuclear power sites
  • 2.7. Lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi accident associated with siting aspects
• 3. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
  • 3.1. Key issues
    • 3.1.1. Multidisciplinary project and management complexity
    • 3.1.2. Planning of interrelated activities
    • 3.1.3. High level scientific content
    • 3.1.4. Role of expertise and expert judgement
    • 3.1.5. Team building and communication
    • 3.1.6. Treatment of uncertainties
    • 3.1.7. Data acquisition and long term data management
    • 3.1.8. High project cost and funding
    • 3.1.9. Broad legal and regulatory impact, framework and licensing process
    • 3.1.10. Land purchase difficulties
    • 3.1.11. Education and training
  • 3.2. Associated risks
  • 3.3. Management and quality considerations
  • 3.4. Stakeholder involvement
  • 3.5. Organization and roles
    • 3.5.1. Organization
    • 3.5.2. The intelligent customer role
    • 3.5.3. Technical review group
  • 3.6. Expertise required and related activities
    • 3.6.1. Types of expertise required and functions
    • 3.6.2. Disciplines required for the project
    • 3.6.3. Activities
• 4. SITING AND SITE EVALUATION ATTRIBUTES, CRITERIA AND PROCESSES
  • 4.1. Attributes and criteria
    • 4.1.1. Exclusionary attributes and criteria
    • 4.1.2. Discretionary attributes and criteria
    • 4.1.3. Health, safety and nuclear security factors
    • 4.1.4. Engineering and cost factors
    • 4.1.5. Socioeconomic factors
    • 4.1.6. Environmental factors
  • 4.2. Processes
    • 4.2.1. Site survey stage
    • 4.2.2. Site selection stage
    • 4.2.3. Site characterization stage
    • 4.2.4. Pre-operational stage
    • 4.2.5. Operational stage
• 5. PHASE 1 — SITE SURVEY STAGE
  • 5.1. Objectives
  • 5.2. Legal framework
  • 5.3. Regulatory framework
  • 5.4. Main technical inputs
  • 5.5. Process of the site survey stage
    • 5.5.1. Establishment of the siting team by the NEPIO
    • 5.5.2. Development of the site selection, evaluation project plan and terms of reference
    • 5.5.3. Establishment of the management system
    • 5.5.4. Development of specific attributes and criteria
    • 5.5.5. Identification of the regions and areas to be investigated and collection of associated information
    • 5.5.6. Analysis of collected data and application of exclusionary criteria
    • 5.5.7. Review of screening procedure
    • 5.5.8. Identification of candidate sites/areas and reporting
  • 5.6. Attributes and criteria
  • 5.7. Activities
  • 5.8. Management
    • 5.8.1. Siting team
    • 5.8.2. Project plan and schedule
    • 5.8.3. Integrated quality management
    • 5.8.4. Document and data management
    • 5.8.5. Review procedure
  • 5.9. Stakeholder involvement
  • 5.10. Environmental considerations
  • 5.11. Collection of data and application of exclusionary criteria
  • 5.12. Outcome and deliverables
• 6. PHASE 2A — SITE SELECTION STAGE
  • 6.1. Objectives
  • 6.2. Input factors
  • 6.3. Process of the site selection stage
  • 6.4. Attributes and criteria for the site selection stage
  • 6.5. Ranking process
  • 6.6. Activities
  • 6.7. Management
    • 6.7.1. Siting team
    • 6.7.2. Project plan and schedule
    • 6.7.3. Integrated quality management
    • 6.7.4. Document and data management
    • 6.7.5. Review procedure
  • 6.8. Stakeholder involvement
  • 6.9. Environmental considerations
  • 6.10. Outcome and deliverables
• 7. PHASE 2B — SITE CHARACTERIZATION STAGE
  • 7.1. Objectives
  • 7.2. Input factors
  • 7.3. Process of the site characterization stage
  • 7.4. Attributes and criteria
  • 7.5. Activities
    • 7.5.1. Planning
    • 7.5.2. Monitoring networks and stations
    • 7.5.3. Field work and laboratory investigations
    • 7.5.4. Analysis and assessments
    • 7.5.5. Reporting
  • 7.6. Management
    • 7.6.1. Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary project, management complexity
    • 7.6.2. High level of scientific and technical content
    • 7.6.3. Interrelation between site characterization and the EIA activities
    • 7.6.4. Site characterization team
    • 7.6.5. Project plan and schedule
    • 7.6.6. Integrated quality management
    • 7.6.7. Document and data management
    • 7.6.8. Review procedure
  • 7.7. Regulatory framework
    • 7.7.1. Regulations and guidance for site evaluation
    • 7.7.2. Site licensing process
  • 7.8. Stakeholder involvement
  • 7.9. Environmental considerations
  • 7.10. Outcome and deliverables
• 8. PHASE 3 — PRE-OPERATIONAL STAGE
  • 8.1. Objectives
  • 8.2. Input factors
  • 8.3. Activities
    • 8.3.1. Implementation of site and environmental monitoring
    • 8.3.2. Support to construction and design basis activities
    • 8.3.3. Support to licensing process activities
    • 8.3.4. Preparation of the final EIA report
    • 8.3.5. Maintenance of the GIS site related and environmental databases
    • 8.3.6. Production of the radioactive baseline
  • 8.4. Management
    • 8.4.1. Site team at pre-operational stage
    • 8.4.2. Document and data management
    • 8.4.3. Review procedure
  • 8.5. Stakeholder involvement
  • 8.6. Environmental considerations
  • 8.7. Outcome and deliverables
• REFERENCES
• GLOSSARY
• ABBREVIATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW
• STRUCTURE OF THE IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES