Site selection for Croatian low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository

Figures & data

Table 1. Renewed and accepted exclusion site selection criteria.

Criteria	Explanation
Flooding safety	All natural floodplains are excluded regardless of whether they are protected or not (a floodline of probability of flooding at 1000 years or less)
Seismotectonics and seismology	(a) Seismotectonics – areas with maximum possible earthquake intensity of IX° and a higher degree of MCS scale are excluded (b) Neotectonics – areas in the zone of nominated active faults are excluded
Lithological and geomorphological characteristics	Areas with increased erosion caused by the lithological composition or dynamic relief are excluded; those built of rocks unstable in natural conditions and during construction activities. Areas with landslides and terrains prone to rockslides, if they endanger facilities (depending on its geometry), are excluded as well
Hydrogeology (protection of aquifers)	Areas for the protection of drinking water sources are excluded according to the Ordinance on protective measures and conditions for determining the sanitary protection area of drinking water sources. In order to protect the water, location of the disposal site should not be in areas with significant water bodies of any type
Population density	Areas where cumulative population density in a radius of 20 km is greater than 78.1 inhabitants per km^2 are excluded
Protection of natural heritage	Areas of national parks, nominated nature parks and other important nature reserves are eliminated
Mining and mineral exploitation	Areas in the zone of current or future exploitation of ores, minerals, gas, coal, etc. are eliminated
Protection of cultural heritage	Areas of cultural goods listed in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List are eliminated; spaces of cultural goods which, by the totality of their values, are of great and great importance to the social community
Special purpose	Areas of special purpose and their protective zones are excluded

Table 2. Comparison criteria for additional assessment of the Cerkezovac site.

Aspect	Parameter	Detailed parameter
Technical-technological aspects	Geology and seismology	Seismotectonics and seismic activity – locations in the areas of lower maximum expected earthquake intensity are preferred
		Engineering geology (soil mechanics and foundation) – the worse the natural conditions at the site (the higher the ground slope, the surface layer of the soil with the lower geomechanical characteristics with the lower permissible load), the location is worse
Safety of installation	Meteorological and hydrological aspects	Meteorological aspects (extreme occurrences) – locations with lower intensity and precipitation are preferred
		Hydrological aspects (security from flooding) – locations that are out of the reach of mountain streams, and areas without or with a lesser risk of erosion processes are preferred
	Geology and seismology	Seismotectonics and seismic (neotectonic) activity – the sites in neotectonic less active zones are preferred
		Lithology and geomorphology – preferably, the sites are made of clay, marl or sediments that represent a mixture of clay and silt, provided that they are not susceptible to landslide and erosion, then those from compact magmatics and metamorphites (granites, gneisses)
	Environmental protection	Soil condition (chemical aggressivity) – locations in areas with low chemical aggressiveness of soil prevails are preferred
Safety and acceptance of locations	Transport	Transport of radioactive waste – locations whose position in relation to the position of nuclear power plants and for which the existing traffic system provide the greatest possible security are preferable. For the transport of waste, the best quality roads and shortest routes are not used, but those where the danger (likelihood) of the accident is the smallest
	Meteorological and hydrological aspects	Meteorological aspects (dispersion) – locations for which the dispersion of the ground layer of the atmosphere is higher are preferred
	Areas of cultural goods listed in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List are eliminated; spaces of cultural goods which, by the totality of their values, are of great and great importance to the social community.	Hydrological aspects (distance of surface flows) – preferably, the locations are further away from constant and intermittent surface flows or accumulations
	Geology and seismology	Hydrogeology – locations with smaller reservoirs of groundwater, and where conditions of infiltration and underground flow are such that reduce the possibility of transporting radionuclides, are preferable
	Demography	Demographic aspects – locations with lower population density and poorer demographic conditions in settlements in the radius 5 km from the site are preferred
	Purpose and use of space	Settlements – locations with a smaller number of settlements and fewer settlements with pronounced central and working functions in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Tourism – locations with a smaller number of tourist centres and a smaller number of existing and planned tourist accommodation facilities in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Agriculture - locations with a lower plant-production potential of soil, greater suitability for livestock production and greater distance from highly productive crops in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Forestry – sites for which lower secondary forest products are available (edible mushrooms and medicinal herbs) in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Industry and Mining – locations with smaller industrial centres of less sensitive industries in a radius of up to 5 km are preferred
		Infrastructure – locations where the connection to infrastructure installations (water supply, power grid) is better are preferred
		Special purpose – sites that, from the aspect of defense; have no restrictions or special requirements are preferred
	Environmental protection	Protection of natural heritage – locations with a smaller number of protected and recorded sites and are of lesser significance in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Protection of cultural heritage – locations where the number of protected and recorded sites and facilities is lesser in a 5 km radius are preferred
		Soil status (plant production) – locations with a lesser amount of high-yielding soils for biological production in a radius of 5 km are preferred
		Biological-ecological values – sites that are biologically less valuable or less sensitive are preferred
		Radiological aspects of the existing state – locations with lower migration of groundwater into soils and bioaccumulation of radionuclides in organisms in a radius of 5 km are preferred
Acceptability of wider area	Purpose and use of space	Settlements – locations with a smaller number of settlements with more pronounced central and working functions and a smaller number of larger settlements in a radius of 5–20 km are preferred
		Tourism – locations with a smaller number of tourist centres, a smaller number of existing and planned touristic accommodation facilities (and if these capacities have shorter use during the year) of up to 20 km radius are preferred
	Environmental protection	Protection of natural heritage – locations with a smaller number of protected and recorded natural heritage sites in a radius of up to 20 km are preferred
		Protection of cultural heritage – locations with the lesser representation of particularly valuable protected and recorded entities and objects of cultural heritage are preferred