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For a radioactive waste repository, the most important social expectation is safety, which is verified by objective, professionally substantiated evidence. This expectation can be met by operating an appropriately designed environmental monitoring system, and by processing, evaluating and disclosing monitoring results.

The primary objective of monitoring is to provide information on the natural and artificial processes that take place in the vicinity of our facilities; to provide comprehensive view of the effect and trends of these processes as well as of the release limits and potential environmental stress, especially on the radiation conditions of the facilities. It is important to take into account both natural and man-made effects. The data provided by the environmental monitoring system are used to substantiate evaluations, analyses and management decisions.

One objective of the environmental monitoring system is to control the effects of man-made activities and interventions related to the installation, operation and decommissioning of the repositories. Part of this objective is for the environmental monitoring system to provide data on the environmental effects of the different phases of the planned installation (LEARNING), which on one hand can confirm whether our environmental models and forecasts are correct, on the other hand allow for quick interventions to mitigate, terminate, or even to prevent adverse effects (FORECAST).

Besides learning and information gathering, another objective of the environmental monitoring system is to evaluate the effect of natural environmental processes on our planned activities. Those natural processes that might adversely affect activities or operations need to be recognized in order to confirm that these changes in the environment are not due to any activities of the facilities but occur naturally, or contribute to it in a minimum extent.

The monitoring system of radioactive waste management facilities conform to the life cycle of the facility (research, installation, operation, decommissioning). Depending on the phase in which the facility is, different areas are in the focus of the environmental monitoring system.

During the research phase the monitoring system allows us to learn our environment and to provide data for the safety evaluations. These measurements substantiate the environmental effect study, while also providing data for comparison in later phases.

Installation works can significantly alter the natural surroundings of a facility. The monitoring in this phase serves to control the effects of man-made activities and the early recognition of adverse effects.

The operation of a facility poses no additional strains on its surroundings, thus the changes resulting from the installation phase achieve a secondary equilibrium, during which period the monitoring tasks include the following: demonstrating the protection of the public and the environment; monitoring the technical security of the site; verifying the adherence to regulatory release limits (VERIFICATION), detecting potential discharges, immediate interventions when necessary, and substantiating decisions. The information provided during the operation period is used as basis to prepare the monitoring programme of the period following decommissioning. Radiation protection must be ensured at the time of decommissioning. During this period some site facilities are dismantled, some are permanently closed, and the further use of the area is established. The decommissioning of a facility is a fairly short period in the lifecycle of any facility; however, it requires special attention.

The life cycle of the waste repositories expands through many years. For these periods we cannot exclude the occurrence of unexpected or unforeseeable events or processes (e.g.: climate change). It is of utmost importance that we are able to react to these unforeseeable occurrences with the necessary flexibility to effectively monitor their consequences and carry out the necessary measures. This goal is obtained by the regular re-evaluation of our monitoring systems.