ML20210R757
| ML20210R757 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/01/1999 |
| From: | Hogberg L, Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO), SWEDEN, GOVT. OF |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210R743 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9908170206 | |
| Download: ML20210R757 (19) | |
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1 AGREEMENT '
ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECOVALEX III PROJECT 1999-07-01 a
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. Agreement DECOVALEX 111 2m l' ,.
DECOVALEX III AGREEMENT A continuation of the multi-disciplinary interactive and co-operative research effort in modelling thermohydromechanical (T-H-M) processes in fractured rocks and buffer materials and the role in PA is proposed under the DECOVALEX III project (acronym for International co-operative project for the Development of Coupled models and their Validation against Experiments in nuclear waste isolation). There are several reasons to have international co-operation in this area. It will improve the basic understanding of these processes ofimportance for radionuclide release and transport. It gives also an opportunity of '
peer review to code developers. International co-operation will also provide exchanges of laboratory and field data for validation purposes, and prepare statements on coupled T-H-M issues for performance assessment.
l Article 1 PARTIES l A managing organisation or a regulatory and/o: supervisory auhority called Parties, having l cigned this Agreement, agree to participate in the DECOVALEX III Project on the terms and conditions herein stated.
Article 2 ADDITIONAL PARTIES The Steering Committee may decide to co-opt further members to the Project, taking into account the fact that for the Project to be successfully accomplished the number of active participants should be limited. Such additional members shall have the same rights and responsibilities as the original Parties.
Article 3 OBJECTIVES The overall objective of DECOVALEX III is to increase the understanding of various thermohydromechanical processes of importance for radionuclide release and transport from a repository to the biosphere and how they can be described by mathematical models. The tasks of DECOVALEXIIIare:
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.. Agreement DECOVALEX lil Asi f :'
. Task 1. The FEBEX in-situ T-H-M experiment l, Task 2. The Yucca Mountain Drift Scale Test.
Task 3. Benchmark test problems for treatment of coupled T-H-M processess in Performance Assessment.
Task 4. Forum for discussion and documentation on treatment of coupled T-H-M processes in Performance Assessment with the objectives: i l
to increase the basic unders,anding of T-H-M coupled processes in fractured i rocks and buffer materials, l 3
to investigate the predictive capabilities of different codes to field experiments ;
. and to perform verification of codes,
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l 1 l - to exchange experimental data, and improve the understanding of the I constitutive behaviour of rock masses and buffer materials, I
to perform THM calculations in a performance assessment context 1 to review the state-of-the art in coupled T-H-M issues in performance assessment.
For details see attached Appendices A-D.
Article 4 ORGANISATION l The organisation is illustrated in Figure 1. The Project is directed by a Steering Committee with one member from each Funding Organisation. The managing participant - SKI - appoints the chairman of the Committee. A vice chairman is appointed by the Committee. The vice chairman replaces the coairman in his absence. Secretary is provided by the project secretariat.
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Managing Participant Steering Committee
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SKI All Funding Organisations 4
i i Project Secretariat
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KTH (Task Ito4)
PA expert (Task 3&4)
Expert Group (Task 1)
Task Force Group Leaders Task 1 Task 2 ENRESA US DOE Party- Party I i -
1 I I I I Research Team Research Team Research Team Research Team i
Figure 1. Flow-chart of the project organisation l
Steering Committee The tasks of the Steering Committee are:
- to decide on the technical content, planning, and time schedule of the problems to be studied, j l
- to approve members of the Task Force Groups
- to give general directives for the work to the Research Teams and Task Force Groups j
- to decide the contents and the format of the reports,
- to approve results and reports for publishing
- to determine the venue of the DECOVALEX III meetings.
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- to decide on the funding per annum of the Project Secretariat
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j* Agreement DECOVALEX 111 5;83 y .
.' The decisions made should be by vote in majority.2/3 if not stated otherwise in this j agreement.
Party and Funding Organisation A Party is a' managing organisation or a regulatory and/or supervisory auhority in radioactive waste disposal and may support one or several Research Teams. A Party which financially supports the secretariat is called a Funding Organisation. Only Funding Organisations are members of the Steering Committee and thereby have the right to vote. There will be no Non-Funding Organisations participating in DECOVALEX III unless it is decided unanimously by the Steering Committee, and in that case only under exceptional circumstances.
Managing Participant The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate acts as Managing Participant. The Managing Participant appoints the executive secretary and the chairman of the Steering Committee and sets up a Project Secretariat. The executive secretary representing SKI is responsible for the administration of the funding allocated by the Funding Organisations (see Supplement on Funding).
- Project Secretariat The Division of Engineering Geology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, acts as Project Secretariat. The tasks of the Secretariat are:
to give administrative and technical assistance to the Steering Committee, to organise meetings of the Steering Committee and to arrange workshops, to compile and analyse progress results with the assistance of Research Teams, to produce and distribute progress reports,
- to prepare final reports. Different alternatives for the reporting should be considered by the Steering Committee.
l An expert on Performance Assessment (Johan Andersson, Golder Grundteknik, Sweden) is appointed to the Secretariat for Task 3 and 4.
An expert group (UPC, Spain) is appointed to the secretariat for Task 1
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,. In addition one person assigned by ENRESA (Spain) for Task 1 and by US DOE for Task 2 will be liason to the Project Secretariat with the special task to manage and to help to prepare the necessary background information which will be input to the selected analyses. These ,
persons are appointed Task Force Group Leaders. ]
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Research Teams Research Teams are organised by the Parties. Each Research Team has a leader who is j responsible for the organisation and execution of the tasks assigned to the team. The tasks for j the Research Teams are: J j
to perform modelling tasks decided by the Steering Committee and formulated
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by task force groups and the Project Secretariat on the basis of discussions and 1 agreements in workshops and meetings,
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- to participate in task force groups, j
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to document their work in reports, f
- to assist the Project Secretariat in the analysis of results and production of progress reports and final documents, to propose suitable changes and improvements in the work.
Article 5 BUDGET )
Each Party covers the costs for its participation in the 3,5 years study, including participation in the Steering Committee meetings, workshops, task force group meetings and any other meetings necessary for the study. Each Party covers all the costs for its own Research Team (s), including code development, computer costs, reporting and travelling expenses.
The costs for the Project Secretariat including PA expert and expert group are covered by the Funding Organisations participating in DECOVALEX HI.
A Supplement on Funding, specifying the cost for the Project and the annual fee, is attached to this agreement.
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Article 6 FINALISATION OF THE STUDY The Study is scheduled to last for 3,5 years. It is terminated when final reports are distributed to the Parties. The Steering Committee shall approve final reports.
l Article 7 USE OF RESULTS The f'mal reports should be made publicly available. The Managing Participant and the Parties take no responsibility for the use of the results outside the framework of the Project and outside their own organisations.
Article 8 PREMATURE TERMINATION OF THE STUDY If the Study has to be terminated prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances, the Steering Committee has to reach decision on the use of the results already achieved.
Article 9 TERM OF AGREEMENT This Agreement shall be effective as from July 1,1999 and shall remain in force until December 31,2002. The project may continue in force thereafter on the unanimous agreement of the Participants acting through the Steering Committee.
L Agreement 1)lf0 val liX 111 Si N) s IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement by their officers duly authorized on that behalf.
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate, US NRC SKI M W g
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William D. Travers Lars H6gberg Executive Director for Operations Director General 1
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Appendix A Task 1 - The FEBEX in-situ T-H-M experiment Summary The test case is based on the now completed FEBEX in-situ experiment carried out in Switzerland. Two large scale in-situ experiments are being performed: 1) an in-situ field test of heater-buffer-rock system with a long period of heating, followed by 2) a large scale laboratory " mock-up" test. The aim of the project is demonstrating the present capabilities for building bentonite barriers in conditions similar to actual repository design and providing monitoring data to understand coupled THM and THG processes in the near-field. Large quantities of monitoring data regarding stress, deformation, water content, water pressure, and temperature distributions and their histories with time at a large number of monitoring places were recorded in-situ and a large number of rock / buffer property parameters were measured also in laboratory tests.
Based on this data package, a bench mark test (BMT) problem was proposed for the continuation of the current DECOVALEX II project. The object of the BMT was to apply different numerical models and codes to simulate the FEBEX in-situ field test, with the support of available monitored in-situ system responses and laboratory property data, for the coupled hydro-mechanical or coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes of the fractured rock-buffer-heater system. The aim is to verify the currently available numerical models for coupled THM processes, improve confidence levels in numerical modeling and deepen understanding to the coupled behaviour of fractured rock-buffer interactions during heating. The BMT is suggested to be divided into two subtasks: 1) simulation of hydro-mechanical behaviour of the fractured rock mass with respect to the tunnel excavation; and 2) the simulation coupled thermo-hydro- i mechanical responses of the complete rock-buffer-heater system during the whole heating period.
The first subtask requires predictions to the redistribution of water head field, Gow rate field, stress field and deformation field in the rock mass induced by tunnel boring. The numerical models then can be supported and calibrated against monitored data on geological and hydrological characterization of the rockmass surrounding the tunnel, the l hydraulic tests carried out before the tunnel excavation. j The second subtask requires predictions to responses of buffer and rock mass and their interactions, including temporal evolutions and spatial distributions of temperature, water l content, water pressure, stress and deformation of the buffer material and rock mass near the tunnel. The results should be compared at selected points. As a global measure of the rock-buffer-heater system, the time history of the total system power input to the heater is l also to be predicted. The prediction-calibration cycle can be maintained throughout the BMT to enhance the numerical capability and improve confidence.
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Appendix B Task 2 - US DOE's proposed test case Summary The Drift Scale Test (DST) in the Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) at Yucca Mountain is a large-scale thermal test, conducted by the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is part of DOE's program of characterizing the Yucca Mountain site to evaluate its suitability for a ,
potential nuclear waste repository. The heating phase of the test, started on December 3,1997, is scheduled to continue for approximately four years. This is to be followed {
by a cooling phase of another four years and a period of post-test characterization of !
the test block. Analysis, interpretation and reporting of the results will be on going in l parallel. The objective of the test is to help increase the confidence in models of coupled thermal-mechanical-hydrological-chemical processes in the rock mass. These models will be employed to quantitatively assess the long-term performance of the l potential repository.
Heating is effected through nine cylindrical heaters placed on the floor of a 47.5 meter drift and 50 wing heaters, each 10 m long, inserted into horizontal boreholes into either side-wall of the drift. The purpose of this arrangement is to: (a) simulate the thermal pulse an emplacement drift will experience from its neighbors, and (b) heat a i large volume of rock mass to boiling temperatures in a reasonable period of time. l Measurements / monitoring made in the DST include:
- 1) Quantity of heat applied, and temperature distribution based on 3000 sensors
- 2) Displacements in the rock by multiple point borehole extensometers; deformation of concrete lining sections by convergence monitors; strain in the concrete sections by strain gauges; acoustic and microseismic emissions
- 3) Moisture contents of the rock by neutron logging, electric resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar
- 4) Air pressure, relative humidity, and temperature in packed intervals in boreholes; pneumatic pressure transient testing; gas tracer transport testing
- 5) Gas and water sampling to study chemical changes; post-test sampling and analysis DOE plans to provide data to interested organizations in DECOVALEX, who can use them to study and test the following kinds of codes and models:
- 1) Thermohydrological (TH) codes: heat and fluid flow in unsaturated fractured rocks; heat pipe effect and other heat transfer mechanisms; effects of temperature dependence of permeability and conductivity, etc.
- 2) Thermomechanical (TM) codes: changes in concrete lined drift; changes in the unsaturated rock; comparison between field and laboratory parameters (scale effect).
< 3) Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) codes: processes in unsaturated fractured rocks; including the presence of drifts; effects of thermo-mechanical processes on hydrologic characteristics.
- 4) Thermo-hydro-chemical (THC) codes: chemical changes under air-water-vapor l flow in fractured rock; changes in Eh and pH; chemical reactions under phase change; effects of dissolution and precipitation on hydrologic characteristics.
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Appendix C Task 3 - Benchmark Test Problems for Treatment of Coupled T-H-M
. Processes in Performance Assessment Summary The poposed task is based on suggestions from a number of different funding organi,ations of the DECOVALEX II project, received in August and September of 1998. It consists of three benchmark test cases (BMTs), which are defined to study how to treat T-H-M couplings when evaluating long-term performance of nuclear waste repositories in complex rock structures. The BMTs will not be defined as code-comparison exercises with identical parameters and boundary conditions, but as frameworks from which the research teams must establish, justify and document their model conceptualisd an and property / parameter identification according to a common data base from real:"i; large scale experiments existing today. The main means of judgement is the impact on the chosen performance measures due to the different simplification / idealization and bounding analyses. By this means, experiences by one team can be communicated interactively to the others in the project, thus enabling development of a more well-based procedure for simplification and treatment of THM in PA than would not possible withjust one team analysing the problem.
The selection of BMTs is thought to represent Wuntions of relevance to many national repository programmes, with flexible Jefinitions to reflect desires of different programmes. The methodology of analyses developed when attacking the cases, however, may well be readily applicable. The following three benchm ' tests are suggested: (a) Resaturation BMT, (b) Homogenization BMT and (c) Glaciation BMT. j
- 1) The Resaturation BMT concerns basically with the resaturation of a hypothetical j repository immediately after its closure and may be defined to include two j alternative format: ens, fractured hard rock and sedimentary rock, to satisfy needs j from different national waste repository concepts. The data bases developed at the l
, FEBEX or the Monterri sites, both in Switzerland, may be used for the detailed l technical definition of the BMT with alternative repository geometry. The main )
PA measures are the resaturation progress in buffer and rock, the mechanical 1 l effects on buffer and waste form, and the temperature distribution in buffer.
- 2) The Homogenization BMT ( as originally proposed as upscaling BMT) concerns basica!!y with the relationship between an equivalent continuum (which could be heterogeneous) and detailed discrete representations of fractured rocks, and the !
i extrapolation of rock properties obtained from small scale test and observations to i large repository scale, with analysis for uncenainties. The main PA measures are !
the methods of derivation of flow and deformation properties of the fractured rock !
from a small detailed model to large scale equivalent continuum model, and its j 5 impact on large scale changes of flow and deformability fields. The data base j developed at Sellafield for the Task I of DECOVALEX II may be used for the j l detailed technical def' m ilion of the BMT. i
- 3) The Glaciation BMT concems mainly with the hydro-mechanical impacts of a ;
_ cycle of glaciation and deglaciation on the long term (up to 100,000 years) l performance of a hypothetical post-closure repository, without considering the ]
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hr thermal effect. Many different scenarios could be included as alternative contents,
. such as permafrost, different ice-rock interface conditions,2D - 3D transition, inland / coastal repository locations, sea level changes, saline water intrusion, fracture initiation, propagation and creeping, etc. The main PA measures will be
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the maximum deformation, changes of permeability fields, flow patterns and formation of critical flow paths, ground surface subsidence and rebound. Only long-lasting and large scale changes in PA measures are significant. The proposed site for data base is the ^sp6 site in Sweden, used by SKIin their SITE'94 project concerning the glaciation as the central scenario.
For each BMT, discussions will focus on: the identification of simplification in geometry and processes; discussion of uncertainties or open questions related to each type of simplification; evaluation on to what extent observations made so far really
- affects PA; and discussion of next steps of simplification / bounding analyses, i
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Appendix D
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Task 4 - Forum and documentation on treatment of T-H-M in Performance Assessment Summary In order to better understand the relevance of T-H-M coupling to perfonnance assessment (PA), the associated uncertainties and the applicability ranges, the Task 4 is proposed as a platform for presentation, discussion and documentation on the treatment of T-H-M !
issues in the framework of PA analyses. The task contains two subtasks: i) Task 4a: a state-of-the-art review on the current and past international treatment of T-H-M issues in PA framework and ii) Forum and documentation on T-H-M treatment in the PA framework. )
a) Task 4a:
The aim of the Task 4a is to assemble works performed or underway in different nuclear waste R&D programmes and evaluate / compile a state-of-the-art review report, using the l peer review on the DECOVALEX - II Task 4 report " Coupled THM processes related to !
performance assessment" (Stephansson et al.,1998) and its supplement " Examples of j treatment of mechanical and thermo-hydro-mechanical issues in some safety i assessments" by Andersson (1998), as a start.The common outline format should include: define the coupled process (such as HM) and how they were identified (e.g.
through RES, Influence Diagrams or other FEP procedures); what has been done; preliminary conclusions - bounding calculations; uncertainty and sensitivity; and outstanding questions and overall conclusions. The report should be finalised within the first year of the project.
b) Task 4b:
Task 4b is aimed to invite a number of international experts on PA to present on the past and current activities PA analysis, and the associated treatment of T-H-M issues, at all possible workshops. The purpose is to provide the project, especially the research teams, with a broader view on the PA processes and issues involved, so that their studies of other tasks would be performed with more PA perspective. At the end of the project, a thorough and in-depth stare-of-the-art report on treatment of T-H-M issues in PA, with inputs from both the presentations of the invited experts and the findings of the research 4 teams of the project regarding all other tasks, should be prepared. A clearly defined and documented consensus on T-H-M processes in PA should be reached by this report.
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- e SUPPLEMENT ON FUNDING
'ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECOVALEX III PROJECT I
1999-07-01 l
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.l Supplement on Fundmg DECOVAI.EX III 20, 4
DECOVALEX III SUPPLEMENT ON FUNDING Funding of Project Secretariat '
including PA expert and Expert group f
Article 1 S With reference to DECOVALEX III Agreement articles 4,5 and to this supplement and Annex 1.
There is a need for annual funding of the Project Secretariat (PS) including PA expert, the Expert Group of UPC, the Chairman of the Steering Committee and printing of main reports, in total with 8 450 000 Swedish Kronor (SEK) for the duration of the Project. The annual fee is set to be 223 000 SEK for each Funding Organisation. For the first half year of the project (end of 1999) the fee is set to 100 000 SEK. Funding Organisations should contribute the amount specified in Annex 1 per year to finance the Project Secretariat, Expert Group of UPC, Chairman and printing of reports. ,
Each Funding Organisation will have a seat on the Steering Committee. Only Funding Organisations have the right to attend and to vote on the Steering Committee as is regulated in article 4 in the Agreement.
Article 2 S Each Funding Organisation hereby agrees to commit to the Project the amounts set forth in Annex 1 hereto. Additional Funding Organisations shall have the same rights and responsibilities as the original Funding Organisations.
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Article 3 S I The Steering Committee may adjust funding allocations within the overall budget for the Project Secretariat and the Expert Group at UPC to take account of changing price levels so as to ensure that the adjusted figures represent a realistic assessment of the funds needed for the purpose of the j Project. If there are significant changes in price levels the Steering Committee shall by unanimous I decision decide whether to adjust the program of work within the Project Secretariat and the Expert j Group at UPC to the available funds or to adjust the funds to be contributed by the Participants.
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Supplement on Funding DECOVAI.liX 111.h7;'
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Article 4 S
~ Each Funding organisation shall pay SKI in trust, or in the case of SKI, transfer to the
' DECOVALEX III trust account, on or before the first day of this Agreement and thereafter, on or before the anniversary date of the Agreement, the amount specified in Annex 1 or the amount that the Steering Committee estimates will be sufficient to pay the costs that the
< Project Secretariat and the Expert Group of UPC will incur during that year.
I Article 5 S
' After the last day of every year of the Agreement, SKI shall prepare and deliver to the Steering Committee a statement of expenditures and income for that year in the applicable form and containing the details required in Annex 2 attached hereto.
Article 6 S i SKI shall expend every effort to ensure that a statement referred to in article 5 S is delivered j t'o each party within three months from the last day of the year to which it relates, but in any i' case the statement shall be delivered no later than six months after the last day of that year.
Article 7 S Upon termination of this Agreement, the total payments by each Funding Organisation and the ,
total costs incurred by SKI, on behalf of the Project Secretariat and the Expert Group of UPC, i
_ shall be compared to establish the amount of any overpayment.
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Article 8 S Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, where the comparison referred to in article 7 S establishes that the total amount paid by each party to SKI pursuant to this Agreement is in excess of the total costs incurred by SKI, SKI shall forthwith re. fund to each party an amount
' that is equal to their share of the overpayment.
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Supplellent on Futiding DECOVAl liX 1114t7;
., Article 9 S 3
The SKI shall keep detailed accounts and records of all expenditures made by SKIin
- connection with this Agreement.
- Article 10 S The financial year shall be from July I to December 31,1999 and thereafter from January 1 to December 31 for the remaining time of the agreement.
1 Article 11 S It is understood that the statement of expenditures and income that is required to be delivered by the SKI pursuant to this Agreement shall be expressed in Swedish Kronor (SEK).
Article 12 S Payment by each party to the SKI or refund by the SKI to each party under this Agreement shall be made in Swedish Kronor (SEK).
Article 13 S
. Any Funding Organisation may withdraw from this Agreement in the event it is unable to
- obtain the necessary funding due to national policy by giving 6 months written notice in i advance to that effect to the Managing Participant SKI.
.. p Article 14 S The term of Agreement shall be from July 1,1999 to December 31,2002.
j- Article 15 S
- The original of this Agreement shall be deposited at the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) and a certified copy shall be furnished to each Participant.
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supplement on FunWng DIiCOVA1.fix 111.y7; a
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ANNEX 1 i
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR TIIE INTERNATIONAL DECOVALEX III PROJECT Project Secretariat including PA expert and Expert Group UPC This Annex sets forth certain provisions with regard to the contributions to the Project due by the Participants.
1 The total cost for the accomplishment of a Project Secretariat for the Project during the next three a half years is estimated to be 8 450 000 Swedish Kronor (SEK).
Cash Flow DECOVALEX III Project - Project Secretariat All amounts in thousand Swedish Kronor (SEK)
Activity 1999 2000 2001 2002 KTH Secretariat 620 1240 1270 1300 PA expert, J. Andersson 100 200 200 200 Expert Group, UPC 285 605 625 655 Chairman 50- 100 100 100 Printing of reports -
150 150 150 Others 50 100 100 100 TOTAL. I105 2395 2445 2505 COST ESCALATION
, The total cost of the Project might change either due to an alteration in the program of work (as agreed by the Steering Committee) or due to an inflationary increase in cost. Adjustment of the budget will then be made following the annual Steering Committee meeting.
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ASSIGNMENT OF FUNDS.
Participants agree to assign funds for the first 0,5 year of the 3,5 year period apportioned as follows:
. Funding Organisations Amount SEK '
AECB 100 ANDRA 100 CEA/IPSN 100 NIREX 100 ENRESA 100 JNC 100 100 !
US DOE USNRC 100 OPG 100 SKB 100 SKI 100 STUK 100 TOTAL 1200 kSEK j
- All amounts in thousand Swedish Kronor (kSEK)
The following years (2000-2002) to the end of the project the annual fee is fixed to 223 000 SEK per Funding Organisation.
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