In order to promote the exchange of knowledge, experience and information among its members, the association has the following objectives:

• To create a forum where strategic questions can be discussed among implementers with a view to supporting their individual approaches on policy issues, particularly as these relate to demonstrating safety and environmental protection to both the general public and to regulatory organizations.

• To support national effects towards site selection and implementation of long-term disposal strategies and to promote a common understanding of waste management issues and the internationally recognized principles which apply thereto.

• To stimulate and promote coordinated research and development activities, particularly in underground research laboratories.

• To define positions and coordinate actions, where appropriate, in dealing with international organizations (e.g. OECD, IAEA, EU), whilst recognizing the value of open discussions with national governments and regulators initiated by such organizations.

• To discuss technical and management matters, particularly with a view to benchmarking and establishing optimum practices, without disrupting existing mechanisms for cooperation on specific projects.

1. The burdens and responsibility for taking care of radioactive waste should not be passed on to future generations.
2. Radioactive waste management is a social and technical issue.
3. There is a need for flexibility and open and ethical involvement of stakeholders in decision making.

1. Development of long-term management solutions should proceed irrespective of the future of nuclear power generation.
2. Volumes of spent nuclear fuel and high level waste produced are small and manageable.
3. Spent fuel and HLW is being safely stored on an interim basis and can be continued to be safely stored using current practices for many decades.
4. Spent Fuel and HLW is highly regulated and subject to multiple oversight authority of governments.
5. Many countries have R&D programs on long-term spent fuel management to develop improved methods and techniques. Over 10B$ US has already been spent engaging over 20,000 scientists worldwide.
6. Several countries have concluded that geological disposal is technically safe and feasible. Some countries are implementing geological disposal and have identified potential disposal repository sites.
7. Alternative management strategies are being studied in a number of countries, often within a framework of environmental impact assessment.
8. A step-wise approach in decision-making is being used to address long-term management of spent nuclear fuel and HLW.
9. Financial provisions are being made for radioactive waste management. Long-term costs are recovered from current electricity consumers and not passed on to taxpayers or future generations.