In Japan extensive research has been undertaken during the last two
decades to build the scientific basis for developing a deep geological repository
for high level radioactivewaste (HLW) (e.g. JNC, 2000a,b). During
any repository site characterization, volcanic activity, active faulting
and areas of high tectonic uplift will have been avoided by appropriate
criteria at an early stage of the investigations (NUMO, 2002). Avoidance
will be achieved by specifying a respect distance based on existing data
compilations of the potential impacts on deep geological environments
(e.g. Committee for Geological Stability Research, 2011; Figure 1).