3.41. Radioactive waste from mining and mineral processing may include radionuclides with very long half-lives. Providing assurance of the integrity of the containment features of disposal facilities for such waste over the corresponding timescales requires particular consideration. If the waste has activity levels for which the dose and/or risk criteria for human intrusion into such facilities (see para. 2.15) might be exceeded, alternative disposal options will have to be considered. Possible alternative options include, for example, disposal of the waste below the surface, or separation of the radionuclide content giving rise to the higher dose, as determined by the safety case for the disposal facility.