Challenges in Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulation of the Nuclear Legacy (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security)

A NATO workshop was held in September 2007 under the Security through Science framework to consider the current challenges in regulation of the nuclear legacy. The overall objective was to share East-West competence and experience in radiation protection and nuclear safety supervision of installations built during the cold war, particularly in relation to regulatory strategies for safe decommissioning of unique or unusual nuclear facilities and remediation activities. There were over 60 participants from 8 countries as well as representatives from the International Commission on Radiological Protection, the International Atomic Energy Agency and NATO. The organisations involved included regulatory authorities, operators and technical support organizations. The new Russian Federation Unified State Programme for Handling Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste was introduced and the steps necessary to set this up as a comprehensive programme of activities were described. Some waste management sites are in a poor state. Legacy management experience was provided from the UK, France and the USA. Information was provided on methods for site characterisation and separation of wastes into exempt, low-level and intermediate level waste, and the complication of dealing at the same time with chemical hazards, such as beryllium. Strategies for contaminated site management were also explained and the associated risk assessment methods outlined. The Russian Federation has responsibility to manage its own nuclear legacy. But it is also one of several countries in the global network of nuclear activities. Harmonisation of approaches is valuable in building future cooperation, but local conditions may influence the best local solution. Accordingly, future exchanges, such as those provided for by this workshop, should be encouraged. There are many complex issues to be addressed and they cannot all be solved at once. Clear recognition of the major threats, as well as weakness in regulatory processes, can be useful in directing future resources. However, at this stage it is clear that there are specific regulatory issues to address as well as a need to maintain development of an enhanced overall safety culture. Such guidance needs to be thoroughly based on the best use of scientific and technical information. At the same time, part of the solution relates to policy issues and value judgements, and so broader interaction among regulators, operators and other stakeholders is to be encouraged. Cover......Page 1 NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security......Page 3 Challenges in Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulation of the Nuclear Legacy......Page 4 ISBN 978-1-4020-8633-5 (PB)......Page 5 PREFACE......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 7 CONTRIBUTORS......Page 10 Introduction, Summary and Conclusions of the NATO Workshop......Page 13 International Cooperation of FMBA RF Aimed at Radiation Safety Assurance in Northwest Russia When Solving Nuclear Legacy Challenges......Page 22 Welcome of Federal Atomic Energy Agency......Page 25 NATO Support to Non-military, Civil Science for Peace and Security......Page 27 Introduction – Norwegian Perspective on Nuclear Legacy......Page 34 Issues in Decommissioning and Remediation of Nuclear Legacy Sites......Page 37 Unified State System of Management Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste. Conceptual Approaches and Generation Principles......Page 58 Nuclear Legacy Problems and Their Solutions Within the Federal Target Program «Nuclear and Radiation Safety Assurance for 2008 and for the Period Till 2015»......Page 65 Strategy for Russian-Norwegian Regulatory Cooperation......Page 73 Scientific Support for Cooperation Between Regulators and Operator (2006 and First Half of 2007)......Page 78 Strategy for the Environmental Regulation of Remediation and Decommissioning at Sellafield......Page 89 State Supervision of Nuclear and Radiation Safety During Dismantlement of Decommissed Nuclear Powered Ships and Remediation of Former Shore Technical Bases of the Northern Fleet......Page 98 Philosophy of the Occupational and Public Radiological Protection in the Regulation of the Nuclear Legacy......Page 102 Regulation at Hanford – A Case Study......Page 107 Features of Solving the Problems of Remediation of “Sevrao” Facilities: Strategic Planning of Ecological Remediation of the Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radiation Waste Temporary Storage in Gremikha......Page 120 Transport-Technological Scheme of High-Level SRW Management from the Reactor Facilities in the Northwest Russia......Page 146 The Techa Reservoir Cascade: Safety and Regulation Problems......Page 156 Restoration Principles and Criteria: Superfund Program Policy for Cleanup at Radiation Contaminated Sites......Page 168 Challenges in Radiation Safety Regulation with Respect to Supervision of FSUE “SevRAO” Facilities......Page 178 Regulative Provision of Waste Management Regulatory Supervision at SevRAO Facility......Page 187 Regulatory Case Studies and Western Experience Concerning Nuclear Legacy......Page 192 About Activity of the Federal Medical Biological Agency in the Field of the State Safety Regulation at Atomic Energy Use......Page 196 Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment Near Location of SevRAO Facilities......Page 203 Special Features of the Personnel Radiation Protection Assurance During SNF and RW Management at SevRAO Facilities......Page 210 Regulatory Control of Radioactive Waste in Sweden......Page 220 Cover 1 NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security 3 Challenges in Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Regulation of the Nuclear Legacy 4 ISBN 978-1-4020-8632-8 (HB) 5 ISBN 978-1-4020-8633-5 (PB) 5 PREFACE 6 CONTENTS 7 CONTRIBUTORS 10 Introduction, Summary and Conclusions of the NATO Workshop 13 International Cooperation of FMBA RF Aimed at Radiation Safety Assurance in Northwest Russia When Solving Nuclear Legacy Challenges 22 Welcome of Federal Atomic Energy Agency 25 NATO Support to Non-military, Civil Science for Peace and Security 27 Introduction – Norwegian Perspective on Nuclear Legacy 34 Issues in Decommissioning and Remediation of Nuclear Legacy Sites 37 Unified State System of Management Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste. Conceptual Approaches and Generation Principles 58 Nuclear Legacy Problems and Their Solutions Within the Federal Target Program «Nuclear and Radiation Safety Assurance for 2008 and for the Period Till 2015» 65 Strategy for Russian-Norwegian Regulatory Cooperation 73 Scientific Support for Cooperation Between Regulators and Operator (2006 and First Half of 2007) 78 Strategy for the Environmental Regulation of Remediation and Decommissioning at Sellafield 89 State Supervision of Nuclear and Radiation Safety During Dismantlement of Decommissed Nuclear Powered Ships and Remediation of Former Shore Technical Bases of the Northern Fleet 98 Philosophy of the Occupational and Public Radiological Protection in the Regulation of the Nuclear Legacy 102 Regulation at Hanford – A Case Study 107 Features of Solving the Problems of Remediation of “Sevrao” Facilities: Strategic Planning of Ecological Remediation of the Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radiation Waste Temporary Storage in Gremikha 120 Transport-Technological Scheme of High-Level SRW Management from the Reactor Facilities in the Northwest Russia 146 The Techa Reservoir Cascade: Safety and Regulation Problems 156 Restoration Principles and Criteria: Superfund Program Policy for Cleanup at Radiation Contaminated Sites 168 Challenges in Radiation Safety Regulation with Respect to Supervision of FSUE “SevRAO” Facilities 178 Regulative Provision of Waste Management Regulatory Supervision at SevRAO Facility 187 Regulatory Case Studies and Western Experience Concerning Nuclear Legacy 192 About Activity of the Federal Medical Biological Agency in the Field of the State Safety Regulation at Atomic Energy Use 196 Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment Near Location of SevRAO Facilities 203 Special Features of the Personnel Radiation Protection Assurance During SNF and RW Management at SevRAO Facilities 210 Regulatory Control of Radioactive Waste in Sweden 220 1402086326,9781402086328,1402086334,9781402086335 Springer

a Nato Workshop Was Held In September 2007 Under The Security Through Science Framework To Consider The Current Challenges In Regulation Of The Nuclear Legacy. The Overall Objective Was To Share East-west Competence And Experience In Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety Supervision Of Installations Built During The Cold War, Particularly In Relation To Regulatory Strategies For Safe Decommissioning Of Unique Or Unusual Nuclear Facilities And Remediation Activities.

there Were Over 60 Participants From 8 Countries As Well As Representatives From The International Commission On Radiological Protection, The International Atomic Energy Agency And Nato. The Organisations Involved Included Regulatory Authorities, Operators And Technical Support Organizations.

the New Russian Federation Unified State Programme For Handling Spent Fuel And Radioactive Waste Was Introduced And The Steps Necessary To Set This Up As A Comprehensive Programme Of Activities Were Described. Some Waste Management Sites Are In A Poor State. Legacy Management Experience Was Provided From The Uk, France And The Usa. Information Was Provided On Methods For Site Characterisation And Separation Of Wastes Into Exempt, Low-level And Intermediate Level Waste, And The Complication Of Dealing At The Same Time With Chemical Hazards, Such As Beryllium. Strategies For Contaminated Site Management Were Also Explained And The Associated Risk Assessment Methods Outlined.

the Russian Federation Has Responsibility To Manage Its Own Nuclear Legacy. But It Is Also One Of Several Countries In The Global Network Of Nuclear Activities. Harmonisation Of Approaches Is Valuable In Building Future Cooperation, But Local Conditions May Influence The Best Local Solution. Accordingly, Future Exchanges, Such As Those Provided For By This Workshop, Should Be Encouraged.

there Are Many Complex Issues To Be Addressed And They Cannot All Be Solved At Once. Clear Recognition Of The Major Threats, As Well As Weakness In Regulatory Processes, Can Be Useful In Directing Future Resources. However, At This Stage It Is Clear That There Are Specific Regulatory Issues To Address As Well As A Need To Maintain Development Of An Enhanced Overall Safety Culture.

such Guidance Needs To Be Thoroughly Based On The Best Use Of Scientific And Technical Information. At The Same Time, Part Of The Solution Relates To Policy Issues And Value Judgements, And So Broader Interaction Among Regulators, Operators And Other Stakeholders Is To Be Encouraged.