Decommissioning
Supporting safe and cost effective decommissioning
Rationale - The growing ageing of thousands of nuclear facilities worldwide demands attention to timely planning for, and safe and cost-effective implementation of decommissioning. While individual techniques and methods have been considerably improved over the last few years, there is still a strong need to optimize project decommissioning as a package – rather than individual bits and pieces, which is still the practice today. Also regulations and licensing processes need to evolve as more experience on large decommissioning projects is being gained. In addition the transfer of standards, methods and know-how from developed countries to those having limited resources and experience in decommissioning – the majority of Member States – remains far from completion.
Objective
To provide for the application of safety standards and use of good practices and proven and advanced methods and technologies in Member States in planning and implementing safe and cost-effective decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Major Tasks for 2010-2011
- Revise Safety Reports and TECDOCs documents on decommissioning to incorporate new Safety Requirements and revised Safety Guides guidance
- Participate in WENRA’s Working Groups on Waste and Decommissioning on regulation on decommissioning and to bring the experience to other Member States
- Organize the project on Decommissioning of former nuclear facilities in Iraq
- Coordinate a CRP on planning, management and organizational aspects in decommissioning of nuclear facilities
- Prepare video-based material for on-line training under international decommissioning network (IDN)
- Contribute to national and regional TC projects on decommissioning
For further information please contact V. Ljubenov
Remediating sites and regulating NORM residues
Rationale - A wide variety of operations (mining, minerals processing and industrial) exploit raw materials containing NORM which comprises radionuclides of the uranium and thorium decay chains. Uranium mining and milling operations exploit higher grades of raw materials to produce a uranium concentrate and tailings containing elevated levels of NORM. The NORM residues and wastes produced by these operations may result in the contamination of soils, surface and groundwaters with natural radionuclides. Historical activities in the Uranium Production Cycle have produced numerous “Legacy Sites” resulting in the contamination of the environment and the exposure of members of the public to ionising radiation and natural radionuclides in the air, dust, waters and agricultural products. Agency guidance on the remediation of NORM sites seeks to address the remediation of legacy sites and to promote best practice during the lifecycle of current operations to ensure the safe management and disposal of NORM residues and wastes in the future.
Objective
To develop and provide guidance to Member States on the safe management of residues and wastes generated by NORM industries and during the remediation of legacy sites. To promote planning for radiation safety during the lifecycle of NORM facilities. To protect workers, the public and environment through the application of the safety standards and the promotion of good practice.
Major Tasks for 2010-2011
- Finalise a Safety Report on the Decision Making Process for Remediation Activities
- Finalise a Safety Report on the Assessment of the Safety of Uranium Mill Tailings Sites
- Develop guidance and training material on the Radiation Safety Aspects of the Siting and Design of Uranium Tailings
- Promote and support application of the revised BSS by Member States in the Uranium Production Cycle and the management and remediation of NORM residues
- Support the activities of the Uranium Production Cycle Team
- Coordinate and support the Phosphogypsum working group initiative
- Conduct workshops on the remediation, regulation and management of NORM residues and wastes
- Provide technical assistance to international and regional initiatives to remediate contaminated sites in Central Asia
- Respond to ad hoc Member State requests on remediation and the management of NORM residues and wastes
- Support the Regulatory Supervision of Legacy Sites (RSLS) Initiative
- Support Regional and National Technical Cooperation Projects involving the management of NORM residues and wastes
- Support Member State initiatives on the remediation of NORM legacy sites
For further information please contact
