Waste and Environmental Safety
Our Work
The Section is responsible for the delineation of a global waste safety regime to protect the public and the environment from the effects of ionising radiation, based on the functioning of the Joint Convention, the development of safety standards for the management of all types of radioactive waste and the provision for the application of the waste safety standards.
Responsibilities
The Section has the following responsibilities:
- Is responsible for the development and revision of waste safety standards, supporting WASSC;
- Serves as the focal point for developing safety standards and other undertakings on radioactive waste, decommissioning, remediation and protection of the environment and on the application of radiation protection criteria for public exposure to radioactive waste and radioactive releases to the environment;
- Is responsible for the identification of needs to improve waste safety based on environmental data, radiological safety assessments and the interpretation of the profiles of Member States on radioactive waste management, including decommissioning, site remediation, NORM residues, protection of the public and the environment;
- Is responsible for developing training material, guides and tools for facilitating the implementation of the IAEA waste safety standards in Member States;
- Provides technical support for the organization of training courses;
- Provides for the exchange of information among Member States in the area of waste, decommissioning and protection of the environment according to its thematic areas through the organization of meetings, conferences, safety assessment intercomparison projects, and the sharing of insights gained from advisory and appraisal missions with other Member States;
- Participates in advisory and appraisal missions to Member States, including IRRS missions, on the relevant technical areas;
- Provides technical input and support in the areas of its technical and scientific competence both within and outside the Department, e.g. to the Incident and Emergency Centre for the response to radiological emergencies and nuclear incidents;
- Serves as the IAEA’s representative at international committees on waste safety and the protection of the environment, including those for international conventions in this area.
Radioactive Waste Management and Spent Fuel Unit
- Provides the Secretariat for WASSC and the Joint Convention;
- Serves as the focal point for all issues concerning the management (pre-disposal) and the disposal of all types of radioactive waste and of spent fuel;
- Is responsible for the development and implementation of project(s) and activities under the responsibility of the Section in this technical and scientific area of competence.
Assessment and Management of Environmental Releases Unit
- Serves as the focal point for the protection of the public and the environment from releases of radioactive material to the environment from present and past practices;
- Is responsible for the development and implementation of project(s) and activities under the responsibility of the Section in this technical and scientific area of competence. more
Decommissioning and Remediation Unit
- Serves as the focal point for decommissioning and the remediation of sites or installations using radioactive material, including NORM residues;
- Is responsible for the development and implementation of project(s) and activities under the responsibility of the Section in this technical and scientific area of competence. more
For further information please contact D.Louvat
