IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Update on progress with development of DS459

Management of Radioactive Residues from Mining, Mineral Processing, and other NORM related Activities

Zhiwen Fan, John Rowat Waste and Environmental Safety Section

Department of Nuclear Safety and Security

IAEA

Outline

• Background

• Status of the development

• Challenges

• Potential activities

• Summary

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History of NORM residue safety standards

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• Proposed title: Management of Radioactive Residues from Mining, Mineral Processing, and other NORM related Activities

• Scope: • radioactive residues that arise from mining, and

milling of ores for the extraction of uranium or thorium,

• and to other industries including mining and processing of other ores, the oil and gas industry and the phosphate industry.

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DS459 – Title and Scope

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• Recommendations and guidance to

• Regulatory bodies,

• Operating organizations,

• Technical support organizations,

• and other interested parties

• on safe management of radioactive residues arising from the mining, milling other NORM related activities

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DS 459 - Audience

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DS459

• Life cycle guidance on the site selection and evaluation and design of management facilities, and on their construction, operation and closure, decommissioning and termination, including organizational and regulatory requirements.

• Guidance on the development of a safety case and safety assessment for NORM residues, as required by GSR-4.

• Principally directed towards the management of residues generated by new facilities. It may not be practical to apply all of these recommendations to existing facilities.

• Certain non-radiological characteristics of the residues may pose significant hazards and risks.

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DS459

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Safety documents for NORM residue

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Process for DS459 Development

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• 1st CM: 3-7 September 2012

• 2nd CM, 15-19 April 2013

• 3rd CM, 4-8 November 2013

• >>>>>>

• Technical Meeting to provide feedback on draft safety guides on management of radioactive residues from the mining, mineral processing and other NORM activities, September 2014

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Preparing the draft >>>>>>

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Challenges

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• Worldwide, broad industry, weak awareness of risk, lack of experience in regulatory control

• Increasing recognition of NORM residues as resource rather than waste but vulnerable due to very dynamic, public acceptance, possible constraint

• Disposal options seem to be clear. Challenged with dilution/dispersion via isolation/containment, long term management, access to landfill sites

• Technical incapability

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Sustainable solutions

• To protect people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation without unduly limiting the NORM activities

• Comprehensive and graded regulatory scheme based on and supported with solid scientific and technological basis

• Broad awareness and acceptance from various stakeholders

• Integrated with non-radiological control

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Support implementation of DS459

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- Identification and characterization of NORM residues

- Safety assessment for management options

- Reuse and recycle of NORM residues

- Disposal of NORM residues

- Remediation of NORM contaminated sites

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Building technical capability

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Summary

• MSs have growing and urgent demand to a safety guidance for NORM residues

• Solution-based management program for NORM residue may be established

• Challenges are existing worldwide for NORM residue management, especially in term of awareness, reuse/recycle and disposal

• Strategic and pragmatic thinking is needed to develop sustainable solutions for NORM residues

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