Transcript Overview of Key Areas – Monitoring of Radioactively Contaminated Scrap Metal A presentation to the Group of Experts on Monitoring of Radioactively Contaminated Scrap Metal,

Overview of Key Areas –
Monitoring of Radioactively
Contaminated Scrap Metal
A presentation to the Group of Experts on
Monitoring of Radioactively Contaminated
Scrap Metal, Second Session,
Geneva, 12-14 June 2006
Ronald B. Pope
UNECE - Secretariat
Background


Questionnaire both in 2004 and 2006
Use to assess the contaminated scrap metal situation
in States with regard to:
 Regulatory Infrastructure
 Monitoring
 Dispostioning
 Contractual
 Reporting


Assessment of the 2004 responses were used to assist
in discussions at the 1st session of the group of
experts
Both the 2004 and 2006 responses were used to
develop an overview for this, the 2nd session of the
group of experts
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 2
Background (Continued)


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Overview of issues in key areas developed and issued
in April 2006
(ECE/TRANS/AC.10/2006/4 and 10/2006/4 Add. 1)
Overview and addendum updated and revised in June
2005*
Responses received:
 48 States in 2004
 43 States in 2006
 7 States responding in 2006 did not respond
in 2004
 12 States responding in 2004 did not respond in
2006
 Information on experience in monitoring and
controlling contamination in scrap Some
countries provided by some States
* Available at 2nd Session as an informal handout
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 3
2006 Overview Analysis

Overview for 2006 (ECE/TRANS/AC.10/2006/4, Rev. 1):
 Considered all inputs from both years
 Was structured in terms of the three main Fields
of Action in the Draft Voluntary Protocol:
Prevention
Detection
Monitoring
 Was used to define
Best Practices
Areas Needing Attention
Can be used at this 2nd Session of the Group
of Experts to guide deliberations on the
Draft Voluntary Protocol!
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 4
Prevention–Regulatory Infrastructure
48 Countries Responding in 2004, 43 Countries Responding in 2006
2004
2006
QRI-1. Regulations preventing loss
of radioactive material & sources
Regulatory Infrastructure Questions
QRI-4. Active enforcement of
regulations
QRI-5. Penalties for violations
QRI-6. Exemption levels
established
QRI-2. Regulatory mechanism for
NORM & TENORM
QRI-3. Adoption of IAEA Code of
Conduct
QRI-7. Low level radioactive
material release allowed
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage Responding Positively, Proportion of Total Respondents/Year
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
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Prevention–Regulatory Infrastructure
(Continued)
Fines, US$50,001-800,000
Fines,US$5,001-50,000
Penalties for Exceeding Limits
Wide
Range
In
Penalties
Exist
Fines, US$1,000-5,000
Fines, unspecified
Penal, 3-10 y m ax
Penal, unspecified
Suspension
Adm inistrative
Variable
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Number of Countries
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 6
Prevention – Best Practices

In general:
 Have established regulations
 Have active enforcement programmes
 Are adopting IAEA Code of Conduct
 Have established exemption levels
 Allow release of very low levels of radioactivity
 Have established responsibilities for
training
accounting and storage of identified
contaminated waste
 Many are supporting “Polluter Pays” principle
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 7
Prevention – Areas Needing Attention
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Data collection/analysis on radiation levels
from scrap metal/processed metals
Regulatory control of NORM and TENORM
Identify sources of contamination
Strengthen contracts
 Radioactive free scrap metal
 Origin of scrap metal identified
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
Training in visual inspection and response
Standardize approach to defining transfer of
ownership of scrap metal
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
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Detection – Border Monitoring
Quantity of imported & exported shipments
monitored
Wide
Range of
Extent of
Monitoring
of Imports
& Exports
100 percent
Greater than 90
percent
50 to 90 percent
Less than 10 percent
Som e shipm ents
m onitored
Majority of shipm ents
m onitored
None or inform ation
not available
0
5
10
15
20
25
Number of Countries
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
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Detection – Areas Needing Attention

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No best practices identified
Areas needing attention include:
 States should issue clear directives & guidance
 Need consistent approach to border monitoring
 Standard approaches to:
Acquisition
QA
Maintenance
Calibration
Use of radiation detectors
Worldwide standard for detection alarm
threshold
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
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Response – Best Practices
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Government investigation of all
detection/alarm reports
Protocols for response action to alarms
Clear financial responsibilities
Clear responsibilities for physical disposition
of detected materials
Specific processes for disposition of
detected sources
Identified regulations and controls for
transport of radioactive source or material
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
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Response – Areas Needing Attention
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Forms to guide reporting and response actions
Information brochures, bulletins, posters
Formal protocol for reporting and acting on an
alarm
Consistent basis for response to alarms
Include clear definition of basis for
transporting contaminated material or sources
where contents are unidentified
Establishing an international standard for:
Melting contaminated metal
Accumulating detected materials

National free-of-charge disposal facilities
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 12
Additional Inputs to be Considered
In Summary:

Sections D, E and F of the Overview of Key Areas
elaborates on:
Best Practices, and
Areas Needing Attention

for the three main Fields of Action in the Draft
Voluntary Protocol:
Prevention
Detection
Response

These sections include brief discussions of:
Evidence from the questionnaires
National examples
June 2006
2nd Session – Group of Experts
Page 13