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Salient Issues In The Review Of Nigerian Radioactive Waste Management Regulations By
S.M Oyeyemi, T.C Akpa, T.A Faru
Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority
Plot 564/565 airport road, pmb 559, cbd, abuja. Fct nigeria. s:
Objectives
Salient Issues
References
The objectives of the draft regulation were expanded to include the requirement that applies to the siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of facilities for the predisposal management and disposal of radioactive waste and Nuclear spent Fuel
It also has wider scope and includes requirements for management of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources (DSRS), spent nuclear fuel and naturally occurring radioactive material with elevated radiation level and disposal
The draft regulation provided for development and implementation of a management system for facilities managing radioactive waste and nuclear spent fuel
The draft regulations took into consideration the approach of integration of safety and security which is in line with current trend of giving security same relevance with safety
The draft regulations clearly define Responsibilities of the generators and operating organization, Interdependences, management of radioactive waste, Management system and Integrated approach to safety and security which is in line with the world best practices.
The draft regulation adds steps in the radioactive waste management operations which includes Radioactive waste generation and control, radioactive waste characterization, classification, Control of radioactive discharge, Clearance of Materials, Processing, and Storage of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
The draft regulations make provision for Radioactive waste acceptance criteria and associated responsibilities of the operating organization.
The draft regulation provides for safety approach to radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel management which includes: Preparation and assessment of safety measures, Supporting safety case assessment and documentation and Periodic safety review by the operating organization.
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (ACT,1995) Nuclear Safety And Radiation Protection Act 1995, Printed and Published by the Federal Government Press, Lagos. Nigeria FGP 430/895/2,000
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY ( NiBIRR,2003) Nigeria Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations (2003) NIBIRR Commencement: 31st December 2003 Publication of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority by power of the ACT
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NRWM,2006)Nigerian Radioactive Waste Management Regulations, Publication of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority by power of the ACT
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NRSIR, 2006) Nigerian Radiation Safety in IndustrialRadiography Regulations, 2006 Publication of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority by power of the ACT
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NRSNM,2006)Nigerian Radiation
Safety In Nuclear Medicine Regulations. Publication of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority by power of the ACT
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (RWMP, 2013) National Policy on Radioactive Waste and Spent fuel Management Policy. Unpublished document awaiting Government approval
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NRWSFR,2015)Nigerian Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Spent Fuel Management (NRWSFR) Regulations. Unpublished Publication of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority from Review of Nigerian Radioactive Waste Regulation (2006) using GSR Part 5
NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NSSS BILL, 2015) Nuclear Safety, Security And Safeguards Act to Re-Establish The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority. An act to repeal the nuclear safety and radiation protection act no. 19 of 1995, awaiting approval by Government.
Introduction
The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), was established in 2001 by the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act 19 of 1995 (ACT,1995),Charged with the responsibility for nuclear safety and radiological protection regulation
The Nigerian Radioactive Waste Management Regulations (NRWMR,2006) became Nigerian Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Spent Fuel Management Regulations (NRWSFR,2015), following a successful review in 2013, base on GSR-5.
Nigeria is currently developing capacity to manage and dispose radioactive waste generated within the country ,and effort is geared towards upgrading the storage facility to a predisposal management facility which will include a repository (NRWSFR,2015).
The Government of Nigeria has indicated interest in generating Electricity through Nuclear power Plant this has gone beyond milestone one( NSSS Bill,20015 ),
Therefore it become imperative to include the management of Nuclear spent fuel in the radioactive waste management operation in the country
The draft regulation takes into consideration and provided requirements relevant for safety and security, beginning from siting, through design and construction, commissioning, operation, decommissioning or closure of waste management facilities or disposal facilities; facility accounting and control system of radioactive waste and nuclear material, and existing facilities
The draft regulations characterized radioactive waste in term of physical form, biological properties, radiological properties and chemical composition .
Salient Issues
The draft regulation incorporates the twenty two (22) requirements of the IAEA General Safety Requirements, Part 5 (GSR 5-Predisposal Management of Radioactive Waste) which is a significant approach adopted
The draft Regulation has wider scope which includes requirements for management of Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources (DSRS), spent nuclear fuel and naturally occurring radioactive material with elevated radiation level and disposal.
Conclusion
The reviewed regulations was initiated during an IAEA expert mission for ‘ Workshop on National Policy on Radioactive Waste Management for Nigeria(RWMP,2013) .
Nigerian Radioactive Waste and Nuclear Spent Fuel Management Regulations (NRWSFR) empowers NNRA to regulate the management of spent Nuclear fuel, DSRS waste from Medical Practice and NORM generated within the country (NRWSFR,2015).