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The Appropriate Level of Regulatory Control for the Safe Transport of Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM)
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
J13011CRP
1011Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
9 November 2010Objectives
2003 Transport Conference identified a need for additional research to relieve unnecessary regulatory burdens related to the transport of very low activity NORM. 1996 edition of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Transport Regulations introduced radionuclide-specific exemption levels in lieu of the single 70 Bq/g value, resulting in ores, tailings and backfill from large mining operations (e.g., phosphate, coal, gold, tantalite and monazite) been brought within the scope of the regulations. To address the situation, the 1996 regulations included an allowance for a factor of 10 higher than the exemption quantities for naturally occurring materials, provided they are not intended to be processed to extract the naturally occurring radionuclides.
With the change to the exemption levels in the IAEA’s Transport Regulations, materials, which previously were not considered radioactive material for transport purposes, were now subject to the packaging, communication, training and emergency response requirements. This situation has significantly increased the cost of shipping certain materials.
The Conference suggested that the full impact of and technical basis for the ‘factor of 10’ exemption be thoroughly researched
Specific objectives
This CRP related to a multi-state exercise aimed at the collection, review, analysis and evaluation of internationally existing material and information on transport and packaging of NORM to determine the appropriate level of regulatory control, i.e. exemption level.
Participating countries were to conduct surveys of national industries involving transport of NORM. An assessment of doses to workers and members of the public associated with the transport of NORM was to be investigated. These doses could be evaluated using a combination of models and measurements and were to be based on work practices in places. Information such as time spent driving or loading, distances from the material etc., was to be used to characterise transport operations and develop exposure scenarios. Doses were to be generally calculated for drivers (either employees or members of the public) transporting material in a conveyance (road, rail and sea) and for individuals (either employees or members of the public) loading materials into a conveyance. Radionuclides, their activity concentrations, the volumes transported as well as the typical loading of packages containing NORM and types of packages used was to be investigated and analysed.
Impact
Results and recommendations of the CRP was accepted by TRANSSC and included in the revision of regulations and guidance material .
Relevance
1996 regulations included an allowance for a factor of 10 higher than the exemption quantities for naturally occurring materials, provided they are not intended to be processed to extract the naturally occurring radionuclides. The CRP has provided a technical basis for the ‘factor of 10’ exemption. A global understanding of the transport regulations with respect to NORM has been achieved.