Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

6 The Environmental Policy of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) and Priority Objectives for its Implementation--Aleksandr M. Agapov and Leonid A. Bolshov
Pages 17-31

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 17...
... Bolshov, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Nuclear Safety Institute Literally before our eyes, issues of ecology and environmental protection have gone from general declarations and activities by enthusiasts to the ratification of modern norms under Russian and international law (see Box 6-1)
From page 18...
... Scientists and specialists from the State Research Center -- Institute of Biophysics, the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Radiology of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Medical Radiological Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS) have made a significant contribution to ensuring radiation safety and resolving problems associated with radioecology and radiation medicine.
From page 19...
... The next step must be the making of individual environmental protection commitments by enterprises, taking into account the specifics of their activities on the basis of the principles formulated in the Rosatom environmental policy document. At this time, we can cite certain results of activities carried out on these objectives, including the following: • Organizational and programmatic decisions of the Rosatom Board on the formation of departmental-targeted programs and radioactive waste management systems, problems of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Mayak Production Association, development of an infrastructure for spent nuclear fuel management, comprehensive dismantlement of nuclear-powered submarines, decommissioning of facilities presenting nuclear and radiation hazards, and cooperation with the public • Practical work by enterprises to develop and implement environmental protection measures • Development and approval of initial special environmental programs • Widespread initiation of international cooperation on comprehensive dismantlement and rehabilitation of shore technical bases at the Far Eastern Radioactive Waste Management Enterprise (DalRAO)
From page 20...
... At the same time, problems have accumulated over decades with regard to spent nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes, the decommissioning of nuclear- and radiation-hazard facilities, and radioactive contamination of the environment. The current nuclear and radiation safety situation in the country is characterized by three key factors:
From page 21...
... dismantling decommissioned facilities presenting nuclear and radiation hazards and ensuring that they are left in safe condition (including removal and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes) • Renovating facilities for the management of accumulated radioactive wastes and eliminating some repositories for solid and liquid radioactive wastes • Decommissioning facilities of the Federal Agency for Marine and River Transport that present nuclear and radiation hazards and carrying out a set of efforts to manage spent nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes • Removing accumulated volumes of spent nuclear fuel from research reactors and renovating systems for the physical protection of facilities presenting nuclear and radiation hazards • Rehabilitating radiation-contaminated facilities and sites A no less important condition for achieving the goal of nuclear and radiation safety lies in the reliable operation of systems for accounting, control, and physical protection of nuclear materials, radioactive substances, and radioactive wastes and in facilitation of the regime for nonproliferation of nuclear materials, prevention of unauthorized use of ionizing radiation sources, and monitoring of the radiation situation, exposure doses received by the population, and so forth.
From page 22...
... Interesting and important work in this area has been done by scientists from the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute, the Russian Research Center -- Kurchatov Institute, and the State Science Center -- Institute of Biophysics. Research on the comparative analysis of radiation and chemical risks conducted at the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute in cooperation with the RAMS A.N.
From page 23...
... Data from the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute Data from the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute City of Krasnoturinsk Annual individual risk: 4 .0 ·10 -4 City of Nizhny Tagil Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant Annual individual risk: Annual individual radiation risks of a 4.4·10 - 4 technogenic nature: 3.0 · 10-7 Aerosol gas emissions: 2.4· 10-7 Discharges into bodies of water: 6.0·10-8 City of Kamensk-Uralsky City of Yekaterinburg Annual individual risks due Annual individual risk: to the 1957 accident: 2.8·10 - 4 < 1·10 -5 - Risks not related to radiation - Radiation risks 23 FIGURE 6-1  Regions of assessed risk in Sverdlovsk Oblast. Figure 6-1.eps Partial bitmap image
From page 24...
... 24 Data from the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute Data from the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant Annual individual radiation risks of a Reftinsk Power Plant technogenic nature: 3.0·10 - 7 Annual individual chemical Aerosol gas emissions: 2 .4·10 - 7 risks: 1.0 ·10 - 3 Discharges into bodies Annual population risk: 117 of water: 6.0· 10 - 8 additional deaths Asbest Asbest - Risks not related to radiation - Radiation risks FIGURE 6-2  Risks to the health of the population living in regions near nuclear and coal-fired power plants in Sverdlovsk Oblast. Figure 6-2.eps Partial bitmap image
From page 25...
... CREATION OF A UNIFIED STATE SYSTEM FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT Creating an effective radioactive waste management system is a fundamental condition for the further development of nuclear power and the nuclear industry in general (see Box 6-2)
From page 26...
... THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINES Issues regarding nuclear and radiation safety associated with the comprehensive dismantlement of nuclear-powered submarines hold a special position. This is a major activity directly aimed at ensuring long-term environmental security.
From page 27...
... Nevertheless, enterprises and Rosatom inevitably must address complex problems of maintaining and consolidating their positions on the Russian and world markets for energy technologies and nuclear technologies. All competitive mechanisms are in play when commercial projects are carried out, including relying on public opinion on matters of the ecological impacts of products and BOX 6-3 Comprehensive Dismantlement of Nuclear Powered Submarines: Tasks through 2010 •  ismantle 83 submarines, 2 surface ships with nuclear power blocs, and 16 D nuclear technical service ships •  nload, transport, and reprocess 100 t of spent nuclear fuel U • Safely maintain all comprehensive dismantlement sites • Isolate 2 submarines in critical condition in Primorsky Krai •  uild facilities for long-term onshore storage: 190 reactor section blocs in B Murmansk Oblast and Primorsky Krai •  eprocess 30,000 t of solid radioactive wastes and 12,000 m3 of liquid radio R active wastes •  ehabilitate spent fuel and radioactive waste repositories as well as contami R nated sites at 3 shore technical bases
From page 28...
... In recent years, the industry has substantially stepped up its efforts to train specialists on the requirements of ISO-14000 standards. Such courses are conducted by the Atomenergo Interagency Institute for Qualification Improvement in cooperation with the RAS Nuclear Safety Institute and the State Central Institute for Qualification Improvement.
From page 29...
... Environmental policy • Ecological aspects and environmental impacts • Analysis by • Legislative and other requirements management n pla tio • Targeted and planned rec nn • Targeted and planned cor ing environmental indicators environmental indicators • Audit • Environmental management • Environmental management programs programs Continuous • Structure and responsibility • Registered data Improvement • Training, information, and competence • Communication ion ve tat rif n • Documentation ic • Problems, corrections, me at ple io preventive actions im n • Documentation management • Operations management • Monitoring and • Emergency preparedness and response measurement FIGURE 6-3  Model environmental management system. Figure 6-3.eps lowing enterprises of the TVEL Corporation: the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant, and the Machine-Building Plant.
From page 30...
... In their environmental policy statements they clearly highlight the priority placed on ensuring security and protecting the environment. It would be expedient to begin preparing Rosatom enterprises for certification to appropriate international standards now, without waiting for the completion of the industry restructuring process.
From page 31...
... Within the framework of corporate management of the use of nuclear power, we must work to strengthen and further develop the foundations that have already been laid for environmental security efforts. The most important environmental security-related tasks we face at the federal level include the following: • Forming a state system for ensuring and monitoring nuclear and radiation safety associated with the use of nuclear power • Creating an effective state system for radioactive waste management • Creating effective mechanisms for the technical regulation of environmental security • Developing the system of state environmental security guarantees, including insurance against nuclear damages • Improving the system of environmental protection management • Promoting outstanding development of scientific potential in the area of environmental security, which is necessary to provide scientific foundations for activities in this sphere The top priority tasks for Rosatom enterprises must be the following: • Unconditionally meeting the requirements of environmental protection legislation • Promoting the evolving increase in levels of environmental security by introducing modern environmental management systems and effective new technologies These tasks may be accomplished successfully only if the industry collaborates closely with government agencies and the public at all levels.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.