Stichting Laka

Publication Laka-library:
Applications of the concepts of exemption and clearance (Part 2) (2002)

Author	European Commission
	6-07-4-95-10.pdf
Date	2002
Classification	6.07.4.95/10 (APPLICATIONS RADIONUCLIDES - RADIOACTIVE SCRAPMETAL / RECYCLING)
Front

Foreword

Part I of this publication gives guidance on the application of the concepts of
exemption and clearance to practices. Further to earlier guidance on specific
clearance levels (in activity per unit mass) for the recycling of metals and building
rubble from dismantling of nuclear installations, part I has introduced the concept
of general clearance levels: default values, for materials arising from any practice,
any type of material and any pathway of recycling or reuse.

This concept has been developed in this part II for materials arising from industries
which mine or process ores or other materials for which the presence of naturally
occurring radionuclides are of concern. Such NORM materials are dealt with in
Title VII of the Basic Safety Standards (work activities for which enhanced
exposure to natural radiation sources is of concern). While the Directive
introduced for the first time detailed requirements for the regulatory control
of such work activities, it left at the same time a lot of flexibility to Member
States for proceeding with the identification of work activities that are of
concern and for defining the extent of regulatory control, applying all or part
of the requirements for practices as appropriate for each type of work activity.

Since the adoption of the Directive and while preparing for the implementation
of its provisions in national legislation, Member States have considered that
there was merit in using the concept of reporting and prior authorisation and
its corollaries, exemption andclearance, laid down in Title III of the Directive
for practices, to work activities as well.

This publication, adopted by the Group of Experts established under Article 31
of the Euratom Treaty, gives guidance on how Member States could use these
concepts and on which general clearance levels would be appropriate.