Scientific and practical experience of supervisory activities in the field of the public and environmental protection at the Russian nuclear legacy sites

Abstract

Today, Russia is implementing a national program for the remediation of legacy sites, resulting from the activities of the nuclear industry, the use of nuclear energy for military purposes, and due to radiation accidents and emergencies. Main priority is given to the health care provision issues of the workers and the population living in the vicinity of the targeted facilities. These tasks are under the regulatory responsibility of the FMBA of Russia. Since the beginning of the development of the nuclear industry in the country, the Institute of Biophysics, technical supporting organization of the FMBA of Russia (now the State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center Federal Medical Biological Agency (SRC-FMBC)), has been a leading institute in the scientific and methodological support of public radiation safety in the vicinity of radiation hazardous facilities serviced by the FMBA of Russia. In this regard, radiation-hygienic monitoring has always served as the main regulatory tool for more than 60 years. The paper describes the results of long-term monitoring (2005-2018) at the former coastal technical bases of the Russian Navy ( now – sites for temporary storage of SNF and RW in the Russian Northwest and Far East (nuclear legacy sites); sites of the uranium mining and milling facilities: Priargun Mountain Chemical Association and former Production Association “Almaz” (Lermontov, Stavropol Krai); and at uranium legacy sites of the Central Asia (Republic of Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic). The peculiarities of radiation situation at the sites are discussed, current challenges identified, and further regulatory improvements presented based on the gained experience.

Further development and application of a method for assessing radionuclide surface activity distribution and source location based on measurements of ambient dose equivalent rate. Examples for Andreeva Bay, Chernobyl NPP and Istiklol

“…According to figure 6, the surface activity distribution, in case of the STS Andreeva Bay, is close to the 'fragmentation' source [7], in case of the roofs of the Chernobyl NPP-to a spread ('diffuse' 13 ) source, and in case of the tailing site near the city of Istiklol-to a 'uniform' source [7]. From the above for model sources of the surface activity, it follows that the highest effect of solving the integral equation and determining the distribution of the surface activity will be in case of the STS Andreeva Bay and less significant one-in case of the roofs of the Chernobyl NPP.…”

“…The method was also applied for the site of the IV stage uranium tailing (near the city of Istiklol in the Republic of Tajikistan) [13,14]. This is a nuclear legacy site.…”

Health risk analysis as per radiation and chemical factors in a zone influenced by a nuclear legacy object in the north-western part of Russia

“…Regulatory Guide G-320. Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission December Publ., 2006, 41 p. tion of the site and surrounding areas with radioactive and non-radiological contaminants [16,17]. Non-radiological contaminants include a wide range of organic and inorganic ones such as heavy metals that can be found in emissions from gas-cutting machinery, welding, painting, and deactivating works performed during implementation of the current remediation activities.…”

“…15 There port on ecological safety issued in 2018 by the North-western Center for Radioactive Wastes Management -a branch of the «RosRAO» Federal enterprise responsible for Radioactive Wastes Management, 2018, 32 p. (in Russian). 16 The radiation-hygienic profile issued for Murmansk region in 2019, 2019, 11 p. (in Russian).…”