Case Study On Assessment Of Radiological Environmental Impact From Normal Operation

"As an integral part of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), several collaborative projects were established by its members. The IAEA/INPRO Collaborative Project on Environmental Impact Benchmarking Applicable for Nuclear Energy Systems under Normal Operation (ENV) was one of them. This publication is the outcome of the ENV summarising results developed under this project by the groups of national experts. It presents a set of examples of different approaches for estimating environmental impact from nuclear power plants (NPPs) under normal operation conditions in different countries based on participants’ experience and considering the IAEA Safety Standard on a generic framework for consideration of radiological environmental impact. It also contributes to the development of a common understanding in assessing releases from new NPPs and associated activities in terms of the radiation dose to members of the public. This publication will contribute to further improvement of the INPRO methodology and can help Member States applying it to perform a nuclear energy system assessment in the area of environmental impact of stressors."--Publisher's description.

This publication presents a set of examples of different approaches for estimating potential exposures in different countries based on participants' experience and considering the IAEA Safety Standard on a generic framework for consideration of radiological environmental impact, including potential exposures.

This Safety Guide provides recommendations and guidance on a general framework for performing prospective radiological impact assessments for facilities and activities, to estimate and control the radiological effects on the public and on the environment. This radiological environmental impact assessment is intended for planned exposure situations as part of the authorization process and, when applicable, as part of a governmental decision making process for facilities and activities. The situations covered in the assessment include both exposures expected to occur in normal operation as well as potential exposures. The assessment of the radiological impacts includes consideration of the risk of radiation effects for humans and for populations of non-human biota. Guidance is provided on the assumptions and input data to be used, the necessary models for environmental transfer and radiation dose assessment and the definition and use of criteria for informing decisions.

This publication provides a holistic approach to environmental protection in new nuclear power programs. It describes the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, the subsequent utilization of the EIA, and the necessary infrastructure for such processes. The presumption is that a Member State embarking on such a program already has an environmental regulatory framework in place, which may not be developed for nuclear power but for industrial projects, therefore the emphasis is on the environmental aspects that are unique to a nuclear power plant project. The publication is addressed to senior managers, project managers or coordinators and technical specialists of government authorities and agencies, including the regulatory body, operating organizations and supporting industries and other organizations involved in environmental issues.

The explosion on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the consequent reactor fire resulted in an unprecedented release of radioactive material from a nuclear reactor and adverse consequences for the public and the environment. Although the accident occurred nearly two decades ago, controversy still surrounds the real impact of the disaster. Therefore the IAEA, in cooperation with other UN bodies, the World Bank, as well as the competent authorities of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, established the Chernobyl Forum in 2003. The mission of the Forum was to generate 'authoritative consensual statements' on the environmental consequences and health effects attributable to radiation exposure arising from the accident as well as to provide advice on environmental remediation and special health care programmes, and to suggest areas in which further research is required. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Chernobyl Forum concerning the environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident.

In the late 1980s, the National Cancer Institute initiated an investigation of cancer risks in populations near 52 commercial nuclear power plants and 10 Department of Energy nuclear facilities (including research and nuclear weapons production facilities and one reprocessing plant) in the United States. The results of the NCI investigation were used a primary resource for communicating with the public about the cancer risks near the nuclear facilities. However, this study is now over 20 years old. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requested that the National Academy of Sciences provide an updated assessment of cancer risks in populations near USNRC-licensed nuclear facilities that utilize or process uranium for the production of electricity. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 focuses on identifying scientifically sound approaches for carrying out an assessment of cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility, judgments about the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical power, ability to assess potential confounding factors, possible biases, and required effort. The results from this Phase 1 study will be used to inform the design of cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2. This report is beneficial for the general public, communities near nuclear facilities, stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers, state and local officials, community leaders, and the media.

The objective of this Safety Report is to complement IAEA Safety Guide RS-G-1.8 and to provide the methodological and technical details of the design and operation of monitoring programmes for different radionuclides, environmental media and types of facility. It also covers general issues of emergency monitoring during and in the aftermath of an accidental release of radionuclides and gives an outline of dose assessment procedures based on monitoring data and the reporting of information to the regulatory body.

This report assesses the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. Scientific findings underpin radiation risk evaluation and international protection standards. This report comprises a report with two underpinning scientific annexes. The first annex recapitulates and clarifies the philosophy of science as well as the scientific knowledge for attributing observed health effects in individuals and populations to radiation exposure, and distinguishes between that and inferring risk to individuals and populations from an exposure. The second annex reviews the latest thinking and approaches to quantifying the uncertainties in assessments of risk from radiation exposure, and illustrates these approaches with application to examples that are highly pertinent to radiation protection.