iaea seminar on governance of uranium production ... documents/remediation... · transportation...
TRANSCRIPT
IAEA Seminar on Governance of Uranium
Production Activities, Copenhagen,
27-28 May, 2014
Transportation and Emergency Planning*
Kevin Scissons, Canada
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* Based on IAEA Training course on Authorization and Inspection of Uranium
Mining and Milling Activities in Africa
- Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, August 2013
During uranium mining operations, transportation of
various hazardous materials occurs.
Includes materials, like acid, alkali, fuel or explosives,
reagents, low level radioactive waste rock, uranium-
containing resin , as well as uranium processing
concentrates (UPC) or “yellowcake”.
National Regulations of Dangerous/Hazardous Goods
will apply as appropriate. Thus Regulatory Oversight is
necessary.
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Packaging
Transport
Security Trans-boundary
Emergency Response
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Transportation of Rad. Material
Industrial Package (Australia)
Type IP-2 Package Type A Package
Artisanal exploitation of
radioactive minerals (DRC)
High Grade Ore Slurry,
Canada
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Class 1 Explosives
Class 2 Gases
Class 3 Flammable Liquids
Class 4 Flammable Solids
Class 5 Oxidizers & Peroxides
Class 6 * Toxic & Infectious
Class 7 Radioactive Materials
Class 8 Corrosives
Class 9 Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
RADIOACTIVE
* Likely only
Class of goods
NOT associated
with Uranium
Mine, Processing
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1 Sv = 100 rem
The IAEA regulations have a classification scheme for radioactive materials.
Has requirements for transportation and packaging and testing
procedures. If all countries use TS-R-1, trans-boundary issues minimal.
Main focus on the provision of adequate packaging to safely contain the
radioactive material during normal handling as well as accident conditions.
Due to its low activity per unit mass, uranium ore (< 2% grade) and the
processed concentrates are considered a minor hazard and can therefore
be transported as industrial package with appropriate placarding and
labels.
Note: By example, the high grade Canadian uranium ores, of up to 25% grade, are
classed for IP-2 containers, due to the dose (on surface of package: ~ 200 µSv/h; and
80 µSv/h at 1 m.)
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IAEA’S TS-R-1
General :
Radiation Protection
Emergency Response
Quality Assurance
Compliance Assurance
Non-compliance
Special Arrangements
Training
Activity Limits and
Classes
Requirements and
Controls for Transport
Requirements for
Packaging, Testing
Approval and Admin.
Requirements
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Content
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LSA-I includes:
(i) Uranium and thorium ores and concentrates of
such ores, and other ores containing naturally
occurring radionuclides which are intended to be
processed for the use of these radionuclides;
(ii) Natural uranium, depleted uranium, natural
thorium or their compounds or mixtures, that are
unirradiated and in solid or liquid form;
302. A radiation protection programme shall be
established for the transport of radioactive
material. The nature and extent of the
measures to be employed in the programme
shall be related to the magnitude and
likelihood of radiation exposures.
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Example excerpt:
Good industry practices include:
drum design, size, materials and labelling, as well as
requirements for lids and rings.
external, non-fixed radiation is to be kept low
* verified that the drums are clean (swiped)
adequate securing of the drums for transport.
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*
URANIUM PROCESSED CONCENTRATE (CONT’D)
Shipment of uranium concentrate is in sealed, reusable steel
drums. For international shipments, they are stacked securely
in ISO (sea) containers.
Main health concern of processed concentrate is due to its
chemical toxicity as a heavy metal, rather than its radioactivity.
If properly packaged and handled, no health hazard is
expected from the uranium concentrates and annual individual
doses should not exceed 1 mSv.
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Requires Regulatory Approval
if Ore is by large haul
trucks, ore slurry totes,
ISL resin, or train. In fact
Radiation Issues differ with
Ore vs. yellowcake.
The IAEA TS-R-1 regulations have been adopted in
about 60 countries.
This can avoid delays or denials of shipment at the
interface of different regulatory regimes (as
transported over large distances, multiple countries).
Having a broad acceptance on these regulations is a
major advantage, and can prevent authorities or
carriers to refuse shipments.
Illegal trans-boundary shipments
are still another issue.
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Contains elements * like: Full description of the radioactive material
Threat assessment to identify any credible threats
Description of the type of vehicle used to transport
Proposed security measures in place during transport, such as will there be continuous tracking (GPS) and an escort?
Communications arrangement between the carrier and the response force (local police or military?)
Communication arrangement for licensee and response force
Primary and alternate transportation routes
Any trans-boundary issues
Considering its value, operator will be considering security
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* Based on CNSC Protocol
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY PLAN
Providing physical protection, (and following the
regulations regarding the legitimate transport of
radioactive substances), is important now more than
ever:
to avoid illegal acquisition and illicit trafficking
protect the public
protect the operators investment
secured shipments minimizes regulatory follow-up
to stolen materials, and the public’s concerns.
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Transportation incidents involving radioactive material is
always a topic of public concern.
Therefore a comprehensive emergency plan has to be
developed in the case of a spill/accident.
This includes:
an active risk communication towards the public;
first response training for the drivers to initially minimise the impacts;
qualified response units along the transportation route.
A framework for planning and preparing for response to
accidents in the transport of radioactive material has been
developed by the IAEA:
“Planning and Preparing for Emergency Response to Transport Accidents
Involving Radioactive Material” Safety Standards Series No. TS-G-1.2 (ST-3),
IAEA, Vienna (2002).
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Several governmental organizations, the consignor, the
carrier and their personnel have responsibilities to act to
mitigate its consequences.
In most transport accident situations this response consists
of life saving, medical aid, fire suppression and control, and
the normal police work with any accident.
Accidents involving radioactive materials must be reported
to the Nuclear Regulator, Transport Officers or Transport
Specialists for follow-up.
Important to have specialized organizations trained to deal
with radioactive material to assess the accident and
implement the protective measures used to contain, control
or eliminate any radiological hazard.
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“5.1. In responding to transport accidents involving radioactive
material the main actions to be taken are to:
(a) Rescue and provide emergency medical aid to any victims,
(b) Control fires and the other common consequences …
(c) Identify the hazards of the material involved,
(d) Control any radiation hazard and prevent the spread of radioactive
contamination,
(e) Recover the package or packages and transport vehicle,
(f) Decontaminate personnel,
(g) Decontaminate and restore the thoroughfare and delineate the borders
of other contaminated areas,
(h) Decontaminate in the vicinity and restore to a safe state.”
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Who will be the first responders to the incident scene?
Are things like first aid and medical staff needed?
Are radiation protection specialist(s) available or can be contacted, and how will they be transported to the incident scene?
Is access control at the incident scene in place?
Is there containment of any released materials, and risks mitigation understood?
Plan for clean-up of the affected areas and disposal of contaminated materials?
Who will verify adequate clean-up and decontamination?
Is there good management of field operations and external communications in place, or being put in place?
What other support to the emergency operations is needed?
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Incident Response Questions (examples) :
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Risks from a
sealed container of
yellowcake drums
Risks from an
open container of
yellowcake drums, with
spilled product.
FROM: URANIUM COUNCIL
TRANSPORT WORKING GROUP
“Guide to Safe Transport of Uranium
Oxide Concentrate”, Australia 2012
Compliance Assurance follow similar protocols we have
discussed. This includes:
Transport Inspector training
Reporting requirements and practices for inspectors
Standards of conduct of inspectors
Enforcement policy, procedures and practices
Method of inspection to be used (packaging, in transit)
Methods for selection of inspection samples
Relevant technical information and questionnaires, as likely a
mix of hazardous materials are in transit.
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COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME – (CONTINUED) Considerations:
Inspection Team, Specialists needed
General, Focus Specific, or Audit Inspection of carrier
Sampling required, and preparation
Previous Insp. results, follow-up
Enforcement protocols, options (illegal shipments)
Security verification
Trans-boundary issues, protocols
Insp. Report outcome and follow-up
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Packaging
Transport
Security Trans-boundary
Emergency Response
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REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
ASSURANCE
Following the TS-R-1
Regulations and other IAEA
documents we discussed, the
issues for health and safety are
minimized for: Packaging,
Transportation, Trans-boundary,
Security and Emergency
Response