Toward the framework and implementation for clearance of materials from regulated facilities

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Regulatory Science

Background:

• Public debate surrounds the disposition of solid materials from nuclear facilities due to potential health risks from residual radioactivity.
• Facilities like nuclear weapons complexes, commercial power plants, and NORM/TENORM generators face challenges in managing large volumes of potentially low-level radioactive materials.
• Current regulations lack specific criteria for releasing materials with residual radioactivity, whether man-made or naturally occurring, from regulatory control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the concept of clearance as a disposition option for solid materials from nuclear facilities.
• To establish a framework and scientific basis for the release of materials containing residual radioactivity.
• To discuss resolutions for implementing clearance as a disposition strategy.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing regulatory frameworks for material disposition in nuclear and NORM/TENORM facilities.
• Analysis of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) concept of clearance.
• Discussion of case-by-case evaluation successes and limitations.

Main Results:

• The current regulatory scheme lacks explicit provisions for releasing materials as non-radioactive, even if essentially free of contamination.
• A poorly defined and inconsistent regulatory framework exists for naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM).
• Case-by-case evaluations have had limited success in approving material releases.

Conclusions:

• Clearance provides an important disposition option for solid materials from nuclear facilities, addressing regulatory gaps.
• Establishing a clear framework and basis for release is crucial for the effective implementation of clearance.
• Resolutions are needed to consistently manage the disposition of solid materials with residual radioactivity, promoting safety and regulatory efficiency.