G3.01/04S - Transfer of Western European Regulatory Methodology and Practices and Supply of equipment & software to the NSA of Georgia (ref AP 7.6.1.1)

In January 1999, the Georgian basic nuclear act (on nuclear and radiation safety) was issued. This law introduced the requirement of independence for the regulatory and control activity, established the function and supervision activity of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Service (NRSS) within the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of the Republic of Georgia. (Article 8 of the law) The functions of the NRSS are defined by a Ministerial Decree published in March 1999 and cover:

Regulations, Safety evaluation, Licensing, Inspections and Control, Support during emergency, International cooperation, assessment of consequences of radiological accidents in Georgia, coordination of activity for fulfillment of obligations of Georgia on nuclear and radiation safety field, carrying out training for preparation of specialists on nuclear and radiation safety field. In 2004 there was the strong need to improve legislative basis, to develop regulation/guidelines for various field (transport, waste management, emergency preparedness, etc.), to provide training, to provide support in a setting up regulatory approach, evaluation methods, information systems (e.g. for radioactive sources) and methods, to improve operational capability of inspectors including training ad supply of equipment. The major activity in the last years of the NRSS in Georgia has been dealing with emergency intervention to recover abandoned radiation sources on the territory, some of them highly active. The NRSS has a coordinating role with other administration involved in the licensing process. Nevertheless there is the need of some clarification in the definition of different roles and of elimination of overlapping, which should be improved by the planned review of the atomic law.

• To assist the Nuclear Safety Authority of Georgia (NRSS) in the review of current nuclear law and in defining the needs for development of secondary legislation and regulations and regulatory approach, with respect to transport of radioactive substances, radioactive waste management and storage, emergency preparedness and inspection of nuclear and radiation activities.
• To support in survey and creation of a complete inventory of ionising radiation sources.
• To support the establishment of a regulatory system for inspection activity for nuclear and radiation safety field.
• To define specifications for equipment to be supplied in order to improve operational capability.

Achievements (With reference to the TORs)

The main achievement consisted in the provision of specific recommendations for the improvement of the content of the Georgian nuclear law from 1999 which lead to a new version of the nuclear law prepared by NRSS at the beginning of 2008. Moreover the needs and priorities for secondary legislation to be issued as ministerial decree concerning the following subjects were identified:

• Radioactive waste management
• Transport
• Use of radiation in medical and industrial applications.

The complete list of normative documents translated by NRSS and submitted to Western European experts for comment, and improved on the basis of their recommendations is as follows:

• Law “On Nuclear and Radiation Safety” (April 2007);
• Draft Law “On Transport of Radioactive Substances” (July 2008);
• Draft Main Rules for Transport of Radioactive Substances (July 2008);
• Draft Law “On Radioactive Waste and Waste Storages” (April 2008);
• Normative act “Main rules for Radioactive Waste Management” (April 2008);
• Draft Law “On Nuclear and Radiation Safety” (June 2008);
• Draft “Basic Requirements for Safe Handling with Sources of Ionisation Radiation” (partially translated; June 2008);
• Draft “Concept of Operations (ConOps) plan” of the Department of Georgian State Border Defence (June 2008);
• Draft “National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan on Nuclear and Radiation Emergencies” (table of contents; June 2008).

NRSS staff was acquainted with the Western European inspection programmes and practices, guidance and given specific recommendations how to improve inspections guidelines and procedures during few visits of different nuclear facilities in Belgium, Sweden and Finland. Particular attention was paid to methodology of the retrieval of orphan sources. Also assistance in preparation of procurement of equipment to be supplied to NRSS was given. A draft list of equipment was developed in cooperation with the Georgian colleagues. The detailed technical specification, prepared according to the required EC format, was finalized and submitted to the EC. The equipment supply itself was subject of a separate supply contract.

Comments

(Quality of the results, Lesson learnt, Recommendations for follow-up)
Training sessions were appreciated as very important for the strengthening of the NRSS organisation and therefore it was highly recommended to consider it in future assistance projects.