New Regulations for clearance in Germany - a chance for radioactive waste minimization

The new EURATOM Basic Safety Standards have provided the occasion for establishing comprehensive clearance regulations in German law. The new Radiation Protection Ordinance contains detailed regulations regarding clearance of radioactive substances with negligible radioactivity from practices subject to authorization. Radioactive substances that originate from a practice subject to authorization may be used, recycled, owned, disposed of or provided to third parties as non-radioactive (conventional) substances, only if they have been released from the scope of the Atomic Energy Act (clearance). For about 300 radionuclides, the new Radiation Protection Ordinance will set forth mass- and surface-specific clearance levels for unconditional clearance for solid and liquid substances, for specific clearance of building rubble and excavated soil, for sites, for buildings and for recycling of metal scrap; it will also contain specific clearance levels for solid and liquid substances for disposal and incineration. German clearance levels are in full agreement with all recommendations issued by the European Commission. Especially for decommissioning projects, the clearance regulations of the new Radiation Protection Ordinance are a good basis for planning the mass flow and the costs of the project. (author)