[en] This report includes the information received and published by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in December 1997. It includes: (1) docketed material associated with civilian nuclear power plants and other uses of radioactive materials, and (2) non-docketed material received and published by NRC pertinent to its role as a regulatory agency. This series of documents is indexed by author, corporate source, and report number. This report includes six docketed items and 24 non-docketed items

[en] This paper discusses regulation of fire safety at nuclear power plants in Russia, including issues relating to the legislative infrastructure and licensing activities. The interaction of regulatory bodies in Russia (Gosatomnadzor and the State Fire Fighting Service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs) on the issue of fire safety at nuclear power plants is discussed in detail. The legislative infrastructure for regulation of fire safety at nuclear power plants is described and ways of improving it are discussed, as well as the development of a new fire protection approach, fire protection programmes with acceptability criteria, and methodologies for analysing the effect of fires on nuclear power plant safety. The process for detecting and eliminating faults in the regulation and implementation of fire safety measures at nuclear power plants is also described. In addition, we take a new look at the activities of Gosatomnadzor - licensing, including fire safety at nuclear power plants

[en] The paper discusses the relationship between the Krsko NPP design change engineering practice, quality assurance and the USA Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 Code Federal Rule 50.59 (10CFR50.59). Together these controls ensure that plant design bases are maintained and yield a safe design. The 10CFR50.59 has been applied in Krsko NPP plant specific procedure entitled ESP-2.303 ''Authorization of Changes, Tests and Experiments'' (Safety Evaluation Screening) since 1994. All proposed changes requiring Safety Evaluations are being submitted to the SNSA (Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration). If the proposed change is constituting an ''Unreviewed Safety Question'' the formal licensing procedure shall be completed before design change can be implemented otherwise the proposed design change is rejected. The procedure(ESP-2.303) provides the methodology to be followed in determining if a proposed activity involves an unreviewed safety question. An ''Unreviewed Safety Question'' is essentially the same as defined in 10CFR50.59(a)(2): ''A proposed change, test or experiment shall be deemed to involve an unreviewed safety question (1) if the probability of occurrence or consequences of an accident or malfunction of equipment important to safety previously evaluated in the (updated) safety analysis report may be increased; or (2) if a possibility for an accident or malfunction of a different type than any evaluated previously in the (updated) safety analysis report may be created; or (3) if the margin of safety as defined in the basis for any technical specification is reduced.'' This paper discusses the Following Krsko NPP Safety Evaluation aspects: 1. Defense in Depth Design Philosophy 2. Methodology 3. Definitions and Applicability of Terms 4. Evaluation Process Guidance and Documentation Process 5. Krsko NPP Lessons Learned. (author)

[en] This monthly publication describes the information received and published by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC). This includes information on docketed material associated with civilian nuclear power plants and other uses of radioactive materials, and non-docketed material published by the US NRC pertinent to it's role as a regulatory agency

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] This paper discusses how several professional societies are preparing industry standards on nuclear facility decommissioning: ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), Nuclear Technology Committee, Decommissioning Subcommittee, E10.03; ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA) Committee's Working Group on Decommissioning and the Reactor Services Committee's Subcommittee on Decommissioning; and Health Physics Society Standards Committee (HPSSC) working under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). According to the author, the standards of these diverse groups mesh to form a cohesive body of guidance for planning a nuclear facility decommissioning

[en] Chemical wastes generated while performing research or process operations are regulated by federal, state, and local legislation with respect to their handling, storage and ultimate disposal. Special permits are required for hazardous waste generators to treat, store, or dispose of their wastes. Hazardous waste generators without a permitted hazardous waste storage facility are required to package and ship their hazardous wastes to a permitted treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) facility within ninety days or the chemical being declared a waste. When handling a large variety of chemical wastes, such as those generated at a research facility, assuring compliance with these regulations and providing records of compliance to regulatory agencies can be time-consuming and costly. This paper presents a hazardous chemical waste database management system called CHEMHAZ developed to assist hazardous wastes managers in their efforts to safely and efficiently manage hazardous wastes in accordance with these regulations

[en] In public international law there are no rules prohibiting the construction or operation of nuclear plants, or regulating their siting. Emanations of nuclear plants - conventional or radioactive - are regarded as pollutants. Transfrontier pollution has to be prevented and controlled according to the rules of customary international law, which have developed on the basis of the Trail Smelter Award of 1941 and which are restated in the Montreal Rules of International Law Applicable to Transfrontier Pollution 1982 of the ILA. The neighbouring state has a right to obtain all reasonable information concerning the prospective siting of plants and has to be consulted in certain respects. These procedural duties are substantiated in bilateral agreements setting up mixed commissions. In the European Communities members are obliged to report any planned emanation of radioactive substances which might pollute the environment of another member to the EC Commission. Strict liability for any damage caused by a nuclear installation is stipulated in special conventions. As far as these conventions are not applicable, the general rules on state responsibility and on civil liability apply. States are not obliged under International Law to allow residents of neighbouring states to participate in administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the licensing. In practice, however, foreigners challenging the issue of a licence have the same standing as the citizens of the licensing state. (author)

[en] In response to protest over the practice of dumping nuclear and industrial wastes in African countries in 1988 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) established a technical working group of experts to draw up a code of practice for international transactions of nuclear wastes, based on a review of national and international laws and regulations on waste disposal. At the same time the agency asked each member state to ensure that its international nuclear waste transactions take place in accordance with requirements of the exporting, importing, and transit states. The code of practice has been completed and its provisions are reported here. (author)

[en] The Canadian Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) has tightened its scrutiny of operations at Ontario Hydro, Hydro Quebec and the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission, and recently began its first prosecutions of major nuclear operators -Ontario Hydro for a radiation accident at its Pickering plant, and the uranium mining companies Cameco and Rio Algom for mismanaging water discharge. The AECB is now observing at first hand conditions at these and other nuclear facilities, and soliciting the views of nearby residents. (author)