here - Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

2.3.3 Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL)
UCIL-Turamdih Mill construction activities have
been in progress. Development work of Bagjata Mine has
started and ventilation circuit is being established. The
following authorizations were issued by AERB during the
year.
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Authorization for construction of tailings pond and dam
with certain stipulations and subject to the submission
of analysis report for “worst-case scenario of breach in
the tailings dam and the consequences” to AERB and
its approval. The report was reviewed in USC and
ACPSR-FCF and accepted.
Authorization of site for Tummalapalle Process Plant
(Mill) in Vemula Mandal of Cuddapah district, Andhra
Pradesh after review by DSRC-UEP and ACPSR-FCF
and their recommendations.
Technical specifications for radiological safety of
Narwapahar Mines and Jaduguda Mill were discussed
by USC. It also recommended that the technical
specifications for radiological safety of Bhatin Mines
should be submitted.
Board Members visiting the Narwapahar Mines, Jaduguda
(From L to R : Shri V.A. Subramani, OSD, Bhavini, Dr. Om Pal Singh,
Secretary, AERB, Shri R. Prabhakar, Dir (Tech.), Bhavini, Shri S.K. Sharma,
Chairman, AERB, Shri D. Acharya, Dir. (Tech.), UCIL, Dr. K.V. Raghavan,
member, Dr. K. Dinshaw, member, Shri S.K. Chande, Vice-Chairman, AERB,
Shri Prabhat Kumar, PD, Bhavini, Shri R. Bhattacharya, Head, IPSD, AERB)
2.3.4 Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)
Capacity expansion at IREL, Chavara for
enhancing the annual production capacity of the Ilmenite,
Rutile, Zircon, Illuminite and Monazite concentrates are
under progress. The safety committee for IREL plants
(IRESC), DSRC-UEP, ACPSR-FCF and SARCOP reviewed
the safety and radiological safety status of the following
proposals of the IREL plants for clearance and took
appropriate decisions.
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The proposal for construction of underground
Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) trenches for long
term storage of thorium oxalate at IREL, OSCOM was
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reviewed by the safety committee considering thorium
oxalate leachability, ground water table and soil
characteristics. The committee recommended that
IREL should submit revised drawing of RCC trenches
showing all the protective barriers having clay, chemical
barrier containing bentonite, etc., to the safety
committee and SARCOP. Subsequently, SARCOP after
deliberations on the proposal asked IREL to check the
permeability and dose from the trenches and submit
dose calculation method followed in IREL plant, for
review.
The SER for the authorization for siting of 10,000 TPA
of Monazite Processing Plant (MoPP), IREL, OSCOM
was reviewed and authorization for siting for the same
was granted with certain stipulations.
The proposal for capacity expansion at IREL, Chavara
for enhancing the annual production capacity of the
various products of the unit is under review in AERB.
Proposal on THRUST phase-II (retrieval of 21,000 ton
thorium concentrate would be carried out from SILO
no. 4,5,6), storage of thorium oxalate produced from
retrieval process and the proposed layout was discussed
in safety committee. The committee recommended to
review ventilation aspects and submit the revised report
to SARCOP. Subsequently, SARCOP discussed the
proposal and asked IREL to submit a detailed report
on present thorium oxalate storage status and future
plan for storing thorium oxalate.
2.3.5 Licensing for Beach Sand Minerals Industries
Mechanism for licensing under the Atomic Energy
(Radiation Protection) Rules 2004 was established.
Requirement for amendment of the Mines and Minerals
(Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 to introduce licensing
procedure of beach sand industries and Atomic Energy
(Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004 has been suggested to
Ministry of Mines. No objection certificate was issued to
DAE for issuing license under Atomic Energy (Working of
Mines, Minerals and Handling of Prescribed Substances)
Rules, 1984 to Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML),
Chavara for handling prescribed substances.
2.3.6 Regulatory Inspections of Fuel Cycle
Facilities (Radiological Aspects)
Regulatory Inspections on radiological safety
aspects under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection)
Rules, 2004 and waste management aspects under the
Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules,
1987 were carried out at front-end fuel cycle facilities and
R&D units namely, NFC, IREL, UCIL Mines and Mills,
RRCAT and VECC and major recommendations made were
as follows:
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The dose measurements for all workers in Banduhurang
mine and Bagjata mine should be carried out.
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