The 13th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events

Abstracts
4) 40266 – Problems with Packaged Sources in Foreign Countries
James Matzke, John Zarling, Cristy Abeyta, Joseph A. Tompkins, LANL (USA)
<strong>The</strong> Global Threat Reduction Initiative’s (GTRI) Off-Site Source Recovery Project (OSRP), which is administered
by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), removes excess, unwanted, abandoned, or orphan radioactive sealed
sources that pose a potential risk to health, safety, and national security. In total, GTRI/OSRP has been able to recover
more than 19,000 excess and unwanted sealed sources from over 750 sites. In addition to transuranic sources, the
GTRI/OSRP mission now includes recovery of beta/gamma emitting sources, which are of concern to both the U.S.
government and the <strong>International</strong> Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This paper provides a synopsis of cooperative efforts
in foreign countries to remove sealed sources by discussing three topical areas: 1) <strong>The</strong> Regional Partnership with the
<strong>International</strong> Atomic Energy Agency; 2) Challenges in repatriating sealed sources; and 3) Options for repatriating sealed
sources.
5) 40085 – <strong>The</strong> IAEA's approach to the security of radioactive material
Robin Heard, IAEA
Over the past decade, the threat has increased of terrorism and other malevolent acts by terrorist groups and other
malicious non-State actors, involving the potential use of radioactive materials. This has led to an international effort to
build a nuclear security framework and regime, both for prevention and consequence management. Legally binding and
non-binding international instruments have been established that form the international framework for an effective
nuclear security regime. Adherence to and implementation of these instruments is vital for effective nuclear security.
IAEA implements a comprehensive programme to assist States in strengthening their nuclear security. <strong>The</strong> third Nuclear
Security Plan covers the period 2010–2013. Through the implementation of these plans, IAEA conducts advisory
services and provides technical advice, support and training. It also addresses the longer-term effort of development of
nuclear security guidance and it facilitates outreach and information exchange through databases, conferences,
workshops and fellowships. Nuclear security issues relating to the prevention and detection of, and response to, theft,
sabotage, unauthorized access and illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear material and other radioactive
substances and their associated facilities are addressed in the IAEA Nuclear Security Series of publications. <strong>The</strong>se
publications are consistent with, and complement, international nuclear security instruments, such as the Code of
Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. Nuclear security missions, evaluations and technical visits
continue to be the Agency’s main tool for helping States to assess their nuclear security needs, and provide a basis for
formulating plans of action for improving nuclear security. <strong>The</strong> needs identified by such missions can be subsequently
addressed by the State alone, in conjunction with Agency support, or with the assistance of a bilateral partner. Annually,
the IAEA conducts more than 60 training events for Member States as well as for Non-Member States. <strong>The</strong>se are based
on findings and insights resulting from the various advisory missions and organized in response to the requests
formulated by the States themselves. Providing urgently needed technical upgrades and equipment has been a foundation
for IAEA assistance to States in enhancing the security of radioactive material since the establishment of the Nuclear
Security Programme. <strong>The</strong> equipment needed was provided to States as follow-up to assessment missions and the training
needed to operate the equipment was arranged in separate events.
6) 40058 – Radioactive Waste Management in Lebanon
Munzna Assi, Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission (Lebanon)
<strong>The</strong> disused sealed radioactive sources including orphan sources in Lebanon, along with the growing industry of
sealed radioactive sources in medical, industrial and research fields have posed a serious problem for authorities as well
as users due to the lack of a national store for disused radioactive sources. Assistance form <strong>International</strong> Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) was requested to condition and store disused radium needles and tubes present at two facilities. <strong>The</strong>
mission took place on July 25, 2001 and was organized by the (IAEA) in cooperation with the Lebanese Atomic Energy
Commission (LAEC). Other disused radioactive sources were kept in the facilities till a safer and securer solution is
provided; however orphan sources, found mainly during export control, were brought and stored temporarily in LAEC.
<strong>The</strong> necessity of a safe and secure store became a must. Prior to October 2005, there was no clear legal basis for
establishing such store for disused radioactive sources, until the ministerial decree no 15512 dated October 19, 2005
(related to the implementation of decree-law no 105/83) was issued which clearly stated that “<strong>The</strong> LAEC (Lebanese
Atomic Energy Commission) shall, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health, establish a practical mechanism
for safe disposal of radioactive waste”. Following this, the work on inventory of disused sealed sources along with
collecting orphan sources and placing them temporarily in LAEC was legally supported. Moreover, several missions
were planned to repatriate category I and II sources, one of which was completed specifically in August 2009; other
missions are being worked on. In 2008, a national technical cooperation project with the <strong>International</strong> Atomic Energy
Agency, IAEA, was launched. Under the reference TC number LEB3002, the project was entitled “"Assistance in the
establishment of a safe temporary national storage at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission for orphan sources and
radioactive waste" which cycle is 2009-2011. Under this project, a national store for radioactive sources in the third
basement of LAEC is being established. <strong>The</strong> area is being reconstructed currently and will be equipped when ready under
LEB3002 project. Along with this, a system for sealed disused sources management has been prepared, part of which is
applied now and the rest will be applied upon the establishment of the store. This paper will cover the inventory
75