CNCAN 4

Enhancement of CNCAN capabilities for Safety and Security of Transport and transit of radioactive and nuclear materials on the Romanian Territory

Purpose:

To maintain updated safety requirements for nuclear and radioactive materials transport and to adopt international best practice safety guidance relating to the transport of radioactive material.

Background:

Due to continuously update of the inland EU Council Directives, CNCAN need to be in line with other authorities involved in the transport of dangerous goods. Based on GSR Part 1, Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) in  2011 recommended to CNCAN “to enhance and rejuvenate co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure at the highest level”. In order to maintain updated safety requirements for nuclear and radioactive materials transport, CNCAN “should consider adopting international best practice safety guidance relating to the transport of radioactive material.”

The IRRS team provided several recommendations and suggestions such as: to establish a national policy and strategy to develop and implement the necessary training program for maintaining and enhancing the competence of a sufficient number of suitably qualified and experienced staff employed in the nuclear sector; to develop adequate internal procedures and guidance for the review and assessment for all nuclear facilities; to improve the procedures for review and assessment, including provisions for periodic verifications, and whether radiation risks are as low as reasonably achievable; to establish a consistent and comprehensive inspector training programme and qualification process; consider adopting international best practice safety guidance relating to the transport of radioactive material; to establish in consultation with relevant licensees a systematic method for conducting transport emergency drills or exercises periodically.

Results:

The programme will achieve its purpose described here above and in particular delivered:

• Methodology for regulatory review of the radiation protection program applied in the transport of radioactive materials(could be more regulations);
• Methodology for regulatory review of the safety assessment report in support of the granting type approval/validation of type approval certificates for B(U), B(U)F, B(M), B(M)F packages[IRRS/S5, IRRS/R22];
• Trained CNCAN staff and training materials;
• Draft methodology for regulatory review of the testing facilities;
• Trained CNCAN staff and staff of other institutions with responsibilities in ensuring safety and security of nuclear and radioactive materials during transport and transit;
• Trained CNCAN staff and implementation of a pilot real-time tracking system during transport of radiation sources in exposure devices and nuclear material;