The workshop is being arranged December 8 - 10, 2004, at Hotel Izmailovo, Izmailovsky highway, 71, Moscow
Programme updated, Nov. 11. 2004
The workshop, arranged by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority in cooperation with the Nuclear, Industrial and Environmental Regulatory Authority of Russia (NIERA) and funded through the NATO-ARW programme is going to take place in Moscow on December 8 - 10 2004.
The primary objective of the workshop is to examine how scientific research and environmental studies, in including effects and distribution of radiation and radionuclides, can contribute to development of practical standards for protection of the environment and human health. The output is intended to be useful to operators and regulators involved in radioactive waste management projects in Northwest Russia. Secondary objectives include the exchange of information on the application of risk assessment methods as applied to these projects, including the regulatory process applied to these projects.
During the workshop, there will be five different panels:
The nuclear legacy after the cold war consists of large number of nuclear weapons, nuclear powered vessels, and appurtenant bases and yards, several of those being located in North West Russia, at the Kola Peninsula and at the White Sea. At a number of those locations, there are installations at a severe need of maintenance and vessels to be decommissioned. Anyhow, The decommissioning of nuclear submarines is continuing, and a number of these are now being, or awaiting dismantling. During that process, large amounts of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel have to be handled safely and after the dismantling, those parts have to be disposed of properly. All of those steps may cause more or lesser damages to the workers, environment and possibly the population if not carried out properly.
Over the last years, a number of projects have been carried out to reduce the risk of accidents at the various nuclear sites in Russia. These projects have been backed by a number of countries, NGOs and establishments. Some of these projects have been completed successfully, whereas for others, the outcome has been more doubtful. But even for the apparently successful projects, there have often been raised questions if those projects were done in a most cost-efficient and secure manner and if the right prioritizing of projects had been carried out.
To give the best possible answer to those questions, overall risk assessments have to be carried out. This estimation of overall risk is a convenient way of identifying those sources and activities deserving priority consideration from the perspective of risk reduction. However, risk reduction measures can never obviate the entire risk associated with a given source or practice. Commonly available options merely reduce the risk rather than removing it entirely. Accordingly a more appropriate measure of the benefit of risk reduction measures is not the overall risk but the proportion of risk that is potentially averted by the action (i.e., the averted risk). It follows that, in setting priorities among risk reduction options, it is necessary to consider the degree to which they avert or reduce risk.
One of the important tools in risk assessment is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIAs enables environmental factors to be given due weight, along with economic or social factors, when applications for new developments, works, etc, are being considered. It helps to promote a sustainable pattern of physical development and land and property use in cities, towns, the countryside, industry, etc. If properly carried out, it benefits all those involved in the planning process.
From the viewpoint of the proposes of any new development or works, the preparation of an environmental statement in parallel with project design provides a useful framework within which environmental considerations and design development can interact. Environmental analysis may indicate ways in which the project can be modified to avoid possible adverse effects, for example through considering more environmentally friendly alternatives. Taking these steps is likely to make the formal regulatory and planning approval stages run more smoothly.
The results from the workshop will be published in the NATO science series: IV Earth and Environmental Sciences by kluwer. Templates for the final publications are to be found at KLUVER academic publisher. Please contact Morten.Sickel@nrpa.no if you have any question about the publication process.
