This standard specifies the management objectives and basic requirements for stages like generation, collection, pretreatment, treatment, conditioning, transportation, storage, disposal, discharge and others of radioactive waste and for related activities such as decommissioning and environmental remediation (rehabilitation, restoration).
This standard is applicable to the management over radioactive wastes generated in all links of nuclear fuel cycle, application of nuclear technologies and development and utilization of non-uranium-thorium mineral processing. For the management over radioactive waste generated in other practices, reference may be made to this standard for implementation.
2 Normative References
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this standard. At the time of publication, the editions cited are valid. All normative documents are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below.
GB 4792-1984 Basic Health Standards for Radiological Protection
GB 8703-1988 Regulations for Radiation Protection
GB 9132-1988 Regulations for Shallow Ground Disposal of Solid Low- and Intermediate-level Radioactive Wastes
GB 9133-1995 Classification of Radioactive Waste
GB 11806-1989 Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material
GB 13600-1992 Regulations for Disposal of Solid Low- and Intermediate-level Radioactive Wastes in Rock Cavities
GB 16933-1997 Acceptance Criteria for Near Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste
3 Definition
For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply.
3.1
Radioactive waste
Wastes from practice or intervening ones not expected to be reused, regardless of their physical form, which contain or are contaminated with radioactive substances and whose activity or activity concentration is greater than the clearance level specified by the regulatory authority.
3.2
Radioactive waste management
All administrative and operational activities, including pretreatment, treatment, conditioning, transportation, storage and disposal of radioactive waste. Generally, the scope of radioactive waste management also covers the management and decommissioning of radioactively contaminated equipment and materials with potential utilization value as well as environmental remediation (rehabilitation, restoration).
3.3
Nuclear fuel cycle
All activities related to nuclear energy production, including mining, dressing and smelting, processing and enrichment of uranium or thorium, and nuclear fuel fabrication, nuclear reactor operation, nuclear fuel reprocessing, decommissioning and radioactive waste management and other activities, as well as research and development activities related to the above activities.
3.4
Radioactive waste from application of nuclear technologies
Radioactive wastes including spent radioactive source that are generated in the radioactive isotope production and application processes and those generated in the application of some ray devices, such as intermediate- and high-energy accelerators.
3.5
Radioactive waste from non-uranium-thorium mineral processing
Radioactive wastes generated from the exploitation and utilization of materials associated with uranium or plutonium, such as non-ferrous metal ore, phosphate rock, iron ore, coal mine, etc. that are associated with uranium or plutonium.
3.6
Exempt waste
Wastes that are exempted from nuclear regulatory control according to the clearance level.
3.7
Clearance level
Value specified by the regulatory authority and expressed by activity concentration and/or total activity. Where the activity concentration and/or total activity of the radiation source is equal to or lower than this value, regulation by regulatory authority is not necessary any longer.
3.8
Waste pretreatment
One or all of the operations prior to waste treatment, such as collection, sorting, chemical conditioning, and decontamination.
