Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, National Report from Estonia, Third Review Meeting

This Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was adopted on 29 September 1997 in Vienna diplomatic Conference. Estonia signed the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management 05 January 2001. Estonian Parliament ratified the convention 19 October 2005. Estonia deposited the instrument of accession to the joint Convention on 03 February 2006. The convention entered into force 04 May 2006. Most of the radioactive waste that needs further management measures is caused by the past activities during the Soviet time and the major generator of radioactive waste in Estonia is the decommissioning Paldiski Nuclear Submarine Training Facility. The plans for decommissioning of nuclear facilities are discussed shortly as well. Small amounts of radioactive wastes arise from a number of facilities using radioactive sources in medical, research and industrial application. Furthermore, the development in waste management policies and practices during the reporting period is described. There is also facility for interim storage for the radioactive waste in Paldiski. Radioactive waste management facility, which was used during Soviet time is situated in Tammiku and is currently under decommissioning. The results from environmental impact assessment process are reviewed in the report. The uranium mining and milling facility in Sillamäe was operational in late 1940`s – early 1980`s. Sillamäe tailing pond remediation project is in the final stage, the final layer of the covering will be finished by the end of 2010. Radiation Act provides that the benefits accruing from the use of radiation and practices involving exposure to radiation shall exceed the detriment it causes; that the practice shall be organized in such a way that the resulting exposure to radiation hazardous to health is kept as low as reasonably achievable and that no person`s exposure shall exceed the maximum values prescribed in the Radiation Act. These general safety principles, included in the Radiation Act, apply to management of radioactive waste arising from decommissioning the nuclear facility and also to other radioactive waste. Estonia is a member state of the European Union from 1st May 2004. Thus, the regulations of the Union are in force in Estonia. When necessary, the Estonian regulations have been modified to take into account the EU regulations. The EC Directives relate e.g. to radiation protection and transboundary movements of radioactive waste, whereas there are so far no regulations pertaining directly to safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. The present report is the second Estonian National Report and is presented for the Third Review Meeting to the Convention, which takes place 11-22 May 2009 at the Headquarters of the IAEA in Vienna, Austria. The report is prepared in accordance with the Guidelines regarding the Form and Structure of National Reports (INFCIRC/604/Rev. 1, 19 July 2006) adopted at the Preparatory Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention held from 10 to 12 December 2001, which were modified at the Second Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties held from 15 to 24 May 2006. The situation with regard to the obligations of the Convention has practically not changed since the last Review Meeting and for that reason duplications from the previous report could not be fully avoided. However it is recommended to look for additional information from the previous report1. The comments, questions and remarks given to Estonia’s first national report and Estonia’s presentation given at the second review meeting have been incorporated into this report. The report is prepared by the Estonian Protection Centre under the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with radioactive waste management agency A.L.A.R.A Ltd. Based on the evaluation, it is the understanding of the Estonian authorities that _ the Estonian radiation and waste safety legislation fulfills the obligations of the Convention _ the Estonian regulatory infrastructure is in compliance with the Convention obligations _ the regulatory and licensing policies and the practical implementation of the radioactive waste management comply with the Convention obligations _ there are some future challenges to enhance safety, notably in the area of working out the policies; these are discussed in the report. It is concluded in the report that Estonia meets all obligations of the Convention.