Uranium production and management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) have important safety and environmental protection considerations. Additional challenges are posed by new applications for uranium production, as well as increasing expectations for protection of health and the environment.
Activities involving NORM residues are broad and most have not been managed in terms of radiation safety. It is a common challenge that majority of the Member States are facing in dealing with activities and residues involving NORM. IAEA Safety Standards No. SSG-60 Management of Residues Containing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material from Uranium Production and Other Activities is intended to address issues related to NORM residues inlcuding arising from uranium production activities in a safe, graded and integrated approach.
The SSG-60 provides recommendations on the establishment of an appropriate regulatory framework for the management of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) residues in an integrated manner and using a graded approach. It also elaborates on roles and responsibilities, options for management of NORM residues, considerations of long term safety of NORM residues, and exemption and clearance. The publication is targeted at regulatory bodies, operating organizations, technical support organizations and other parties who are interested and involved in management of NORM residues.
The IAEA launched REGSUN in 2018 with aim to help with capacity building in Member States undertaking or considering uranium production or the management of NORM activities and NORM residues, in particular to:
