ML20035E557

Forwards Iaea/Undp Description of Project, Strengthening Radiation & Nuclear Safety Infrastructures in Countries of Former Ussr

ML20035E557
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/01/1993
From:	Harold Denton NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP)
To:	Rogers, Selin, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 9304160176
Download: ML20035E557 (9)

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,o, UNITED STATES 7

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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W ASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 April 1, 1993 l

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MEMORANDUM FOR:

The Chairman Commissioner Rogers Commissioner Remick Commissioner Curtiss i

Commissioner de Planque FROM:

Harold R. Denton, Director /

Office of International Pro ams

SUBJECT:

IAEA/UNDP RADIATION PROTECTION FORUM l'

The International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Development Programme have organized a program to identify radiation protection infrastructure needs in countries which were formerly in the l

USSR and to assist in establishing whatever is lacking. Their first i

activity is to invite high level officials, including one minister from l

each country, to a Forum at the IAEA May 4-7, 1993, with travel expenses paid by UNDP.

By the end of the Forum, the IAEA plans to suggest the i

elements of an assistance package on a country-specific basis.

Several weeks ago representatives of the UNDP briefed me on the proposed project of assistance to FSU countries which included assistance in nuclear reactor safety. They were advised of our bilateral and the G-24 l

multilateral program and referred to State Department and the G-24 Secretariat. The attached program was issued by the IAEA and UNDP after that meeting at NRC.

i The U.S. government has been invited to send an observer to the May Forum at the IAEA.

Attachment:

IAEA/UNDP Description of Project

" Strengthening Radiation and Nuclear Safety Infrastructures in Countries of the former USSR" cc:

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9304160176 930401

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PDR ORQ NEIC PDR II t.

(g United Nations DevelopmerOrogram"me LAEA UNDP l

i JOINTSECRETARfATfor STRENGTHENING l

RADIATION ond NUCLEAR SAFETt INFRASTRUCTURES in COUNTRIES of the FORMER USSR I

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1 PREPARATORY ASSISTANCE DOCUMENT 1

.I Project:

Strengthening Radiation and Nuclear Safety Infrastructures in Countries of the former USSR 1

l A.

Background

i Rad *ation protecton ard nudear safety are issues which must be addressed by au Govemmeras i

of the newly independent snstes of the former USSR'. The potential for radiation exposure and contaminsbon inodonts which could have serious conesquences for the popidation, the erwimnment, ard the economy of these nahons, underscores the noosselty for adaFe measures to deal with these soeues. The scope and magnitude of the assistance needsis large.

4 For countries wah nuclear power plants, there hane already been intomational initiatives to improve the esfory of their tactitles. Technical assetance has been pursued both bnatoralty and rmAtt.aterauy as well as by the IAEA. A beene coordination strucare for these actMties has been est up by the G 24 countries through the CEC in Brussels.

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Noaher for thone'with nuclear power nor for those without, has there been any coenfinated intemanond intimilve to desi wilh the more comrmon problem of the selety of noneudeer powertocaties with r=Wmdive matanal, such as research reactors, uranium mining and mIling facElles, and installabons uu.i.;i.w radiation sources used in enedicine, agriotAture and industry. A new initiative to grE.gd.vi, in the short term, the overat national infrastrucsure for radiation proteadon as wel as for nuclear safery, including the establishment of adequate legd frameworks, would fIl a void which rev ensis. Laoisistion and rootdations, and a regulatory body wth review, inspection and enforcement power, along with adequate equipment and aufliciency trained personnet within each courary must be ensured.

Under this framework a joint UNDP and 1AEA ininstive for a project on intomational cW.Jcc

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ard acue=nce to strengthen radiation pi - :' -i and nudear esfery hfrastructures in countries of the former USSR has been launched and a UNDP/ MEA Jobt Secretariat has been set up for this purpose.

B.

Joint UNDP and lAEA initiethre The joint UfJDP and IAEA initiatte will be an integral part of the UN Secre:ary Generars

%rmenia. Azerbaijsn. Belarus, Estonia, Georgia. Knzakhstan, Kirghistan. Larvis, Li:huania, Moldova, Russia. Tac:hikis:an, Turkmenistan, Ukraine. Uzbekis:an.

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ongoing endeavor to provde integrated UN system assistance in areas where the system may offer advartages. The UN system can prcmde the impaniarty and universality whldi are bene 5cial in dealirig with situations where various interests are involved. In some circumeances k may provide Govemments or conor orgarasAW6 a converuent rnochanism for giving assutanos.

The pnmary goal is the estatishment d effective radiation and nudeer safety infrastructures necessary for ensunng the safety of nudear faoERies and radioacdve substances. In parallel, the intiative seeks to raise the recipient's capabisbes to assess and priornize needs, appraise assistance proposals and develop adequate and officent strategies to obtain necessary resources, it should foster a more efficient and coherent absorption of assistance, in summary, the principal project goals are:

to build adequate national infrastructures for radiation and nuclear safety; e

and a to buld national capacities for the management of assistance and for obtaining essenual financial resources.

Country specillo assistance would fundamentally be demand and not donor defvert it would consequently avod 65"-:+%=. and be complementary to any ongong efforts by fWing gaps based on identified need. The initimthe would utitze the UNDP's experience with national capacity bulding for foreign aid management and the LAEA's expertise and capecky for providing comprehensive safety guidance to national regulatory authorities.

Therefore, the UNDP4AEA Joint Secretarist wls be responsible for the properatory anangements to launch the pro}ect and t wE then provide necessary technical and administrative support to meet its goals.

A permanent formal Secretarist is not ar*WW The (AEA wel provide the venue and

=~ed support for launching the hkistive and the noosemary technical expaties for properasion and implementation of assistance packages including country rnasions where needed. The Ul@P is W to provide intial funtAng for the inkletive, spooialtzad mana0ement esperties and logetical support tnrouWt reponal or national UN field otiloos.

C.

Strategy A three@hase approach is bang used starting with a Norum for information exchange to be toRowed by project d;. 2 -- - : ^ and implementation aeoistance packages. The project properatory assistance (first parQ wE coverthe first phaea; the somnd phasewE be project development and the last phase wEl be the project implementstlorL The detaled descriptions of the three phases are as follows-Phase 1: Forum for ;sbiTrersi Exeter.as The Forum wel be amed at.

• exdanging with the participarts information orr

- UNDP E4) 1AEA (mMt*~3 drea95 cm out in the Cta Em their

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l Q - the radiation prclecten and nuclear safety situation in tneir countnes, ongoing programmes, future p!ans, existing shoncomings and priority assistance needs, and e providing elements for, an action plan outline that wil! comprise country specific assistance packages induding direct assistance projects and thematic information exchange and training seminars.

Detailed discussions of thematic subjects wd! be avoided. The primary objective will be to obtain information for the subsequent preparation of an action plan outline, which wCI eventuafy become an action p'.an document during phase two. The expected duration of the Forum is four days.

The Forum will take place at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna during the period 4-7 May 1993.

Travet expenses for up to 3 partic! pants from each country, of the former USSR, will be made available i

and Eng'ish/ Russian interpretation provided.

Invr.stions have been joirrJy sent by the UNDP Administrator and the IAEA Director General to the highest Foreign Ministry or Ministorial level authorties responsole for decision making and resource &!!ocation for radiaton and nuclear safety.

j To facH! tate discussions at the Forum and the subsequent formulation of assistance packages, a quesuonnaire has been sent with the inyt:ation letter. The completed questionnaires containing informaton on the status of radiation protection and nudear safety in each country sto.6d ideally be 1

retumed to the Agency about one month prior to the meeting.

The Forum wdl be he!d in two parts, with the first four half 4ay sessions consisung of country j

presentations along wah an open dMW to clarify the objectrves and poterdal of the joint UNDP and i

LAEA initiatrve. The remaining time would see the preparation of elements for the acdon plan ou:!1ne.

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Subsequent to me Forum the Joint Secretartat, in constitation wth the participants, will prepare the aetion plan outline.

Phase 2: Proieet develooment Based on me informaoon co!!ected during Phase 1, an action plan documem willbe prepared, that will comprise Country specific sulance packages, including direct assistance projects and memadeittormation exchange and training seminars. This mey require factfinding missions when a clear picture of needs dJd not emerge from Phese 1.

Assistance packages could inc!Ude me following areas:

legal framework for radiadon and nuctsar safety requirements for regulatory organizations Ccensing and control of nuclear facilidss and radiation sources occupadonalradiacon protection emironmental protecdon and snonttoring reguladons for the safe transport of radioactve materials waste handling and storage emergency preparedness Phase 3:Imofementrtion of ss11 stance eackeoes Themeuc Seminars A senes of thematic informabon exchange and train.*ng serranars would be organaed, either

!=r smgle countnes or for several countries together wan similar neecs._ Seminar IQics wouG cover

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the enDre range of 1: ems of the assistance package. Coun:nes would be required to priontce their 1

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neecs. The seminars would typically be of one ureek dura: ion conducted by about 5 inv:ted emerts.

Direct assistance The direct country specific assistance will include short and long term expen assistance, specialized training and the provision of matenals and equipment When advantageous, some accvities could be conducted jointy wi:n countries having similar needs.

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Preparatory Assistance (First part)

The preparatory assistance will be civided into two parts; me first part will aim to prepare me ou:line action pland and me second part will be devoted to me final action plan. The firstpart of me

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preparatory assistance is covered in mis document and will:

j a) reach the fo!!owing objectives:

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e to present to :be recipient countries information on the infras:nx::ure requirements for radiation protec60n and nuclear saferf, the relevant IAEA and UNDP actMdes and the mechanisms for prodding assistance, q

e to receive from the recipisnt countries infomtation on the radiation

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proteccan and nudear safety shuation in the cournty, ongdng programmes, future plans, exisdng shoncomings and prioritt assistance needs, and 1

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to outf!ne the assistance required and develop adequate and efScient e

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s:rategies for resources mobilliation.

b) produce the following outputs:

r-f a summary s:stus report on the s.tuntson in the pardchahng countries u12 regard to

' y rudkWon protecdon and nudoarsafety, itxdading casting programrnes, fu:ure plans, present short::orn!ngs stad priority as:ns:ance needs; e

. ~, - I - spec a - ges inou: thy o'irect assis:nnce profoc:s as well as themsdc tricai.cioa exchange arnt training seminars.

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Preparstory Assistance actMiles 1.

The fo'Iowing ecdvides are proposed to be urxier:aken under the Preparatory Assis:ance-e preliminaryjoint UNDPflAEA snformalmeedngs s1:H rnajor donors a:ximut:14atsent l

agencies for resources mobilizationt I

e preliminaryanalysis of quesdonnaires con:aining informadon on the s:a tus ofnational radiavon protecDon and nuclear safety infrasmic:ures; l l[

e ou:rine of me --ment and de:ceminnon cf scope, poticyawmwiuurets

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Preparatory Assistance inputs I

n l F-1 Governments The participadng govemments willmake available technicalandlogisticalsupport, as required.

F-2 UNDP

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The UNDP will:

o Provide overall manegerial and logistical support through regional or national UN field offices; d

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e Cover costs forintemadonalconsultants to assistla the preparadon of the reports for the Preparatory Assistance (oudine action plan);

o Cover travelatx:t DSA for co-ordination and funddsing missions by UNDP and IMA staff.

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t1 e Cover travel and DSA for delegates auending the Forum and contribute to the organt:stion of the meedng.

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• Contribute to the publication of the report of the Preparatory Assistance; 1

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F-3 IAEA The IAEA will*

• Provide two specialked professionals who win assume tecimicalresponsibility

'i and co ordInste au preparatory assistance ecsM6es;

j e prowde admirastratMr and organizadonal stoport for the 1% cum, including corderance services; e preoere a summary status report on the situation in the panicipagng courttries with regard to radiation protection and ntdar safe % including ansung programmes, future plans, present shortcomings and priority assistance needs;

• prepare the outfine acdon plan that will comprise councy spectSc sssistance

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packages, including direct assistance projects, as wellas the thematic informadon j.[

exchange and training seminars;

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e participate in co-ordinadon and fund raising missions.

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4 JOINTSECRETARfATfor STRENGTHENING j

RADIATION and NUCLEAR SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURES t

in COUNTRIES of the FORMER USSR NN.Iaus YNON JX.05.02 t

i he Joint Secretariat of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for Strengthening Radiation and Nuclear Safety Infrastrucmres in Countries of the Former USSR (the UNDP-IAEAJoint Secretariat) presents its compliments to the Government of the United States of America and has the honour to inform that the UNDP and the IAEA have established an j

assistance programme aimed at establishing or enhancing nationalinfrastructures for radiation protection and nuclear safety in the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The UNDP-IAEAJoint Secretariat has been set up for the purpose l

of formulating and executing the assistance programme.

The first action under the programme has been to convene a Forum for information exchange on the relevant issues. The four day meeting will be held at the IAEA Headquarters in Vicana over the period 4-7 May 1993. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgbyzstan, Latvia, Iithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Tarkrnenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan have been invited to participate in the Forum through high level officials, including one at ministeriallevel. A copy of the letter sent to these countries inviting nominations and the Preparatory Assistance Document describing the entire project are attached for your information.

The UNDP-IAEA Joint Secretariat has the honour to invite the Government of the United States of America to nominate observers to attend the Forum. The name of the nominees should reach the UNDP-IAEA Joint Sewetariat by 15 April 1993.

1 The UNDP-IAEA Joint Secretariat avails itself of this opportunity to extend to the Government of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration.

i Enclosure i

1993-03-17 x

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Intemationo! Atomic Energy A9etw".Y Untied Nations Development Prograrnrne l

i UNDP IAEA t

JOINTSECREYARIATfor STRENGTNENiNG RADIATION ond NUCLEAR SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURES l

in COUNTRIES of the FORMER USSR I

c/o MEA WAGsW44sTRAJE s.FC. aoK loe. A 14tD N ALa'RA TELEJL 1-1264 Otom c.F AC9hek&:43-123ated.TEL,$pHoPE:Gl.23e3 r

l 1993 0 9 JXM '

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Sir, We have the honour to inform yca that the United Nations Developascot Programme (UNDP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are to establish a programme aimed at strengthching infrastructures for nuclear and radiadon safety in tbc countdes of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republis. A UNDP 1AEA Joint Secretariat has been ses up for Lla* purpose. The first saion of the Joic' Secetaria will be to r.onvene a Foruss for information exchange on'the relevant issues.

m purpose of this letter is to provide you with some decads concerning the Forum and to invite

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your Gowrnment to pardcipate. We propose the needag be at Ministeriellevel ievolving these responsible for environmental, health, energy or nuclear safety matters, accosaponied by czperts, including a senior cfGdal responsible for foreign assistance provids:l to your countiyin these fields.The four day meeting will be held at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna during the penod 47 May 1993 from Tuesday morning through Friday afternoon. English/ Russian interpretation will be provided.

l The dissolution of the Soviet Union has given rise to some concern that radiation protoedon and l

nuclear safety infrassrucrures in the new States need development and enhancement. Several of these countries have approached the IAEA for advice and assistance in this area. M Forum will bring together i

Ministers and, high level offidnis responsible for M=t=-making nad the allocation or resourcas for suelear safety cad radiation pwains actrvices in the new States.

Invitations to participate are being seat to Arinenia, Aserbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,

y..n.- Kyrgbyzstaa,1mna, ' ^" ". Moldova, Russia, T=M'--- Turk- 'a==. Ukrasse and i

Uzbekistan. Observers from esber countrica and from international organizanons cs sz..cd with radiation

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l safery matters are also be'ag invited to attead.

The Forum's primary objectives wiH be:

to present to the participants information on (i) the "iae.g a meessary to i

build antional capabilities for ensuring radiados protecnos and nuclear safery, (ii) relevant acdvities of the IAEA and the UNDP, sad (iii) the mechanisms for providing assistance; to receive from the pardcipants information on the situation with regard to radiadon protection and nucitar safety la their countries, exisdag programmes.

l future plans, present shortcomings, and priority assistance needs: and l

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Tbc Mir.ister of Foreign Affairs l

Micistry of Foreign Affairs l

10 B ghramian Avenue i

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to sum up the presented information for subsequest devdopment of appropriate assistance packages, misch willindude dited assistance projects as weu as themade l

informanon eschange and training seminars.

It is expected that each country will make an oral presentation of up to 30 minutes cn its e nudear and.radiadon safety infrastructures. This should preferably be based on a written nadonal staj report on legisladw: and regulatory procedures and should iedude details of the availab personnel and equipment. Informados on oudear installadens,if any, and on any othe exposure to ioninng radiation - such as the use of radiation sources in medicine, agriculture, l research should also be prowded.

To facilitate your preparadon of such a status report and the consequent drawing up of assistance i

packages, a questionnaire on the status of radia6on protection and nuclear safery is enclose It would assist preparations for the Forum if the completed questionnaire were returned to the UN Joint Seactariat by 31 March 1993.

1 ne Forum will be held in two parts. The first four half. day sessions will consist of IAEA, UNDP and country presentations and an open discussion to clarify thejoint UNDP IAEA inillaint. De time will be ased for outlining the elements that will guide the Secretariat in drawing up assistance packag en a country speedic basis, with a view to initial implementation during the last quarter of 1993.

It would be appreciated if the names and titles of your country's nomientad participants. together mith fuU mailing addresses and fax, teler and teJephone numbers, could reach the UNDP-IAEA Joint Secretanat as soon as possible, but not later than 31 March 1993. Details of provmons for travel for the participsats are attached to this letter. He Jo'at Secretanat will write to the nominated particip further information in due course.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

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Hans Blix

[ William Draper Director General 9 : : ~ ator IAEA UNDP Enclosures j