The Role of International Organizations in Nuclear Regulation

Daniel YerkesYerkes.dan@gmail.com

•Goals of Nuclear Energy Regulation•Development of Nuclear Power•Early Attempts at International Organizations•UNAEC

•The IAEA•Purpose•NUSS•Effect on national regulatory regimes

•Effect of Chernobyl on International Regulation•Resurgence of Nuclear Power•Problems for New Entrants•Moving Forward

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J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Ernest Lawrence (courtesy the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

•July 16, 1945 – first test of atomic bomb•August 6, 1945 – bombing of Hiroshima•December 20, 1951 – electricity first generated by nuclear test reactor•June 27, 1954 – first grid connected

power plant

•Created under the United Nations in 1945•Became ineffective and ceased activity in 1949•Based on the general idea of a central hub to help control atomic energy activities that became successful in later years under other international organizations

IAEA•Established July 29, 1957•Headquarters in Vienna, Austria•151 member states

NEA•Established February 1, 1958•29 member states, including:

•Austria, France, Japan, Slovakia, Australia, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Sweden, Canada, Hungary, Mexico, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Iceland, Netherlands, Turkey, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, Finland, Italy, Portugal, United States, and Poland

Safety knowledge domains at the IAEA

STATUTE OF THE IAEAArticle II: Objectives“The agency shall seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It shall ensure, so far as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its request or under it supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose.”

Where should we put our new plant?

•Does it matter?•What should be considered?

Map of nuclear power plant locations.

Power Reactor Information System (PRIS):

•Since 1970, the IAEA has been collecting and publishing data about the world’s nuclear power plants•Data computerized in 1980•Covers two kinds of data:

•General and design information on power reactors, and•Information about operating experience with nuclear power plants.

Effects of radiation exposure on the human body:

•Doses lower than 100 rems•Usually have no immediate harmful effects

•Doses above 100 rems•Nausea•Vomiting•Headache•Some loss of white blood cells

•Doses over 300 rems•Hair loss•More significant internal harm

•Damage to nerve cells•Severe white blood cell loss•Reduced production of blood platelets

Long term effect of exposure:

•Leukemia, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, and cancers of other organs

Common sources of radioactive waste:

•Nuclear fuel cycle•Nuclear weapons decommissioning•Medical waste•Industrial waste

Proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository:

•Deep geological respository•Located in Nevanda

•Develop, maintain and deliver tools which promote the application of transport standards through identification of the effectiveness of application•Support application of transport standards in Member States through the effective interaction with Member States and external bodies

Assessment•Performed by designers or operators

Verification•Performed by separate body

Ultimately, the standards issued by the IAEA are recommendations. The IAEA standards are in part meant to be used in assisting Member States to develop their own regulatory regime regarding nuclear power.

Damaged Chernobyl unit 4 reactor building

The Accident•Result of a flawed reactor design and inadequately trained personnel•Resulted in the death of 31 operators and firemen within three months•28 people died as a result of acute radiation sickness within the first few months

Nuclear energy has received increased interest in recent years due to concerns over the environment, energy security, and economics.

How to deal with increased interest in countries that may not be prepared for a nuclear power industry?

How to ensure safety, security, and non-proliferation in an age where more and more nations, who are not a party to the major international organizations, are interested in the development of nuclear power

And Happy Holidays