Nuclear Facilities: Regulations and Licensing

The first part of the course concentrates on the requirements of operating a nuclear facility – initial licensing process and subsequent continuous regulatory control. Next, we will take a look at the international system of radiological protection and legal framework on nuclear safety, transport and transboundary movement of nuclear material. Finally, we will discuss the issues of illicit nuclear trafficking and nuclear terrorism.

Week 1. Nuclear Facilities

• Nuclear facilities – definition, objective, scope, general requirements for power reactors
• Regulatory body – reactive role – step by step licensing, perpetual control, and other measures
• Operating entity – management and verification of safety, other issues, decommissioning
• Conditions for a license. Research and testing reactors

Week 2. Regulatory Body and Licensing

• Regulatory body and licensing
• Licensing – availability, application, criteria, Issuance, suspension, modification, revocation, appeals
• Inspection and enforcement – scope and objectives

Week 3. International System of Radiological Protection

• International System of Radiological Protection – objective, scope, exclusion
• Regulations – exemption, lack of justification, clearance
• What requires a license – activities and facilities
• Conditions for licensing
• International legal framework on nuclear safety: developments, challenges and opportunities

Week 4. Transportation of nuclear and radioactive material

• Transport of nuclear and radioactive material
• Legal means of ensuring safe transport
• Model Regulations of the UN and IAEA
• Incorporating model regulations into national law
• Other issues – jurisdiction, transboundary movement, physical protection

Week 5. Safeguards

• Safeguards. Basic documents, non-proliferation agreements
• Objective, scope
• Key elements of safeguards legislation
• Elements of a State’s nuclear regulatory body

Week 6. Physical protection

• Physical protection
• CPPNM – Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material requirements
• IAEA recommendations, objectives and fundamental principles
• Objectives, scope, key elements of legislation. Illicit trafficking, nuclear terrorism