Nuclear and radiation safety as object of criminological research

Ensuring nuclear and radiation safety is one of the most important components of the national security of the Russian Federation. Taking into account the increased level of risks (including criminal ones) inherent in modern society, the problem of the safe use of nuclear energy is becoming one of the main ones, not only at the national but also at the international level. The article substantiates the importance of the criminological approach in the study of this phenomenon, raises the issues of criminalization of the use of atomic energy within the framework of nuclear and radiation safety of the state, provides examples of criminal threats that arise when using the energy of atomic nuclei. Particular attention is paid to the lack of high-quality criminological research conducted in the designated area of public relations, where offenses of various properties are often committed, which directly or potentially lead or may lead to serious, and sometimes irreversible consequences, which indicates the need to pay due attention to it, despite the relatively small number of crimes committed. As a result of the conducted research and in order to improve the criminological security system when using a peaceful atom, the author concludes that it is necessary to implement an integrated approach to solving these problems and suggests those areas of activity that require increased attention, including from law enforcement agencies.

Information system for nuclear material accounting and control

A brief description of information system for nuclear material accounting developed for the national regulator in the field of nuclear and radiation safety - the Department for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus (Gosatomnadzor) is given. The information system is a part of the Intellectual information system of a Gosatomnadzor employee to ensure control (supervision) in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. It is developed on the basis of free software. The system has been implemented in Gosatomnadzor and at present in the Republic of Belarus all nuclear material accounting with reporting to the IAEA is carried out with its help. The system, in full compliance with the IAEA requirements, provides automatic generation with all the necessary calculations based on the input data of the following reporting documents: physical inventory listing, inventory change report, material balance report, textual report, General Ledger. All reports are fully consistent each with other. An efficient mechanism has been developed for importing and exporting data from / to the system according to formats of fixed and labelled Code 10 required by the IAEA. All logs of the system describing reports contain a field “IAEA approved” (yes / no). If it set to “yes”, they are closed for editing and correction. A special tool has been developed for making adjustments to these documents in accordance with the IAEA rules. The system contains fully completed reference books (small journals referenced by all major journals in the database) with the necessary reference data in accordance with Code 10. The information system meets all the IAEA requirements for such systems of national regulators in the field of accounting, control and supervision of nuclear material. It can be easily translated into other languages and adapted for the needs of accounting and control of nuclear material in operating organizations.

Belarusian software for nuclear knowledge management

A review of Belarusian software developed for nuclear knowledge management is presented. It includes the system eLab-Control that is an information system for monitoring the nuclear and radiation safety of the national nuclear regulatory body as well as content management system eLab-Science and the Belarusian educational portal of nuclear knowledge BelNET developed on its base. All the software is based on free software: Debian GNU/Linux, Web-server Apache, the Firebird database server, PHP application server. The system runs under Windows and Linux. The work is carried out through the Internet in multiplayer mode, with the division of access rights by way of widespread browsers. Portal of nuclear knowledge BelNET https://belnet.bsu.by/ is considered from the point of nuclear knowledge management.

Ensuring of Nuclear, Radiation and Environmental Safety for a Floating Nuclear Power Plant based on KLT‑40S Reactor Installations

Main principles and criteria for nuclear and radiation safety of a floating nuclear power plant have been considered. It has been shown that the existing regulatory framework, technical and organizational safety measures for nuclear and radiation safety of a floating nuclear power plant are sufficient, and operation of the floating nuclear power plant won't lead to an irradiation of the population above recommended norms both at its normal work, and in case of project accidents and under-project ones.

Application of SMR Regulators’ Forum Results for SMR Licensing in Ukraine

In the near future, small modular reactors (SMR) potentially will play a significant role in global sustainable energy development through the growing interest in SMR implementation in both countries with developed nuclear industry (for example, in Ukraine) and countries that only start launching their nuclear energy programs. At present, there are about 50 SMR designs developed using different reactor technologies in various stages of readiness. The novelty and uniqueness of some fundamental decisions that are the basis for the specified designs and the lack of resulting of real testing of such decisions have created challenges related to ensuring nuclear and radiation safety during installation and further operation of SMR. The paper provides general information on the activities of the SMR Regulators’ Forum (Forum) created by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and countries that actively consider and address the use of SMR in the national energy sector to ensure efficient cooperation in dealing with the specified challenges. The paper presents the results obtained by Forum working groups, the main purpose of which is to develop common positions on issues that have already arisen or are likely to arise during the expected licensing of SMR designs in a number of countries, in particular: demonstration of comprehensive implementation of defense in depth strategy in design safety justification; use of the graded approach within the licensing process; approaches to defining zones and distances in emergency planning around NPPs with SMR. In addition, the working groups defined the best practice and approach to considering the specified issues in licensing SMR designs. Based on the performed review, the paper provides proposals for using the available Forum results during planning and licensing of SMR designs in Ukraine and states on the need for a detailed study of its further activities.

Current Directions of Educational Activity of SSTC NRS

The paper describes the main areas of educational activities on nuclear and radiation safety, which have been formed in recent years and are currently implemented by the State Enterprise "State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety" (SSTC NRS). The experience of SSTC NRS in conducting training and advanced training for personnel of domestic enterprises on nuclear energy use is related to nuclear and radiation safety, radiation safety in using radiation sources (industry and medicine), mining and processing of uranium ores. The paper describes specialized areas of training prepared at the request of nuclear companies, in particular: support and training of management staff of NNEGC "Energoatom", transfer of experience in the use of computer codes and programs, exercise of practical approaches to the application of guidelines for severe accident management, training on indigenous analysis of NPP abnormal operation. The participation of SSTC NRS in international programs, projects and initiatives on training and transfer of experience within the EU technical assistance program Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation and the Euratom Research and Training Program provides information on new initiatives for training on nuclear and radiation safety.

The Work Results of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine in 2019

Main results of scientific and scientific-organizational activity of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of Ukraine in 2019 are given, among them research and scientific information work, use of researches results in the economy, cooperation with national and international institutions, training of the scientific personnel, participation of young scientists in the international cooperation, knowledge and experience transfer, promotion of research achievements, coverage of scientific and research works in mass media, research and expert works for the benefit and on demand of the public authorities as well as publication of scientific results. It was shown that important results both in the study of the state of nuclear and radiation safety of the Shelter object and in works focused on the improvement of the reliability, effectiveness and operation safety of working Ukrainian nuclear power plants were received by specialists of the Institute. According to the specifics of the Institute’s activities, research work is carried out at nuclear and radiation-hazardous facilities. Therefore, special requirements are set for equipment, facilities and staffing, namely: the need to obtain licenses from the SNRC of Ukraine, a certified quality system, certified laboratories of the appropriate class of radiation hazard, mandatory medical examinations, testing of knowledge of nuclear and radiation safety, etc. The location of the laboratory base in Chornobyl, the need to perform work in radiationhazardous conditions and perform radiation control are the reasons for significant financial costs for transportation services, medical examinations, obtaining the necessary licenses, providing overalls and personal protective equipment. Despite the low level of financing caused by economic crisis in the state the institution does everything possible for maintaining its scientific and technical potential and has strategic aim — to become leading institution of Ukraine which render scientific-technical, engineering, methodical and information services in the sphere of safe operation of facilities with nuclear technologies, elimination of radiation accidents consequences, nuclear facilities decommissioning, radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel treatment and transformation of the Shelter object into an ecologically safe system.

Licensing of the Neutron Source in Ukraine: Challenges and Solutions

A research nuclear facility, the Neutron Source Based on the Subcritical Assembly Driven by a Linear Electron Accelerator (Neutron Source), is under commissioning in the National Scientific Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” (NSC KIPT), Ukraine, as an international collaborative project of NSC KIPT and the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), USA. The Neutron Source is intended to study subcritical systems and generate neutrons to be used in applied and fundamental research in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The construction of a state-of-art nuclear research facility is a challenge for both the operating organization (NSC KIPT) and the regulatory authority (SNRIU). NSC KIPT faced the technical challenges caused by the unique design features of the facility. SNRIU faced the two major challenges: no regulations to govern nuclear and radiation safety; no experience in licensing such a type of facility. This paper discusses aspects related to the challenges and solutions in licensing of the Neutron Source, including development of the regulatory and legal framework on nuclear and radiation safety, review of the safety justification documents for the new nuclear subcritical facility and verification calculations.