UNECE UNECE Group of Experts on Monitoring of Group of Experts on Monitoring of

Radiologically Contaminated Scrap MetalRadiologically Contaminated Scrap Metal

Spanish

Scrap

Monitoring

Protocol

APR’04APR’04

Presented by: Alvaro Rodríguez Martínez (Spain)

IEC-BIR Chairman

On June 1998 one Cs 137 source is smelted by Acerinox (Cádiz)

with an adverse national and international publicity.

The Government decides to create a dialogue forum with the

different public and private stakeholders in order to analyse the

problems and seek possible solutions.

During 18 months this group discussed different alternatives. The

2th November 1999 the Spanish Protocol on Radiological

Surveillance of Metal recycling (“The Protocol”) is signed.

PROTOCOL ORIGINSPROTOCOL ORIGINS

Administration

MINER, CSN, M. of Infrastructure and ENRESA

Industrial sector

Steel Utilities Association (UNESID)Metal Recovering Association (FER)

PROTOCOL SIGNATORIES PROTOCOL SIGNATORIES

On the First moment:On the First moment:

Industrial sector

Aluminium Utilities Association (ASERAL)Lead Utilities Association (UNIPLOM)Cooper Utilities Association (UNICOBRE)

Unions

Unión General de Trabajadores (U.G.T.)Comisiones Obreras (C.C.O.O.)

PROTOCOL SIGNATORIESPROTOCOL SIGNATORIES(Cont…) (Cont…)

On a second moment:On a second moment:

Every signatory of the Protocol gives and receives something from the

Protocol.

It is voluntary.

It is the result of a very long negotiation and conversation.

It promotes the common knowledge of the problem and the possible

solutions.

Shared costs.

Recovery Plants and Smelters are “Collaborators of the system”, and not

“Criminals that have to be persecuted”.

Existence of mechanisms of revision “We learn from the mistakes”.

POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE PROTOCOLPOSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE PROTOCOL

MINER :– To create and maintain the Register of Collaborators and communicate

registrations – To grant a generic transfer authorisation of radioactive material detected

from the facility to ENRESA– To govern special interventions in case of big accidents with

contamination

CSN:– To issue (generic or case by case) safety guidance– To inspect surveillance systems – To set up radiological criteria

Investigation and Exemption levels (NI, NE)– To inform plants and ENRESA on applicability of the Protocol – To promote training activities– Direct intervention if needed

COMMITMENTS OF THE PARTSCOMMITMENTS OF THE PARTS

ENRESA:– To give technical advise– To collaborate to re-export radioactive material– To dispose of radioactive material– To collaborate in training activities– To sign a specific agreement with the facilities

M. of Infrastructures– To require radiological surveillance certification to authorise scrap

unloading in the Spanish harbours– To inform CSN in case of event

COMMITMENTS OF THE PARTSCOMMITMENTS OF THE PARTS(cont…)(cont…)

Commitment of the facilities– To install, maintain and operate a surveillance system in each

facility

– To surveille radiation level in scrap and processed materials

– To take appropriate measurement to avoid radiological risks

– To require radiological surveillance certification from supplier

– To inform CSN on each relevant detection event

– To sign an agreement with ENRESA

– To collaborate in training activities

COMMITMENTS OF THE PARTSCOMMITMENTS OF THE PARTS(cont…2)(cont…2)

HOW THE PROTOCOL WORKS (Part 1)HOW THE PROTOCOL WORKS (Part 1)

Imports

National scrap

Steel Facility

Certifi- cation

Scrapyard

Meltingsample

expertinspection

Radioactive material

CSN

HOW THE PROTOCOL WORKS (Part 2)HOW THE PROTOCOL WORKS (Part 2)

•To survey all scrap and processed materials

•To immobilise shipments and to stop process if investigation levels (NI) have been exceeded

•To require a UTPR services if the event occurs in the process

•To investigate shipments and processes where NI have been exceeded

•To segregate, characterise, and isolate radioactive material if exemption levels (NE) have been exceeded

•To inform CSN if NE have been exceeded

•To guard safely radioactive material until ENRESA taking off

•To manage re-sending abroad radioactive material, if applicable

CONCLUSIONS OF LAST 4 YEARSCONCLUSIONS OF LAST 4 YEARS

• 980 radioactive materials segregated and well managed.• 83 radioactive sources.

•37 small sources (non very important)•46 relevant sources.

•75 facilities in the Protocol. (14.000.000 Tons per year are checked at least once). In the Protocol are:

•All the steel smelting plants.•Most of shredding plants•Some other scrap yards, whilst•Other non ferrous plants are coming.

•The number of sources grows with the time (more expansion of the Protocol more sources founded)

Thank you very much for your attentionThank you very much for your attention