ACRONYM Reports

Reviewing the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Problems and Processes

ACRONYM Report No.12, September 1998

A Statement by the IAEA, 5 May 1998

Radiological Assessments and Assistance in dealing with Contaminated Areas

The IAEA's Statute requires it to establish safety standards and to provide for the application of those standards at the request of a State to any of that State's activities in the field of atomic energy. Pursuant to that Statutory responsibility and in response to requests from Member States, the IAEA has in recent years carried out a number of radiological assessments of areas with radioactive residues from nuclear accidents or from past practices such as nuclear weapons testing and radioactive waste disposal. It also provides technical assistance for environmental restoration of radioactively contaminated sites.

Regional co-operation

For example, between 1993 and 1996 the IAEA organized a regional technical cooperation project on environmental restoration of radioactively contaminated sites in central and eastern Europe, including some of the newly independent States of the former USSR. In the first stage, efforts focused on characterizing the type and extent of environmental contamination through a series of workshops. The types of site considered included uranium mines and mills. The second phase established work plans, i.e. planning, identification of parties and responsibilities and development of the necessary infrastructure. Typical problems associated with past practices include: radon releases; groundwater contamination; proximity of population to contamination; lack of resources to conduct restoration; non-availability of disposal locations/alternatives; absence of regulations or a regulatory infrastructure for restoration; misuse or removal of tailings or mining debris for use in construction; absence of responsible operators; and large inventories.

Radiological Assessment of the Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident

Following a request of the former USSR Government, the IAEA organised an international assessment of the radiological situation following the Chernobyl accident. More than 200 experts from 25 countries and seven multinational organisations participated. Their comprehensive assessment, which was published five years ago in a volume of more than 1000 pages, still serves as a scientific reference. A comprehensive review took place in April 1996 when more than 800 experts from 71 countries and 20 organisations met at an international Conference in Vienna to review the consequences of the accident ten years after its occurrence.

Radiological Situation as a Consequence of the Accident in Tomsk

Following an accident in the reprocessing plant at Tomsk and a request from the Russian Federation, the IAEA made an assessment of the radiological situation in the area contaminated by the release from the accident. A full report will soon be available.

The International Arctic Seas Assessment Project

The IASAP was initiated in 1993 to investigate concerns over the potential health and environmental impacts of radioactive waste dumped in shallow waters of the Kara and Barents Seas. The findings of this assessment have been submitted to the Contracting Parties of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. A full report is being published by the Agency and will soon be available.

Radiological study of Mururoa [Moruroa] and Fangataufa Atolls

In April 1996, following the termination of nuclear weapon testing in the South Pacific and a request from the Government of France, the IAEA embarked upon a Study of the Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa [Moruroa] and Fangataufa, in French Polynesia. The objective of the study was to assess the situation at the two atolls from the point of view of radiological safety; to ascertain whether there are any radiological hazards to people; and to make recommendations on the form, scale and duration of any remedial action, monitoring or other follow-up action that might be required. The Main Report, which includes an Executive Summary, a Technical Report in six volumes and a Summary Report, is now complete. Its results will be discussed at an international conference in Vienna from 30 June to 3 July 1998.

Study of Radiological Conditions at Bikini Atoll

In response to a request for technical assistance from the Government of the Marshall Islands within the framework of a technical co-operation project, the IAEA convened a meeting of international experts for a peer review of available information on the subject and arranged for the corroboration of radiological data through a monitoring mission to Bikini Island in May 1997. The report of this study has been published. The Study concluded inter alia that permanent resettlement of Bikini Island under the present radiological conditions is not recommended but, provided that certain remedial measures were taken, Bikini Island could be reinhabited.

Radiological Assessment at Semipalatinsk

In 1994, at the request of the government of Kazakhstan, the Agency initiated a radiological assessment of the former nuclear test site near the city of Semipalatinsk. The report will be/has just been published. Following missions to the site and surrounding area, an expert group concluded that further radiological assessment of the area surrounding the test site should not be regarded as a priority, although they recommended a hydrological study to investigate the future possibility of radionuclides from underground explosions appearing in drinking water supplies. Remedial action is considered necessary for the immediate areas around 'Ground Zero' and Lake Balapan; restriction of public access to these areas is recommended as the most feasible and protective action.