Search Legislation

The Radioactive Substances (Modification of Enactments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018

 Help about what version

What Version

  • Latest available (Revised)
  • Original (As made)
 Help about opening options

Opening Options

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Amendment of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum

2.—(1) The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 is amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (8).

(2) In the Section headed Preliminary in so far as it extends to Northern Ireland—

(a)in section 1A (meaning of radioactive material) in the first line after “sections 1E, 1F,1G” insert “, 1GA”;

(b)after section 1D (radionuclides not of natural terrestrial or cosmic origin) insert—

Dilution to reduce concentration of radioactivity: Northern Ireland

1DA.  For the purposes of section 1B, 1C and 1D, a substance or article is to be treated as having a concentration of radioactivity which exceeds the value referred to in section 1B(2), 1C(c)(i) or 1D(a), if a person has deliberately diluted the substance or article with the intention of ensuring that its concentration of radioactivity does not exceed that value.; and

(c)after section 1G (contaminated substances or articles) insert—

Historic radium contamination: Northern Ireland

1GA.  A substance or article is not radioactive material or radioactive waste where the substance or article arises from the remediation of land contaminated by radium and—

(a)the substance or article contains Ra-226 or its progeny;

(b)in the absence of Ra-226 or its progeny, the substance or article would not otherwise be radioactive material or radioactive waste under this section;

(c)the contamination occurred prior to 13 May 2000; and

(d)the concentration of Ra-226 and any progeny resulting from the decay of Ra-226 does not exceed the following values—

(i)for a substance or article which is a solid or a substance which is relevant a liquid, 1Bq/g;

(ii)for a substance which is any other liquid, 1Bq/l; or

(iii)for a substance which is a gas, 0.01 Bq/m3..

(3) After section 14 (accumulation of radioactive waste) insert—

Radioactive waste: requirements to be imposed on persons authorised to dispose of and accumulate radioactive waste: Northern Ireland

14A.(1) The chief inspector shall require a person who holds an authorisation to carry on the radioactive substances activity described in section 13(3) (disposal of radioactive waste) or section 14(2) (accumulation of radioactive waste) to—

(a)achieve and maintain an optimal level of protection of members of the public;

(b)accept into service adequate equipment and procedures for measuring and assessing exposure of members of the public and radioactive contamination of the environment;

(c)check the effectiveness and maintenance of equipment as referred to in paragraph (b) and ensure the regular calibration of measuring instruments; and

(d)seek advice from a radioactive waste adviser in the performance of the tasks referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).

(2) In this section “radioactive waste adviser” means a person with the knowledge, training and experience needed to give radioactive waste management and environmental radiation protection advice in relation to radioactive waste in order to ensure the effective protection of members of the public, and whose competence in that respect is recognised by the chief inspector..

(4) In section 16 (grant of authorisations) in so far as it extends to Northern Ireland after subsection (8) insert—

(8A) In exercising the functions under this Act in relation to radioactive material and radioactive waste, the chief inspector shall observe the requirements of Article 30(4) of the Basic Safety Standards Directive(1).

(8B) This subsection applies where the chief inspector is exercising functions under this Act in relation to radioactive substances activity where there are no radioactive discharges specified in conditions in the authorisation—

(a)the chief inspector shall impose appropriate conditions in the authorisation concerning—

(i)the monitoring, or the evaluation, of radioactive airborne or aqueous discharges into the environment; and

(ii)the reporting to the chief inspector of the results of such monitoring or evaluation;

(b)for the purposes of this subsection, where the chief inspector is exercising functions under this Act in relation to a nuclear power station or nuclear reprocessing plant, the conditions imposed in the authorisation shall require the monitoring of radioactive discharges and reporting to the chief inspector of such information on radioactive discharges as the appropriate Minister directs; and

(c)notification and recording of significant events to ensure compliance with Article 96 of the Basic Safety Standards Directive..

(5) In section 17A (review of authorisations) in so far as it extends to Northern Ireland—

(a)in the title, after “authorisations”, insert “and inspection of premises authorised in this Act”;

(b)at the end of subsection 1(a) omit “and”;

(c)at the end of subsection 1(b) omit “.” and insert “;”;

(d)following subsection 1(b) insert—

(c)shall make appropriate periodic inspections of premises for which an authorisation was granted in accordance with section 13 or 14 of this Act; and

(d)when establishing an inspection programme for the purposes of subparagraph (1)(c) in relation to radioactive substances activities, shall take into account the potential magnitude and nature of the hazard associated with such activities, a general assessment of radiation protection issues in the activities, and the state of compliance with the requirements of this Act..

(e)after subsection (1), insert—

(1A) Where the chief inspector makes an inspection of an undertaking that is a radioactive substances activity, the chief inspector shall—

(a)record the findings of that inspection; and

(b)communicate those findings to the operator of the authorised premises..

(6) In section 30A (recovery and disposal of orphan sources) in so far as it extends to Northern Ireland in subsection (1) after “, to” insert “control and”.

(7) In section 47 (general interpretation provisions) in so far as it relates to Northern Ireland—

(a)in subsection (1)—

(i)at the appropriate alphabetical place insert—

“the Basic Safety Standards Directive” means Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from the exposure to ionising radiation and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom;;

(ii)for the definition of “the appropriate Minister” substitute—

“the appropriate Minister” means, in relation to Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs;;

(iii)omit the definition for “the HASS Directive”;

(iv)omit the definition of “high-activity source”;

(v)after the definition of “the appropriate Minister” insert—

“high-activity sealed source” means a sealed source for which the activity of the contained radionuclide is equal to or exceeds the relevant activity value laid down in Annex III of the Basic Safety Standards Directive;;

(vi)for the definition of “orphan source” substitute—

“orphan source” has the same meaning as in the Basic Safety Standards Directive;;

(vii)after the definition of “waste” insert—

(1A) Any reference to “the HASS Directive” in this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

(1B) Any reference to “high-activity source” in this Act shall be deemed to be a reference to “high-activity sealed source”.;

(b)in subsection (5A) for “Council Directive 96/29/EURATOM” substitute “Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM”;

(c)for subsection (6) substitute —

In the application of this section to Northern Ireland, the reference in subsection (2) to the Secretary of State shall have effect as a reference to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs..

(8) In Schedule 1A (tables of NORM industrial activities, radionuclides and summation rules) in so far as it relates to Northern Ireland—

(a)in Table 1, NORM Industrial Activities, in Part 2, after the row “China clay extraction” insert a further row called “Geothermal energy production”;

(b)for Table 2 (concentration of radionuclides: NORM industrial activities) substitute—

Table 2

Concentration of radionuclides: NORM industrial activities

RadionuclideSolid or relevant liquid concentration in becquerels per gram (Bq/g)Any other liquid concentration in becquerels per litre (Bq/l)Gaseous concentration in becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3)
U-238sec10.10.001
U-238+5100.01
U-2345100.01
Th-23010100.001
Ra-226+110.1
Pb-210+50.10.1
Po-21050.10.1
U-235sec10.10.0001
U-235+5100.01
Pa-231510.001
Ac-227+10.10.001
Th-232sec10.10.001
Th-2325100.001
Ra228+10.10.01
Th-228+110.001

(c)for Table 3 (concentration of radionuclides) substitute—

Table 3

Concentration of radionuclides

RadionuclideConcentration in becquerels per gram (Bq/g)
H-3102
Be-710
C-1410
F-1810
Na-220.1
Na-241
Si-31103
P-32103
P-33103
S-35102
CI-361
CI-3810
K-42102
K-4310
Ca-45102
Ca-4710
Sc-460.1
Sc-47102
Sc-481
V-481
Cr-51102
Mn-5110
Mn-521
Mn-52m10
Mn-53102
Mn-540.1
Mn-5610
Fe-52+10
Fe-55103
Fe-591
Co-5510
Co-560.1
Co-571
Co-581
Co-58m104
Co-600.1
Co-60m103
Co-61102
Co-62m10
Ni-59102
Ni-63102
Ni-6510
Cu-64102
Zn-650.1
Zn-69103
Zn-69m+10
Ga-7210
Ge-71104
As-73103
As-7410
As-7610
As-77103
Se-751
Br-821
Rb-86102
Sr-851
Sr-85m102
Sr-87m102
Sr-89103
Sr-90+1
Sr-91+10
Sr-9210
Y-90103
Y-91102
Y-91m102
Y-92102
Y-93102
Zr-9310
Zr-95+1
Zr-97+10
Nb-93m10
Nb-940.1
Nb-951
Nb-97+10
Nb-9810
Mo-9010
Mo-9310
Mo-99+10
Mo-101+10
Tc-961
Tc-96m103
Tc-9710
Tc-97m10
Tc-991
Tc-99m102
Ru-9710
Ru-103+1
Ru-105+10
Ru-106+0.1
Rh-103m104
Rh-105102
Pd-103+103
Pd-109+102
Ag-1051
Ag-108m+0.1
Ag-110m+0.1
Ag-11110
Cd-109+1
Cd-115+102
Cd-115m+102
In-11110
In-113m102
In-114m10
In-115m102
Sn-113+1
Sn-12510
Sb-12210
Sb-1241
Sb-125+0.1
Te-123m1
Te-125m103
Te-127103
Te-127m+10
Te-129102
Te-129m+10
Te-131102
Te-131m+10
Te-132+1
Te-133+10
Te-133m+10
Te-13410
I-123102
I-125102
I-12610
I-1290.01
I-13010
I-131+10
I-13210
I-13310
I-13410
I-13510
Cs-12910
Cs-131103
Cs-13210
Cs-1340.1
Cs-134m103
Cs-135102
Cs-1361
Cs-137+1
Cs-13810
Ba-13110
Ba-1401
La-1401
Ce-1391
Ce-141100
Ce-14310
Ce-144+10
Pr-142102
Pr-143103
Nd-147102
Nd-149102
Pm-147103
Pm-149103
Sm-151103
Sm-15310
Eu-1520.1
Eu-152m10
Eu-1540.1
Eu-1551
Gd-15310
Gd-159102
Tb-1601
Dy-165103
Dy-166102
Ho-166102
Er-169103
Er-171102
Tm-170102
Tm-171103
Yb-175102
Lu-177102
Hf-1811
Ta-1820.1
W-18110
W-185103
W-18710
Re-186103
Re-188102
Os-185103
Os-191102
Os-191m103
Os-193102
Ir-1901
Ir-1921
Ir-194102
Pt-19110
Pt-193m103
Pt-197103
Pt-197m102
Au-19810
Au-199102
Hg-197102
Hg-197m102
Hg-20310
TI-20010
TI-201102
TI-20210
TI-2041
Pb-20310
Pb-210+0.01
Pb-212+1
Bi-2061
Bi-2070.1
Bi-21010
Bi-212+1
Po-20310
Po-20510
Po-20710
Po-2100.01
At-211103
Ra-223+1
Ra-224+1
Ra-22510
Ra-226+0.01
Ra-227102
Ra-228+0.01
Ac-227+0.01
Ac-2281
Th-226+103
Th-2271
Th-228+0.1
Th-2290.1
Th-2300.1
Th-231102
Th-2320.01
Th-232+0.01
Th-232sec0.01
Th-234+10
Pa-23010
Pa-2310.01
Pa-23310
U-23010
U-231102
U-232+0.1
U-2331
U-2341
U-235+1
U-235sec0.01
U-23610
U-237102
U-238+1
U-238sec0.01
U-239102
U-240+102
Np-237+1
Np-239102
Np-24010
Pu-234103
Pu-235102
Pu-2361
Pu-237102
Pu-2380.1
Pu-2390.1
Pu-2400.1
Pu-24110
Pu-2420.1
Pu-243103
Pu-244+0.1
Am-2410.1
Am-242103
Am-242m+0.1
Am-243+0.1
Cm-24210
Cm-2431
Cm-2441
Cm-2450.1
Cm-2460.1
Cm-247+0.1
Cm-2480.1
Bk-249102
Cf-246103
Cf-2481
Cf-2490.1
Cf-2501
Cf-2510.1
Cf-2521
Cf-253102
Cf-253+102
Cf-2541
Es-253102
Es-254+0.1
Es-254m+10
Fm-254104
Fm-255102
Any other solid or non-aqueous liquid radionuclide that is not of natural terrestrial or cosmic origin0.01, unless the concentration which gives rise to the same 10 µSv/year dose criteria as used in column 2 of this table can be calculated by reference to the IAEA publication “Application of the Concepts of Exclusion, Exemption and Clearance” IAEA Safety Standards Series NO. RS-G-1.7.
(1)

O.J. L 13, 17.01.2014, p.1.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Memorandum

Explanatory Memorandum sets out a brief statement of the purpose of a Statutory Rule and provides information about its policy objective and policy implications. They aim to make the Statutory Rule accessible to readers who are not legally qualified and accompany any Northern Ireland Statutory Rule or Draft Northern Ireland Statutory Rule laid before the UK Parliament during the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as made version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources