Circular 27/2010/TT-BKHCN measurement of radiation and nuclear

CIRCULAR

Guiding the measurement of radiation and nuclear, development and management of the network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning

Pursuant to the Law on Atomic Energy No. 18/2008/QH12 dated June 03, 2008;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 07/2010/ND-CP dated January 25, 2010, detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on Atomic Energy;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 70/2010/ND-CP dated June 22, 2010, detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on Atomic Energy regarding nuclear power plants;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1636/QD-TTg dated August 31, 2010, approving the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning through 2020;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 28/2008/ND-CP dated March 14, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

The Minister of Science and Technology guides the measurement of radiation and nuclear, development and management of the network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning as follows:

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular guides the measurement of radiation and nuclear, development and management of the network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning, including operation center for environmental radioactivity observation and warning (hereinafter referred to as operation center), regional stations for environmental radioactivity observation and warning (hereinafter referred to as regional observatories), provincial stations for environmental radioactivity observation and warning (hereinafter referred to as local observatories) and observatories at nuclear facilities (hereinafter referred to as grassroots-level observatories).

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Circular applies to organizations and citizens in the country, overseas Vietnamese, foreign organizations and individuals, international organizations carrying out activities in the field of atomic energy in Vietnam.

Chapter II

STANDARDS OF RADIATION AND NUCLEAR MEASUREMENT, TESTING AND CALIBRATION OF RADIATION AND NUCLEAR MEASURING EQUIPMENT, RADIATION EQUIPMENT

Article 3. Setting and keeping the national standards of radiation and nuclear measurement

1. Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute shall manage the national laboratory for radiation and nuclear measurement in accordance with the law on measurement.

2. The national laboratory for radiation and nuclear measurement shall have the main tasks and powers as follows:

a) Standard setting, standard keeping, transmission of radiation and nuclear measurement standards and periodic calibration or comparison with internationally recognized standards;

b) Study of radiation and nuclear measurement methods;

c) Study and development of processes for inspection and calibration of radiation measuring equipment, radiation equipment, and nuclear equipment;

d) Recognition of organizations and individuals with sufficient technical capacity to inspect and calibrate radiation measuring equipment, radiation equipment, and nuclear equipment;

dd) Archive of dossiers relating to activities of the national laboratory for radiation and nuclear measurement.

Article 4. Testing and calibration of radiation and nuclear measuring equipment, radiation equipment

1. The lists of radiation and nuclear measuring equipment subject to testing and calibration are provided in the List of legal measuring instruments and National Standards on procedures for testing and calibration of radiation recording and measuring equipment issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2. The list of radiation equipment subject to testing and calibration is provided in Appendix to this Circular. National Standards on procedures for testing and calibration of radiation recording and measuring equipment shall be issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Chapter III

ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY OBSERVATION AND WARNING

Article 5. Norm and observation frequency

1. Gamma radiation dose rate in the air - continuous observation;

2. Cumulative dose - once every three months;

3. Radioisotopes in aerosols - continuous observation;

4. Total beta radioactivity in dry, wet and rainwater samples - once a month;

5. Radon content and total beta radioactivity in water (domestic water, surface water, groundwater and wastewater) - every three months;

6. Content of radioisotopes in the soil environment (surface soil, sediment) - every six months;

7. Content of radioisotopes in plants, food and foodstuff - every six months;

8. Relevant meteorological parameters - continuous observation.

Article 6. Building and managing operation center, regional observatories, local observatories and grassroots-level observatories

1. The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute shall:

a) Formulate and submit to the Ministry of Science and Technology for promulgation of the decisions on establishment of the operation center and regional observatories affiliated to the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning;

b) Manage operations of the operation center and regional observatories affiliated to the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning. On an annual basis, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute shall send reports on the national environmental radioactivity to the Ministry of Science and Technology and immediately report abnormal phenomenon of radioactivity, concurrently, send a copy of such report to the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

2. Departments of Science and Technology of provinces and centrally-run cities shall:

a) Formulate and submit to People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities for promulgation of decisions on establishment of local observatories on the basis of the Master plan for national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning;

b) Manage operations of local observatories in the localities.

3. Organizations and individuals operating one of the following nuclear facilities must build and manage grassroots-level observatories:

a) Nuclear power plants;

b) Research reactor;

c) Facilities that enrich uranium or produce nuclear fuel;

d) Facilities that store, dispose of or bury radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

4. Physical foundations, equipment and human resources of operation center, regional observatories, local observatories and grassroots-level observatories must meet requirements specified in the national technical regulation on environmental radioactivity observation and warning.

Article 7. Functions and tasks of the operation center

1. The operation center shall manage and operate the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning, and serve the response to radiation incidents, nuclear incidents.

2. The operation center has the following main tasks:

a) Collecting data from stations and observatories in the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning and national system of natural resources and environment observation;

b) Processing and developing the national database on environmental radioactivity, and storing indefinitely environmental radioactivity data;

c) Analyzing and assessing radiation and nuclear incidents, serving the response to radiation and nuclear incidents;

d) Providing professional guidance, coordinating and inspecting operations of observatories in the national network of environmental radioactivity observation and warning;

dd) Reporting the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute the biannual observation results, and immediately sending reports on abnormal phenomenon of radioactivity, or upon the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute's request.

Article 8. Functions and tasks of regional observatories

1. The regional observatory shall conduct the environmental radioactivity observation and warning in the region; coordinate operations of local and grassroots-level observatories, and serve the response to radiation incidents, nuclear incidents.

2. The regional observatory has the following main tasks:

a) Collecting, processing and analyzing environmental radioactivity norms in localities in the region where local observatories are unavailable according to the norms and frequency specified in Article 5 of this Circular;

b) Receiving and analyzing radioactive norms of environmental samples sent by local observatories in the region;

c) Connecting and receiving online observation data from local and grassroots-level observatories of nuclear facilities in the region;

d) Assessing the radioactive status at the scene when radiation incidents or nuclear incidents occur in the region;

dd) Sending written reports on the observation results in the region to the operation center every three months, and immediately sending reports on abnormal phenomenon of radioactivity, or upon the operation center's request.

Article 9. Functions and tasks of local observatories

1. The local observatory shall conduct the environmental radioactivity observation and warning in the province or city where it is located; serve the response to radiation incidents, nuclear incidents.

2. The local observatory has the following main tasks:

a) Observing environmental radioactivity norms in the locality according to the frequency specified in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 8 Article 5 of this Circular;

b) Collecting environmental samples and sending them to regional observatories in accordance with Clauses 4, 5, 6, 7 Article 5 of this Circular, and upon request of regional observatories;

c) Summarizing data, analyzing, assessing and sending reports on observation results to regional observatories, and the provincial-level Department of Science and Technology on a monthly basis, and immediately sending reports on abnormal phenomenon of radioactivity, or upon the requests of regional observatories and the provincial-Department of Science and Technology.

Article 10. Functions and tasks of grassroots-level observatories

1. The grassroots-level observatory shall conduct the environmental radioactivity observation and warning in the nuclear facility; serve the response to radiation incidents, nuclear incidents.

2. The observatory has the following main tasks:

a) Observing environmental radioactivity norms in the nuclear facility in accordance with Article 5 of this Circular;

b) Frequently connecting and sending observation data to regional and local observatories where the nuclear facility is located;

c) Collecting data, processing, analyzing and assessing environmental radioactivity norms; collecting and storing observation data in accordance with regulations;

d) Sending reports on observation assessment to regional observatories and the provincial-level Department of Science and Technology every three months; sending such reports to the Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety every six months, and immediately sending reports on abnormal phenomenon of radioactivity, or upon the requests of regional observatories, the provincial-Department of Science and Technology and Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

dd) Assessing the radioactive status at the scene when radiation incidents or nuclear incidents occur in the facility;

Article 11. Observation result announcement

The Ministry of Science and Technology shall announce environmental radioactivity observation results.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 12. Effect

1. This Circular takes effect after 45 days from the signing date.

2. Any difficulties arising in the course of implementation should be promptly reported in writing to the Ministry of Science and Technology for review, amendment and supplementation.

For the Minister

The Deputy Minister

LE DINH TIEN