Radioactivity

Planning and Environmental Policy Group (PEPG) is responsible for legislation in relation to radioactivity including radioactive contaminated land, high activity sealed sources (HASS) and the transport of radioactive material by road.

PEPG also co-operates with UK Government Departments in relation to policy on the management of solid low level radioactive waste and the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme. PEPG has contributed to the review of the UK's Radioactive Discharges Strategy which is currently issued for public consultation and is currently contributing to the transportation of Radioactive Waste Shipments Directive.

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

Further stakeholder engagement on proposals for a future exemptions regime under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011 and the Radioactive Substances (Exemption) Order (NI) 2011

Further proposals for a revised exemptions regime across the UK are set out below, following a public consultation held between 12 June and 4 September 2009, which raised questions on some key technical aspects of the proposed framework.

The necessary technical work to finalise the proposals has now been completed and stakeholders are asked to comment on whether the legislation and guidance are fit for purpose.

Full details of the 2009 consultation are available on the Proposals for A Future Exemptions Regime under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 DECC web page.

The aim of the new regime is to provide a modern approach to the regulation of ubiquitous and low risk radioactive materials and waste. Further information on the exemptions regime and the development of the scheme can be found on the Exemption Orders and review programme DECC web page  

Your views on these proposals are welcome. As with the June 2009 consultation, this is a UK wide stakeholder engagement. Any comments from NI stakeholders can be forwarded to DECC who is coordinating the exercise or, to gerry.arkins@doeni.gov.uk who will forward them to DECC.

The closing date for submissions is 6 October 2010.

The UK wide stakeholder engagement package can be found on the DECC website at:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/nuclear/radioactivity/decc/legislation/exempt_review/stakeholder/stakeholder.aspx

Stakeholder engagement documents:

Letter to stakeholders (pdf 59KB)

Revised proposals for a future exemptions regime under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2011: engagement document (pdf 210KB)

Atomic energy and radioactive substances - The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011 (Word 364KB)

Draft guidance on exemptions framework under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (Schedule 23 to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2011): guidance document (Word 570KB)

Atomic energy and radioactive substances - The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2011 (Word 364 KB)

Impact Assessment of the Review of the Exemption Orders under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (Word 106KB)

Revised proposals for a future exemptions regime under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2011: response form (Word 463KB)

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