Scientific and practical experience of supervisory activities in the field of the public and environmental protection at the Russian nuclear legacy sites

Abstract

Today, Russia is implementing a national program for the remediation of legacy sites, resulting from the activities of the nuclear industry, the use of nuclear energy for military purposes, and due to radiation accidents and emergencies. Main priority is given to the health care provision issues of the workers and the population living in the vicinity of the targeted facilities. These tasks are under the regulatory responsibility of the FMBA of Russia. Since the beginning of the development of the nuclear industry in the country, the Institute of Biophysics, technical supporting organization of the FMBA of Russia (now the State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center Federal Medical Biological Agency (SRC-FMBC)), has been a leading institute in the scientific and methodological support of public radiation safety in the vicinity of radiation hazardous facilities serviced by the FMBA of Russia. In this regard, radiation-hygienic monitoring has always served as the main regulatory tool for more than 60 years. The paper describes the results of long-term monitoring (2005-2018) at the former coastal technical bases of the Russian Navy ( now – sites for temporary storage of SNF and RW in the Russian Northwest and Far East (nuclear legacy sites); sites of the uranium mining and milling facilities: Priargun Mountain Chemical Association and former Production Association “Almaz” (Lermontov, Stavropol Krai); and at uranium legacy sites of the Central Asia (Republic of Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic). The peculiarities of radiation situation at the sites are discussed, current challenges identified, and further regulatory improvements presented based on the gained experience.