RSRP attended the kick-off meeting for the IAEA Radiation Sources Regulatory Infrastructure Development Project (RIDP) for select countries of Africa during July 17-21, 2017. Sergey Katsenelenbogen of AdSTM supported the IAEA event by participating in the development of the RIDP Action Plan and by sharing bi-lateral RSRP experience in development of regulatory infrastructure. US NRC has an established relationship with the Radiation Protection Board of Kenya (host country to RIDP event). International Regulatory Development Program (IRDP), a US NRC run assistance program www.irdp-online.org...
News from 2017
Peter Kelm of AdSTM visited Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to discuss RSRP activities during the week of July 3-7, 2017. The regulatory system was re-organized during recent years, and it is complex.Meetings took place with representatives of the three organizations responsible for Nuclear and Radiation Safety:State Regulation Centre of the Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety in the Agency on Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of Kyrgyzstan,Department of Nuclear and Radiological Safety at State Inspection for Ecological and Technical Safety at the Government, responsible...
On June 9th 2017, the collaboration among UDELAS-MINSA-USNRC welcomed a new group of Master Program students, who begin their studies on June 12th 2017. Sergey Katsenelenbogen, representing the RSRP Program, delivered a commencement speech and encouraged the new group to work hard to successfully complete the program. The group is expected to graduate at the beginning of 2019. This program will allow Panama to meet national demand for Radiation Safety Officers and to improve safety of operating and regulating the use of radiation sources.
A meeting between the Panamanian Regulatory Authority and the RSRP program was held on June 9th, 2017 in Panama City, Panama, to discuss an update to the existing ARIS database for radiation sources & generators. The Regulatory Authority expressed additional interest for support with the radiation sources user outreach to improve licensing and inspection processes. Nadja Benson from the Regulatory Authority and Cecilio Tejeira from the Ministry of Health attended the meeting. Sergey Katsenelenbogen and Mario Rodriguez were present for RSRP.
On June 8th, 2017 UDELAS and AdSTM (representing the USNRC/RSRP program), signed an agreement to implement the Master Program in Radiation Protection during the new academic cycle of 2017-2019. Dr. Juan Bosco Bernal, UDELAS President, and Sergey Katsenelenbogen representing the RSRP program signed the agreement. Dr. Oscar Sitton (UDELAS Postgraduate Studies Dean) and staff and Dr. Eloy Gibbs (academic coordinator of the Master Program) were present at the signing ceremony. Dr. Bernal expressed UDELAS appreciation and thanked USNRC for supporting this important academic program. Sergey...
From April 24-28, 2017, RSRP conducted a one-week workshop in Montevideo, Uruguay on Design and Shielding Calculation in Medical Radiological Facilities, as part of the undergoing collaboration with the National Regulatory Authority on Radiation Protection (ARNR). The workshop discussed several medical imaging and therapeutic modalities for purposes of shielding calculation and design optimization.
The reference documents for the workshop include NCRP145, NCRP147 and NCRP151. Software and other computer tools were provided to the participants to support shielding calculation. The activity...
During April 24-28, 2017, RSRP provided technical support to IAEA Project INT9182 9015, Sustaining Cradle-to-Grave Control of Radioactive Sources. Support was provided to a Work Group that consisted of three experts from Member States (Brazil, Montenegro, and Tanzania) plus three international experts (South Africa and the U.S.) in the continued development of a decision-aiding document on end-of-life management options for disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS). The Work Group’s report includes guidance for cost-estimating techniques for DSRS end-of-life management, case studies for...
From April 25-27, RSRP visited the Agency for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Georgia to discuss the status of ongoing technical work performed under RSRP program.Current support is focused on the update of the legal bases in radiation safety and security, and specifically on the development of the regulation for emergency preparedness and response and on the physical security of materials facilities. The Action Plan for the years 2017/2018 was discussed and will be negotiated and finalized in May, 2015. The meeting was attended by the head of the ANRS, Mr. Vasil Gedevanishvili, his deputy...
From March 21 to 23, 2017, Paulo Ferruz and John Kinneman of AdSTM, Inc conducted a program assessment at the Under Secretary for Control of Nuclear Applications in the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Republic of Ecuador. The assessment included meetings with the Under Secretary, the Director of Nuclear Applications and Technical Cooperation, the Director of Licensing and Radiological Protection and various technical specialists. The Under Secretary and his Directors are responsible for the licensing and radiation safety inspection of sources of ionizing radiation within...
RSRP visited the National Radiation Safety Agency (NRSA) of the Republic of Tajikistan in Dushanbe from March 26-29, 2017. In collaboration with NRSA, the objective of the visit was to develop the RSRP Action Plan for 2017-2018. Current issues include the update of the legal basis in radiation safety, the adaptation of NRSA structure to current challenges, and the decision to establish a regional NRSA office in the northern region of the country to increase inspection quality and reduce the number of long distance travel for NRSA staff.
The meeting discussed support provided by US...