Summary
How operators of nuclear sites in England and Wales should design and carry out an environmental radiological monitoring programme as required by a radioactive substances activity permit. This guidance is also for regulators and other organisations who have, or participate in, independent environmental radiological monitoring programmes.
This guidance is mainly for designing new programmes, or reviewing existing programmes, around nuclear licenced sites to monitor the effects of permitted discharges.
It is to help you:
- define an objectives based environmental monitoring programme
- determine what to monitor, where and how often
- choose your main monitoring and sampling techniques
By using this guidance, you will be able to support demonstration that your radiological environmental monitoring programmes are using best available techniques (BAT).
This guidance replaces the previous version, Radiological monitoring technical guidance note 2: environmental radiological monitoring.
Contents
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The requirements for operators and those for regulators supporting environmental protection legislation across the UK, and the scope of this guidance.
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How to define the objectives for your programme and think about what is proportionate and sustainable, along with health, safety, welfare and quality considerations.
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How to design, implement and review environmental radiological monitoring programmes. Including considerations of the source, pathway and receptors, and the level of impact associated with the site.
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The main monitoring techniques and sample types to meet different monitoring objectives. Includes information on typical locations and frequency for these.
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Example programmes to guide you on what an appropriate programme could comprise for different impact sites.
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How to report on the results of your environmental monitoring to meet requirements, ensure best use of the data, and early indications of changes in the environment can be identified and acted upon.