Prot ection of the E nvironment from Ionising Radiation in a Regulatory C ontex t

1. Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation in a Regulatory Context PROTECT An EC Co-ordinated action

2. Overall objectives • To evaluate the practicability and relative merits of different approaches to protection of the environment from ionising radiation. • To compare these with methods used for non-radioactive contaminants, particularly on the adequacy with respect to the European framework defined for chemicals. • This will provide a basis on which • the EC could develop protection policies and revise its Basic Safety Standards, • We can develop a fruitful collaboration with, and constructive input into, current ICRP and IAEA task groups.

3. Detailed objectives • To evaluate current regulatory approaches in different countries to the protection of the environment from both radioactive substances and chemicals and to determine how end points of protection are currently applied within the different regimes; • To identify differences and similarities between the approaches used for protection of the environment from chemicals and radiation; • To make recommendations for generating common approaches to the protection of the environment bearing in mind any broader environmental protection objectives. • To evaluate the practicability of existing and developing approaches • To consider the acceptability and relevance of current approaches compared to the needs of industry and regulators and the different situations it may need to address • To test available approaches against any relevant ICRP recommendation or outputs from PROTECT • To assess the availability, usability and transparency of available approaches to groups other than those involved in their development • To derive an extended set of numerical target values and their derivation methods, designed to assure compliance to environmental protection goals that resonate with protective goals for releases of hazardous substances in general, and to assess the implications for society at large.

4. Objectives of WP1 (Part 1) • Consult widely with industry and regulators to review regulatory approaches to chemical and radioactive substances. Emphasis on: • Regulatory instruments • Procedures • Underlying principles • Criteria • What is on the horizon (policy development)?

5. Objectives of WP1 (Part 2) • Identify similarities and differences in approaches between chemicals and radioactive substances • What are the endpoints for chemicals and radioactive substances? • To make recommendations for generating common approaches to the protection of the environment

6. WP2: Objectives • To evaluate the practicability of existing and developing approaches • To consider the acceptability and relevance of current approaches compared to the needs of industry and regulators and the different situations it may need to address • To test available approaches against any relevant ICRP recommendation or outputs from WP3 • To assess the availability, usability and transparency of available approaches to groups other than those involved in their development

7. WP2: What we’re going to do • Evaluate approaches to assess: • Practicability in regulatory context • Fitness for purpose/robustness • If they meet aspirations of regulators/industry identified by WP1 • Relative merits • ‘Cost’ • Accessibility to groups other than those involved in development • Overlap & difference with chemical assessment tools • Help WP3 evaluate benchmarks

8. WP3: Objectives ”derive and propose numerical target values for an extended list of ecological targets and protection levels, designed to assure compliance with environmental protection goals that resonate with protective goals set up for releases of hazardous ubstances in general, and to assess the implications for society at large”

9. WP3: Four work areas • The appropriate level of protection of the environment against ionising radiation • Derivation of numerical target values • Analysis of implications of derived values for practices • Interaction with regulators, industry, NGO’s and other experts

10. Workplan

11. Deliverable dates

12. Meeting dates

13. Website (on CEH pages) Will produce a newsletter circulated to all interested parties after this WP and at ‘interesting’ intervals throughout project