4 Regulatory Framework for Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Kyrgyzstan
4.5 Emergency preparedness and response
Thus, in the Kyrgyz Republic it is considered appropriate:
to improve national legislation by revising the radiation safety standards in the implementation of such concepts as planned, existing and emergency exposure situations
to develop a regulation on a unified state system for recording doses of radiation under planned exposure situations
to develop a national interface for the exchange of dosimetric information of established quality between manufacturers (laboratory of individual dose control), depository (registry) and licensees (i.e.
the users of data on individual doses); and
to strive to create a national calibration laboratory and repair base for metrological service testing laboratories.
During a visit of the Deputy Director General of the IAEA to the Kyrgyz Republic on 19-21 June 2019, it was noted that draft regulatory documents aimed at harmonizing Kyrgyz legislation with the requirements of IAEA safety standards would need to be approved to prevent problems with ongoing and future national projects aimed at restoring the use of nuclear medicine, improving radiation therapy and developing brachytherapy of the National Oncology Center (NCO). It was also noted that, for the IAEA, the situation with the stagnation of the work of the SPECT-CT device in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the NCO since 2011 is an indicator of ineffective management and low control and that the Ministry of Health needed to increase its work in personnel training and other support for the Department. The supply of a TC-99m generator, under the guarantee of the regulator of the Kyrgyz Republic, has been approved.
However, the threat of a device launch failure may occur not only due to the lack of a technetium
generator, as happened in 2011, but also due to a lack of trained personnel. Due to poor management and the difficult economic situation in the country, retaining competent staff is one of the most important problems for the NCO.
The tasks of the SCPS are as follows:
development and implementation of legal norms to ensure the protection of the population from emergency situations, considering the demographic and gender characteristics of various groups, and the territory
implementation of targeted and scientific-technical programs aimed at preventing emergency situations and improving the sustainability of the functioning of industrial and social facilities in emergency situations
ensuring the readiness of the civil protection authorities, and the forces and means of state bodies, local self-government bodies and organizations
forecasting and assessing the socio-economic consequences of emergency situations
collection, processing, exchange and provision of information in the field of civil protection
training and professional development of managers and employees of state bodies, bodies of local self-government at all levels and organizations
training of the population in emergency situations
conducting emergency prevention and disaster risk reduction measures; and
provision of financial and material reserves for the prevention, liquidation of consequences of emergency situations.
The procedure for attracting and reimbursement of expenses for rescue and other urgent work is determined by the Government.
4.5.2 Functional Subsystem for hazardous facilities within SCPS
There are no nuclear facilities in the Kyrgyz Republic (nuclear power plants, fuel, etc.). From the point of view of SCPS, the most dangerous objects in the Kyrgyz Republic at present are:
Radioactive tailings and dumps
Facilities of mining complex OJSC “KGRK” (warehouses of radioactive and chemical substances, pipelines with a uranium product and chemicals); and
A RW burial site (storage of SIR).
In future actions, SRCEPES together with the DDPSSES, MES and the SCPS Office for Nuclear and Radiation Safety should:
develop regulations on the prevention of radiation hazardous emergencies and the protection of the population and territories from their consequences
ensure the readiness of SRCEPES SAEPF, the Ministry of Health, the MES and its subordinate forces and their means to undertake actions aimed at preventing and responding to emergency situations
Ratify of the Convention on Early Notification of Nuclear Accidents and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
develop a prompt notification means through the media of radiation accidents in the Kyrgyz Republic and abroad in the event of probable transboundary movement of radioactive substances; and
create a single national communications center of the national competent authority in accordance with the Conventions referred to above.
Activities within the functional safety subsystem of hazardous facilities are regulated by the corresponding Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept for Integrated Protection of the Population and Territory of the Kyrgyz Republic [18] and the response plan [19]. The current mode of operation is established by the Government Decree on the Concept for Integrated Protection [20].
On the occurrence of an accident, the authorities and the units within the SCPS are notified by a signal that is transmitted through all means of communication. Workers, employees and the rest of the
population are notified by means of a centralized warning system, electric sirens, loudspeakers and mobile warning devices, through which voice messages are transmitted about the course of action to be taken with respect to the situation. After an emergency assessment of the radiation situation using real meteorological data and the preparation of proposals, a decision is taken on measures to protect the population, farm animals and eliminate the consequences of the accident.
Radiation monitoring is organized by the departments and divisions of the MES, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision of the Ministry of Health, the Center for State Regulation of Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry and the State Inspectorate for Environmental and Technical Safety. The Ministry of Defense also has a mobile response platoon. In addition, the
European and Central Asian Safety Network (EuCAS), to which the Kyrgyz Republic is a member, is developing common rules for mobilizing member countries.
In order to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of various samples and objects of the external environment following a radiation emergency, civil defense units of cities and regions establish an observation and laboratory control network, involving institutions of veterinary laboratories and site laboratories. Monitoring is carried out by specialized territorial intelligence units within the SCPS, and through the use of static monitoring posts.
To eliminate the consequences of an accident at radiation hazardous facilities, the following measures are taken:
Existing protective structures are brought into readiness, and ground-based buildings and structures are sealed to cover the population in them.
A partial resettlement of the population from areas of possible radiation contamination is carried out.
Consolidated mobile detachments of special protection response units such as ambulance crews are alerted, and medical institutions are deployed to receive those affected by radioactive substances.
Preparations are made for accident-free production shutdown in the event of an emergency.
Additional loudspeakers and street sirens are installed, and mobile warning devices are prepared.
There is an accelerated execution of works to localize possible areas of contamination (e.g.
construction of device / tank embankments, dams and gutters, etc.).
The deployment of forces and means of civil protection involved in rescue and other urgent work is carried out in accordance with the plan to bring them into readiness. The groups of forces and means of civil protection to eliminate the consequences of accidents and to conduct rescue operations at radiation hazardous facilities in areas in the cities Bishkek and Osh are determined by the respective heads of civil protection in accordance with the plans and a range of countermeasures can be implemented in an emergency situation.
When conducting rescue and other urgent work, the focus is on: removing victims from the rubble that resulted from the destruction of buildings and structures, providing them with medical assistance and evacuation to medical institutions; blocking or jamming sources of ionizing radiation; localizing and
extinguishing fires; and localizing and eliminating accidents on utilities networks. Measures to protect the affected population are organized by local state administrations and local governments with the
involvement of civil protection services. The management of measures to eliminate the consequences of the accident at radiation hazardous facilities is carried out by the relevant territorial and sectoral
authorities of civil protection. To provide communications and control, a mobile communications center of the MES is deployed, and departmental communications are also used.
4.5.3 SRCEPES SAEPF Information and Emergency Center
In accordance with the Decree of the Government, dated January 28, 2019, No. 16 “On Civil Protection Services of the Kyrgyz Republic” [21], the “Radiation and Chemical Protection Service” falls within the functions of the SAEPF. However, there is currently no information center in the SRCEPES SAEPF.
4.5.4 Emergency Training
Personnel included in SRCEPES, SIETS, DDPSSES, MES and other government agencies undergo special training by taking part in regular EPR training held by the IAEA. Training courses on emergency response are also periodically held at the training center of the MES. As a rule, such courses are organized on a paid basis and are only for staff of state bodies. Staff of private organizations whose activities are related to radioactive materials and sources, currently do not receive any training in emergency response. Improved interaction and coordination between private organizations and the MES in the field of EPR is needed.
Requirements for materials and training on the subject of “Emergency preparedness at radiation hazardous facilities” are not established under current regulations.
4.5.5 Radiation Monitoring Using Mobile Laboratory
The MES has the ability to undertake radiation monitoring using a mobile laboratory. As part of a national project supported by the IAEA in 2014, the MES received one mobile laboratory in order to respond to emergencies with the threat of radiation exposure or events of public interest, as well as to monitor the current status of radioactive tailings. There are no other mobile laboratories in the republic. The laboratory is at the disposal of the Tailings Management Agency under the MES. The MES does not provide any reports on its activities to the Government, nor to SRCEPES, SIETS and DDPSSES. However, it is understood that, between 2014 and 2019, the laboratory had not been used and no monitoring
observations have been made by the laboratory. At present, any monitoring at radioactive waste tailings is carried out only within the framework of interdepartmental commissions or within international projects.
Until 2015, routine departmental monitoring was carried out only in the town Kara-Balta town. Since 2015, due to financial problems, monitoring of facilities has been further limited.
4.5.6 INES Application
According to international practices, nuclear and radiological events are assessed and communicated to the public according to the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES). The Kyrgyz Republic became a member of INES activities in 2008. The National Coordinator of INES is SRCEPES. SRCEPES should consider whether there are sufficient mechanisms by which operators can inform the regulatory body about events and whether the operator or SRCEPES, as the INES national coordinator, should be responsible for the classification of such events.
4.5.7 Harmonization of Legislative and Regulatory Framework on Emergency Preparedness and Response with IAEA Safety Standards and Commonwealth of Independent States CIS) rules
Together with the DDPSSES and MES, the SRCEPES needs to do the following with regard to the
harmonization of the legislative and regulatory framework on EPR with the IAEA Safety Standards and CIS rules:
Revise regulatory documents and other interdepartmental documents
Establish regulatory requirements for the emergency plans of operators in accordance with the classification of GSR Part 7 [22]; and
Develop a radiation protection strategy in accordance with the requirements of GSR Part 7 [22].
It should be noted that in the current Law of the Kyrgyz Republic Technical Regulations on Radiation Safety [12] have the following disadvantages:
There is no requirement to create and maintain an integrated and coordinated emergency management system that is integrated into the overall management system for all emergency situations.
EPR objectives are not clearly defined.
There is no requirement for the implementation of measures to ensure a prompt emergency response at a sites and to manage the response without prejudice to the implementation of long-term
operational safety and physical security functions both the affected facility and at any other facilities at the site.
There is no requirement to conduct emergency response coordination activities between response organizations (including organizations of other states) as well as to provide mutual support.
There is no requirement to conduct, based on a hazard assessment, an operational classification of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
There is no requirement for the introduction of emergency planning zones and emergency planning distances, within which measures must be taken at the readiness stage in order to effectively take protective measures and other response measures. These emergency planning areas and emergency planning distances should, as appropriate, not be interrupted at national borders.
There is no requirement to establish reference levels to optimize the protection and safety of the public in emergency exposure situations.
There is no requirement to ensure a response in an emergency exposure situation through the timely implementation of emergency response measures, including (but not limited to) the prompt
implementation of protective measures in order to avoid serious deterministic effects, considering the observed conditions and, if possible, before exposure will occur.
In emergency situations, the requirements for occupational exposure under planned exposure situations are not applied to emergency workers. The Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "Technical
Regulations on Radiation Safety " provides for requirements to limit exposure of the public as a result of radiation accidents. The accumulated effective dose of technogenic radiation exposure of the personnel of group A for the period of labor activity (50 years), including the dose of emergency and planned increased exposure, should not exceed 1000 mSv, and for personnel of group B - 250 mSv.
Emergency exposure of the public is limited by introducing intervention levels. Upon the fact of a radiation accident or upon detection of radioactive contamination, intervention in order to limit the exposure of the population is carried out in the form of protective measures applied to the
environment and (or) to humans. Mandatory urgent intervention is carried out in the form of measures aimed at preventing acute radiation injury.
For emergency and rescue operations in the radiation accident zone, only persons assigned to the personnel of group A, primarily members of specialized emergency teams, can be involved. If necessary, for the performance of these works, persons, preferably from personnel over 30 years of age, who do not have medical contraindications, may be involved, with their voluntary written consent after being informed about possible radiation doses and health risks. The planned increased exposure in an effective dose of up to 100 mSv per year and in equivalent doses up to two times the values of the main dose limit is allowed with the permission of the authorized state body in the field of health
There is no requirement to provide the affected population in the event of a nuclear or radiological emergency with information that is necessary for its protection, and to promptly warn and instruct that population on the measures to be taken.
There is no requirement to ensure proper medical examination and provision of medical care,
treatment and long-term medical measures for people who may have suffered as a result of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
There is no requirement to ensure the safe and efficient handling of radioactive waste generated as a result of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
There is no requirement to ensure the development and implementation of an emergency response mechanism with due regard for the need to resume socio-economic activities or the development and application of measures to move from an emergency exposure situation to an existing exposure situation.