Nuclear Waste Management (current practice of Waste Management in Malaysia)

Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) in Malaysia

　　　MINT was established in 1972 as the Tun Ismail Atomic Research Center

(PUSPATI). Infrastructural development on the 27-hectare at Bangi commenced in January 1979, culminating in its coming into full operation in June 1982 with the commissioning of its nuclear research reactor. PUSPATI was later renamed the Nuclear Energy Unit (UTN) in June 1983 on being placed under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Department. In October 1990, the UTN was retransferred to the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, and assumed its new identity as MINT in August 10, 1994.

　　　In the quest for a distinct separation of roles between promotional and regulatory functions, Act 304, the Atomic Energy Licensing Act of 1984 was formulated, paving the way for the establishment of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) as a separate entity, in February 1985. A second 81-hectare complex, about 3km apart, Kompleks Dengkil site was acquired in 1984. A new organization name for UTN, the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT), was approved by the cabinet on August 10, 1994.

RWM Policy

　　　The setting up of PUSPATI in 1972 was a catalyst for the use of nuclear technology in various fields in Malaysia. Currently, there is only a 1 MW TRIGA Mk II research reactor in operation. With regard to nuclear power program, the Government has reaffirmed that the national energy policy will continue to be based on four conventional fuels, which excludes nuclear energy as one of the option. With this decision, the amount of radioactive waste in future is not expected to increase significantly. Currently, Malaysia has no plans to embark on a nuclear power program, and our nuclear activities are limited to the applications of such technologies in the industrial, medical, agricultural, and environmental sectors.

　　　The country also has a long history of tin mining activities. These mining activities generate a sizable volume of radioactive waste. Certain minerals, such as monazite, illminite, and zircon - which contain natural radioactive elements such as uranium, thorium and radium - coexist with tin ore or cassiterite in the ground. In the process of extracting tin, these radioactive elements become more concentrated and become by-products of mineral processing industries.

　　　In 1997, a special Committee on the Foundation of National Policy for the Safe Management of Radioactive Waste has been set up to recommend the government of the content of the policy. The Committee consists of various groups of people, including those from non-government agencies, who may have interest on radioactive waste. A draft policy has been submitted to the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment for comments and approval in early 1999.

　　　Since Malaysia does not have any specific regulation on disposal and management of radioactive waste, AELB enforced the waste management policy through its licensing procedure and conditions of license issued to the licensee.

RWM Practices

Legislative Framework

　　　The first law concerning atomic energy was Radioactive Substances Act 1968, which governed radioactive materials or ionizing radiation in medical field. Under the Act 1968, there are two regulations: Radiation Protection Rules (1974) and Radiation Protection (Medical X-Ray Diagnosis) Rules (1983), which are basically for medical field. This Act was repealed by the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (AELA 1984, Act. 304), gazetted on February 1, 1985, and enforced on the same date.

　　　Since the enforcement of AELA 1984, a major part of the responsibility was transferred to MOSTE. However, the control of application in medical field is still under the MOH. One provision under Act 304 is the establishment of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) on February 1, 1985. The regulatory body for radioactive waste management is the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB). Legislation regarding waste management is in Part VI of AELA 1984. These provisions (Sections 26-30) provide for control of

radioactive wastes, and empower the AELB to enforce the Act and introduce guidelines.

　　　Under Act 304, radioactive waste is defined as follows:

　　　"Radioactive waste means any wastes which contains all or part of:

a. Substance or item which if it is not waste is considered as radioactive material, or Substance or item which has been contaminated during production, storage or use

b. of any radioactive material, nuclear material or prescribed substance, or by contact with or proximity to any other waste within the meaning of paragraph (a) of this definition.

Regulatory Framework / Body

　　　There are two ministries involved in matters related to usage of radioactive materials or nuclear technology: the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE) (see Figure 3.6-3 MOSTE Organizational Chart) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). MOSTE is responsible for most of the activities related to usage of radioactive materials and nuclear technology except medical, which is under the jurisdiction of the MOH.

　　　Under MOSTE, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) is the regulatory body, whereby among the main functions are to exercise control and supervision over production, application and usage of radioactive material and nuclear technology and advising the Minister and the Government on related matters. The role of the Malaysian Institute for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) is on promoting the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and provides waste management services at institutional and national level.

　　　All users of radioactive materials are required to be responsible for the wastes they produced. They are required to be registered and be licensed by the competent authority, Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB). Malaysian Institute For Nuclear Technology Research (MINT) has been given the responsibility to provide services in the management of the radioactive wastes produced in Malaysia. Users without facilities and waste management expertise can request assistance from MINT regarding their problems. All services are chargeable depending on the type and characteristics of the wastes.

Waste Management Policy

a. Users of radioactive materials are responsible for the waste.

b. Required to be registered and licensed by AELB

c. Store or return to supplier

d. Users without infrastructure and expertise can request third party organization for services that are licensed/recognized by AELB.

Responsibility of License Holder

　　　The Act. 304 covers basically all fields of application and several regulations have

been formulated, namely:

a. Radiation Protection (Licensing) Regulation 1986

b. Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standard) Regulation 1988

c. Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulation 1989

d. Radiation Protection (Transport)(Amendment) Regulations 1991

　　　A draft on the regulation concerning radioactive waste management is still under review. Currently, matters regarding radioactive waste are in Part VI of the Act 304 (Section

26-30):

a. Control of disposal of radioactive waste

b. Control of accumulation of radioactive waste

c. Appropriate authority may direct licensee to rectify situation where facilities are not adequate

d. Appropriate authority may order licensee or any other person to adopt measures to protect life, health and property

e. Transport of radioactive waste with prior authorization of the appropriate authority

　　　The current regulations enforced by AELB covers only the activities related to the management of radioactive waste in general and there is no provision specifically mention on the disposal of radioactive waste. Since there is no specific regulation on disposal of radioactive waste yet, the AELB adopts an interim policy whereby radioactive waste shall

be managed, but not disposed into the environment, in three ways:

a. Stored by the user

b. Returned to the supplier for sealed sources

c. Sent to National Radioactive Waste Management Center at the Malaysian Institute

d. for Nuclear Technology Research (MINT)

　　　As far as discharge or release of radioactive material/waste to the environment is concern, section 51 of the Radiation Protection (BSS) Regulations 1988 authorizing the

Board to specify a release limit having taking into account the following:

a. Pre-operational environmental monitoring

b. Determination of critical pathway

c. Selection of critical group of population

d. Assessing radiation exposure to members of the public

　　　On the other hand, the licensee has the obligation to carry out effluent monitoring of the discharged material.

　　　Although present legislations are continuously being reviewed and improved with an aim to be at par with international standards, they nonetheless provide an adequate basic mechanism aimed at controlling responsible people to deal with radioactive material and hence radioactive waste in a safe manner.

Criteria Used to Define and Categorize Radioactive Waste

　　　There is no official classification for radioactive wastes in Malaysia. From the source of origin, radioactive wastes may be grouped into three categories:

a. the low specific activity NORM/TENORM waste from mineral processing and oil exploration,

b) from the application or usage of radioactive sources in various fields, and

c) spent fuels from the operation of research reactor.

　　　These wastes may exist in different physical forms (solid, liquid or gaseous) and content, hence they need to be segregated accordingly. Basically, classification of radioactive waste is based on activity level, half-lives and the presence of alpha emitters. It is therefore appropriate at this time to adopt a classification system as recommended by the IAEA. The NORM-bearing waste is defined as Low Specific Activity (LSA) as indicated in the Radiation Protection (Transport) Regulations 1989.

Inventory of Radioactive Waste - Inventory of RW in Storage Low level Radioactive Waste.

Most of the wastes produced in Malaysia are from small uses of radioactive material. The mostly low-level aqueous liquid radioactive wastes generated at research laboratories are processed so that their radioactivity is reduced to a level below the standards prescribed by law. Organic liquid wastes are stored in suitable containers before absorption and further treatment. The solid wastes are placed in 200-liter drums for processing (decay storage, volume reduction, etc.) before temporary storage. The current storage facility is located nearby the waste processing area.

RW in Disposal

　　　Currently, there is no disposal facility/repository for radioactive waste in Malaysia. Considerations are being made for future waste management programs and repository for radioactive waste are given priority. Current processed wastes are stored at RWMC, while TENORM related waste is stored at the generator's premises.