How safety will be ensured at the radioactive waste disposal facility planned for construction in Belarus was explained by First Deputy Head of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) Leonid Dedul in BelTA’s project The Nation Speaks.
Regarding the radioactive waste disposal facility planned for construction in Belarus, an environmental impact assessment is being carried out taking into account potential locations for the site. “It is our international obligation to carry out such work and to answer any questions that may arise in our neighboring countries that take an interest in this matter,” Leonid Dedul said.
When designing such a facility - once a decision is made on the site and specific technologies have been determined - the control of the facility’s impact on the environment is considered. “I would place the highest priority on radiation safety control at the facility itself, because people will be working there. Even though there may be up to 200 people - not as many as at the nuclear power plant itself - the issue of radiation safety includes both radiation control at the site and the impact of that site on the environment,” the first deputy head emphasized.
Assessments also consider what could affect the facility. “For example, if it is located next to the nuclear power plant, then in the event of some hypothetical incident at the plant, that could affect the safety of the disposal facility, where we also plan to place so-called emergency radioactive waste. So this work and, naturally, the system for monitoring and controlling the radiation situation will be integrated and included in the national environmental monitoring system,” said Leonid Dedul.
