Circular No. 22/2014/TT-BKHCN on the management of radioactive waste and decommissioned radioactive sources

CIRCULAR

Article 24Regulations on the management of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources

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Pursuant to the Atomic Energy Law dated June 3, 2008;

Pursuant to Decree No. 20/2013/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2013 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

At the proposal of the Director of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency and the Head of the Legal Department,

The Minister of Science and Technology issues the Circular stipulating the management of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular specifies the principles and requirements for managing radioactive waste and used radioactive sources, the responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in managing radioactive waste and used radioactive sources, except for the following contents:

a) Management of used nuclear fuel;

b) Management of naturally occurring radioactive material-containing waste (NORM waste) arising from mining, processing of ores and minerals, and oil and gas extraction activities;

c) Disposal of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources.

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals conducting activities in Vietnam related to the generation of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources and carrying out activities related to the management of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Radioactive waste means waste containing radioactive materials or objects contaminated with radioactive materials at levels exceeding the clearance level specified in this Circular and must be disposed of. Radioactive waste does not include used radioactive sources.

2. Used radioactive source means a sealed radioactive source that the organization or individual owning it no longer uses in licensed radiation work and has no intention of using it for any other purpose, or has not been permitted by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency to continue its use.

3. Radioactive biological waste means biological waste containing or contaminated with radioactive materials at levels exceeding the clearance level. Biological waste includes biodegradable waste and medical biological waste.

Biodegradable waste is waste capable of being decomposed over time into original compounds due to microorganisms. This type of waste includes solid household waste from plants, food, paper, plastic capable of biodegrading, and waste from people and animals.

Medical biological waste is waste capable of putrefaction or causing disease arising from medical examination and treatment activities at healthcare facilities, medical laboratories, and morgues. This type of waste includes discarded materials and items from these facilities such as cotton, bandages, gauze, clothing, gloves, syringes, needles, and human and animal tissues.

4. Source owner of radioactive waste means an organization or individual licensed to carry out radiation work that generates radioactive waste due to the nature of the radiation work or to occur during the handling of incidents resulting in radioactive waste.

5. Owner of used radioactive source means an organization or individual having a used radioactive source generated from licensed radiation work.

6. Radioactive waste storage facility means a facility licensed by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency to carry out radiation work for the treatment and storage of radioactive waste and used radioactive sources.

7. Clearance level means the activity concentration value of radioactive materials such that when the radioactive waste contains radioactive materials at activity concentrations less than or equal to this value, it will be considered non-hazardous to humans and the environment and managed as non-radioactive waste.

Article 3. Principles for Managing Radioactive Waste and Used Radiation Sources

1. Radioactive waste must be managed to ensure safety for humans and the environment from the moment it is generated until it is permitted to be disposed of as non-hazardous waste or buried or recycled for radioactive contaminated metal objects. Used radiation sources must be managed to ensure safety for humans and the environment until they are returned to the manufacturer, foreign supplier, or buried.

2. Radioactive waste and used radiation sources must be strictly managed to ensure that they do not cause harm to humans and the environment both currently and in the future, ensuring that the total dose of radiation received by radiation workers and the public does not exceed the dose limit value specified in Circular No. 19/2012/TT-BKHCN dated November 8, 2012, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology on controlling and ensuring radiation safety in occupational and public exposure.

3. Used radiation sources must be returned to the manufacturer or foreign supplier if the manufacturer or supplier has a policy of accepting back used radiation sources.

4. The management of radioactive waste containing hazardous non-radioactive substances, in addition to complying with the provisions of this Circular, must also comply with other relevant laws governing the management of hazardous waste.

5. Radioactive waste generated during a radiation work may be directly discharged into the environment provided that the activity concentration in the waste does not exceed the clearance level or the total activity of radioactive nuclides in the gaseous or liquid components of the waste does not exceed the permissible discharge activity level set by the competent state management agency and must be authorized under the radiation work permit.

6. Radioactive contaminated metal objects such as iron, copper, lead, aluminum (hereinafter referred to as contaminated metal) and products cast directly from these metals can be used for recycling if the activity concentration of radioactive nuclides in the metal and the surface contamination level of the metal are less than or equal to the permissible recycling levels specified in Appendix IV of this Circular.

7. It is prohibited to add non-radioactive components to radioactive waste with the aim of reducing the activity concentration in the radioactive waste to meet the environmental discharge standards or recycling standards.

Chapter II

REQUIREMENTS FOR MANAGING RADIOACTIVE WASTE,

USED RADIATION SOURCES

Article 4. Collection of Radioactive Waste

1. Solid radioactive waste must be collected, separated from non-radioactive waste, and classified based on the half-life of radioactive nuclides, activity in the waste, and physical and chemical characteristics of the waste (combustible, compressible, metal, or biological waste) according to the radioactive waste classification regulations stipulated in Appendix I of this Circular to serve the next stage of management. The collection of solid radioactive waste must meet the following requirements:

a) Solid radioactive waste must be collected separately by type;

b) When collecting solid radioactive waste in containers, the container must have a lid that opens and closes with a foot pedal, lined with bags or nylon bags inside, designed with appropriate shielding to protect against external exposure for radiation workers, and marked with radiation warning signs on the outside. Bags and containers collecting radioactive waste must be different colors for different types of radioactive waste;

c) Containers, bags, and sacks holding solid radioactive waste after collection must be carefully wrapped, labeled with identification information before being transferred to temporary storage locations, with the following information on the label:

- Identification number of the container, bag, or sack;

- Radioactive nuclides in the waste;

- Classification of the waste;

- Source of the waste;

- Other potential hazards (such as chemical hazards, infectious diseases, fire and explosion);

- Surface radiation dose rate of the container, bag, or sack and the date and year of measurement.

d) Collected solid radioactive waste must be documented with the following information:

- Quantity of collected solid radioactive waste;

- Identification information of each container, bag, or sack holding radioactive waste;

- Date and year of transfer to storage location.

2. Liquid radioactive waste (hereinafter referred to as radioactive wastewater) must be collected and separated from non-radioactive wastewater into tanks or containers. The collection of radioactive wastewater must meet the following requirements:

a) When collecting wastewater in containers, the container must be designed with appropriate shielding to protect against external exposure for staff and to prevent leakage of radioactive wastewater into the environment. Containers collecting radioactive wastewater must be placed in a metal drum, between the drum and the container, absorbent material must be poured to absorb leaking water. The container and outer drum must have a tightly sealed lid and be marked with radiation warning signs;

b) Containers collecting radioactive wastewater must be labeled with identification information as required for containers, bags, and sacks collecting solid radioactive waste before being transferred to temporary storage locations;

c) Tanks collecting radioactive wastewater must be arranged and designed to meet the requirements specified in Clause 5 of Article 9 of this Circular;

d) Collected radioactive wastewater must be documented and stored with the following information:

- Number of containers collecting radioactive wastewater and identification information of each container;

- Volume of radioactive wastewater (m³) and date and year of collection into tanks;

- Main radioactive nuclides in the wastewater and source of the wastewater.

3. After collection, radioactive waste must be stored, processed, conditioned, discharged into the environment, or transferred according to the provisions of Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Circular.

Article 5. Discharging Waste into the Environment

1. Gaseous waste containing radioactive materials generated from medical, industrial, and research facilities using radioactive substances must be filtered and controlled to ensure that the amount of radioactive material in the gas discharged into the environment during normal operation does not exceed the permissible levels specified in Table 1 of Appendix III of this Circular. The discharge of gas into the environment from these facilities must be permitted under a radiation work permit.

2. Gaseous waste containing radioactive materials generated from nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactor facilities must be processed to remove radioactive components so that the public dose from gas and liquid discharges from each facility does not exceed 100 µSv/year. The discharge of gas into the environment from these facilities must be permitted under a radiation work permit, and the quantity of gas discharged into the environment and the radioactivity level in the gas must be measured and recorded.

3. Solid radioactive waste classified as low-level, short-lived waste must be stored at the facility until it decays to a concentration below or equal to the clearance level specified in Appendix II of this Circular and then disposed of as non-hazardous waste.

4. Liquid radioactive waste from medical, industrial, and research facilities using radioactive substances must be stored at the facility until it decays or processed to remove radioactive components to ensure that the amount of radioactive material in the liquid waste when discharged into the environment does not exceed the permissible levels specified in Table 2 of Appendix III of this Circular.

5. Liquid radioactive waste from nuclear power plants and research nuclear reactors must be processed to remove radioactive components to ensure that the liquid waste from each facility discharged into the environment complies with the public radiation dose regulations set forth in Clause 2 of this Article.

6. The process of discharging solid waste and liquid waste containing radioactive materials into the environment must be permitted under a radiation work permit and a record of each discharge must be made with the following information:

a) The form (solid or liquid) and quantity of waste, liquid waste (kg or m³) discharged into the environment;

b) The composition of radioactive materials in the waste;

c) The discharge process and discharge point;

d) The method and results of measuring the radioactivity level in the waste when discharged into the environment.

7. When discharging radioactive waste into the environment exceeds the permissible level, the source owner of the radioactive waste must investigate the cause, take corrective measures, and report in writing to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration and the local Science and Technology Department within five working days from the date of the incident.

Article 6. Transfer of Radioactive Waste and Used Sources

1. The transfer of radioactive waste to a radioactive waste storage facility must meet the following requirements:

a) A radioactive waste transfer contract must be signed between the transferring party and the receiving party, specifying the name and address of both parties, information about the radioactive waste, the quantity of radioactive waste, the identification number of each package of radioactive waste, and clearly defining the organization or individual responsible for managing the radioactive waste after the transfer is completed;

b) The transferring party must have the financial obligation to pay handling and storage fees to the radioactive waste storage facility;

c) Compliance with legal regulations on obtaining a permit for transporting radioactive materials;

d) The handover of radioactive waste must be documented in a record (three copies) according to Model 1 of Appendix V of this Circular, signed by representatives of the transferring party, the transporter, and the receiving party; each party retains one copy for record;

đ) The handover must be inspected and confirmed by the relevant parties to ensure that the radioactive waste is transferred in the correct quantity and type and delivered to the correct address of the receiving facility as stipulated in the contract;

e) Within five working days from the completion of the radioactive waste transfer, the source owner of the radioactive waste must send a copy of the handover record to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration and the local Science and Technology Department where the radiation work generating the radioactive waste was conducted.

2. The transfer of contaminated metal to a recycling facility must be documented and retained with the following information:

a) Type of metal;

b) Quantity transferred;

c) Lot number of the transferred shipment;

d) Results of contamination level testing;

đ) Date and month of transfer and the names and addresses of the transferring and receiving parties.

3. The return of used sources to the manufacturer or foreign supplier must meet the following requirements:

a) A contract must be signed between the transferring party in Vietnam and the receiving party abroad, specifying the name, address of both parties, information about the source name, radioactivity level, model, and serial number of the source;

b) Compliance with legal regulations on obtaining a permit for transporting and exporting radioactive sources;

c) Within five working days from the completion of customs export procedures for the used radioactive source, the source owner of the used radioactive source must submit a report on the export results of the used radioactive source according to Model 2 of Appendix V of this Circular and a copy of the confirmation document of the exported radioactive source issued by the customs authority to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration and the local Science and Technology Department where the radioactive source was used if it was a fixed use or the local Science and Technology Department where the used radioactive source owner's main office is located if it was a mobile use.

4. The transfer of used sources to other organizations or individuals or to a radioactive waste storage facility must meet the following requirements:

a) There shall be a radioactive source transfer contract specifying the name, address of the transferring party and the receiving party, information on the name, radioactivity level, model number, and serial number of the radioactive source, and clearly defining the organization or individual responsible for the safe and secure management of the radioactive source after the transfer is completed;

b) In the case of transferring used radioactive sources to a radioactive waste storage facility, the transferring party must have a financial obligation to contribute storage fees to the radioactive waste storage facility;

c) Compliance with legal provisions regarding the application for a permit to transport radioactive materials;

d) The handover of used radioactive sources must be documented in a record (three copies) according to Model No. 3 in Appendix V of this Circular, signed by representatives of the transferring party, the transporter, and the recipient; each party retains one copy for record keeping;

đ) The handover must be inspected and confirmed by the relevant parties to ensure that the radioactive source is transferred in the correct quantity and type, and delivered to the correct address of the receiving facility as stipulated in the contract;

e) Within five working days from the date of completion of the radioactive source transfer, the owner of the used radioactive source must submit a copy of the handover record to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency and the local Science and Technology Department as prescribed in point c, Clause 3 of this Article;

Article 7. Radioactive Waste Management

1. Solid radioactive waste not classified as low-level and with very short-lived radionuclides, once collected, shall be processed according to its characteristics before conditioning and storage using the following methods:

a) Solid radioactive waste will be compacted or compressed if determined to be suitable for compaction or compression and ensuring:

- The waste does not contain components that could cause chemical reactions or damage the waste container during conditioning;

- No radioactive source is mixed within the waste;

- Pathogenic components have been removed from the waste or sterilized;

- No pressurized containers are mixed within the waste;

- The waste has been dried prior to compaction or compression;

b) Solid radioactive waste will be incinerated if determined to be suitable for incineration and ensuring:

- No radioactive source is mixed within the waste;

- No pressurized containers are mixed within the waste;

- Incineration technology controls complete combustion of wet components and treats exhaust gases to meet permissible emission levels;

- A management solution exists for the resulting radioactive ash;

2. Liquid radioactive waste containing radionuclides with half-lives of 100 days or more must be treated to separate the radionuclides from the liquid waste component, ensuring that the residual radioactivity level in the liquid waste after treatment is less than or equal to the permitted discharge level specified in Appendix II of this Circular. The treatment of liquid radioactive waste must ensure:

a) A treatment method appropriate to the characteristics of the liquid radioactive waste;

b) Secondary waste components generated from the treatment of liquid radioactive waste are managed and conditioned according to requirements applicable to solid radioactive waste;

3. Biological radioactive waste must be sterilized by steam, radiation, or chemical disinfection, and pre-treated by dry heat before applying the treatment methods prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Article 8. Conditions for radioactive waste and used radiation sources

1. Solid radioactive waste after treatment must be conditioned to form conditioned radioactive waste packages, and used radiation sources must be conditioned to form conditioned used radiation source blocks or stored in containers containing sources to facilitate transportation, long-term storage, minimize radioactive leakage into the environment, and reduce the level of danger to humans. Radioactive waste of different types must be conditioned into separate conditioned blocks.

2. Conditioning of radioactive waste is carried out by fixing treated waste into a block (such as cementation, bituminization, polymerization...), then placing it in a container and adding additional outer packaging (for example, placing it in an outer drum) to form a conditioned radioactive waste package.

3. Conditioned radioactive waste packages must meet the following requirements:

a) The surface dose rate of the radioactive waste package must not exceed 2 mSv/h (200 mrem/h) at the surface and 0.1 mSv/h (10 mrem/h) at a point 1 meter from the surface; ensure that the surface radioactivity contamination averaged over the entire surface area does not exceed 4 Bq/cm² for beta, gamma, and low-toxicity alpha emitters, and does not exceed 0.4 Bq/cm² for other alpha emitters;² for beta and gamma emitting substances, and for alpha-emitting substances with low toxicity, it must not exceed 0.4 Bq/cm² for other alpha-emitting substances;

b) Each conditioned radioactive waste package must have a radiation warning sign, be labeled, and recorded on a retention sheet in the storage record to ensure long-term management and easy access. The label on the conditioned radioactive waste package must include the following information:

- Identification number of the package;

- Weight of the package;

- Maximum surface dose rate and dose rate at a point 1 meter from the surface of the package, surface contamination level of the package, and date of measurement.

The retention sheet in the storage record for the conditioned radioactive waste package, in addition to the information on the package label, must also include the following additional information:

- Origin of the radioactive waste in the package;

- Form and design details of the radioactive waste package;

- External dimensions and volume of the radioactive waste package;

- Radionuclides and activity concentration of radionuclides in the radioactive waste package;

- Amount of fissile material in the radioactive waste package;

- Other potential hazards of the radioactive waste package.

4. Used radiation sources with radioactive leakage must be conditioned like radioactive waste to form a conditioned used radiation source block; intact used radiation sources without radioactive leakage may be stored in source containers or conditioned like radioactive waste depending on the characteristics of the radiation source and the choice of the storage facility. Conditioned used radiation source blocks and source containers must meet the following requirements:

a) Comply with the requirements for conditioned radioactive waste packages as specified in point a Clause 3 of this Article;

b) Source containers must have security locks to prevent illegal removal of radiation sources from the container, protect the source from mechanical impacts, and explosions;

c) Each conditioned used radiation source block, source container must have a radiation warning sign, be labeled, and recorded on a retention sheet in the storage record to ensure long-term management and easy access. The label on the conditioned used radiation source block, source container must include the following information:

- Identification number of the conditioned used radiation source block, source container;

- Maximum surface dose rate, dose rate at a point 1 meter from the surface, and surface contamination level of the conditioned used radiation source block, source container, and date of measurement.

The retention sheet in the storage record, in addition to the information on the label of the conditioned used radiation source block, source container, must also include the following additional information:

- Name, serial number (Series No.), activity of the radiation sources in the conditioned used radiation source block, source container;

- Supplier or manufacturer of the radiation sources;

- Owner of each used radiation source.

6. Only organizations and individuals who have been granted a permit to carry out work on treating radioactive waste and used radiation sources may perform conditioning, except in the case of conditioning used sources by storing them in source containers.

Article 9. Storage of Radioactive Waste and Used Radiation Sources

1. Solid radioactive waste and radioactive effluents collected in containers must be stored temporarily at the facility where the waste was generated, awaiting decay before being released into the environment or awaiting transfer for processing, conditioning, or transfer to a radioactive waste storage facility. Radioactive effluents that are not collected in containers must be collected and stored in tanks awaiting treatment or decay. Used radiation sources must be stored temporarily until transferred to another user, transferred to a radioactive waste storage facility, or returned to the manufacturer or foreign supplier.

2. Temporary storage facilities for radioactive waste and used radiation sources must be arranged and designed to meet the following requirements:

a) The area of the warehouse must be large enough to arrange collected waste drums, bags, sacks, and containers in an orderly manner, easy to access when necessary, and maintain sub-critical conditions if storing nuclear material;

b) Located in a low traffic area, far from hazardous material storage areas (such as explosives, flammable materials), and away from potable water sources, with only one entrance door, no windows, and constructed securely, with walls and floors made of easily decontaminated materials;

c) The shielding design of the warehouse must ensure that the surface dose rate outside the entrance door and warehouse walls does not exceed 0.5 µSv/h;

d) Must be flood-resistant and resistant to natural hazards (heat, humidity, rain);

đ) Must have a security lock installed on the warehouse entrance door.

3. Conditioned radioactive waste packages, blocks of conditioned used radiation sources, and containers holding used radiation sources must be stored in warehouses at licensed radioactive waste storage facilities.

4. Warehouses storing conditioned radioactive waste packages, blocks of conditioned used radiation sources, and containers holding used radiation sources at radioactive waste storage facilities must be arranged and designed to meet the following requirements:

a) Requirements similar to those for temporary storage facilities for radioactive waste as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article;

b) Must have a ventilation system to handle radioactive gases and heat emitted from stored radioactive waste packages;

c) Must have a fire and explosion prevention system;

d) Must have appropriate equipment to collect leaked radioactive substances;

đ) Must have suitable handling equipment;

e) Must have protective barriers and radiation warning signs;

g) Must have an appropriate protection system.

5. Radioactive effluent storage tanks must be designed to meet the following requirements:

a) Must be located in areas with little pedestrian traffic and protected from natural conditions such as rain and flooding;

b) The tank capacity must be appropriate for the volume of radioactive effluents to be collected and the expected storage time;

c) The design must ensure that the external surface dose rate at accessible locations does not exceed 0.5 µSv/h, prevent leakage of radioactive effluents into the environment and groundwater.

6. Radioactive waste storage facilities must regularly inspect the safety conditions of storage warehouses and radioactive effluent storage tanks, specifically:

a) Quarterly inspections of radiation levels inside and outside the warehouse and surrounding areas of radioactive effluent storage tanks must be conducted;

b) Semi-annual inspections of leaks of various types of radioactive materials into the environment must be carried out.

Article 10. Radioactive Waste Storage Facilities

1. Radioactive waste storage facilities must be designed and operated to meet the following general requirements:

a) Ensuring radiation dose rates and radioactive material leakage levels in the environment are at the lowest possible level; ensuring that the total individual radiation dose for radiation workers does not exceed 3/10 of the radiation worker dose limit value and the total individual radiation dose for the public does not exceed 3/10 of the public dose limit value as stipulated in Circular No. 19/2012/TT-BKHCN dated November 8, 2012 of the Minister of Science and Technology on radiation control and safety assurance in occupational radiation exposure and public radiation exposure;

b) Implementing measures to prevent accidents during operation;

c) Having operational procedures for the facility including the following contents:

- Operating conditions and limits;

- Management systems;

- Internal inspection and audit regulations;

- Training and instruction regulations for staff;

- Programs for radiation safety assurance, radiation facility security, and environmental radioactive emission monitoring;

- Acceptance criteria for radioactive waste packages;

- Emergency response programs to minimize harm when accidents occur;

- Requirements for establishing and retaining radioactive waste management records.

2. The design of radioactive waste storage facilities must meet the following specific requirements:

a) Arranging areas for processing and storing radioactive waste and used radioactive sources away from work areas, areas with high pedestrian traffic, and areas storing other hazardous materials;

b) Having reception areas, temporary storage warehouses for radioactive waste, processing areas for radioactive waste, areas for conditioning radioactive waste, and warehouses for conditioned radioactive waste packages, blocks, or containers containing used radioactive sources;

c) Temporary storage warehouses for radioactive waste and used radioactive sources, and warehouses for conditioned radioactive waste packages, blocks, or containers containing used radioactive sources must be designed to meet the requirements specified in Article 9 of this Circular;

d) Having sufficient equipment and technical capacity to process and condition radioactive waste as prescribed in Articles 7 and 8 of this Circular.

Article 11. Radioactive Waste Management Records, Used Radioactive Source Management Records

1. Radioactive waste management records must be established, updated, and retained from the time of collection until disposal, recycling, or storage in the radioactive waste storage facility warehouse.

2. Used radioactive source management records must be established, updated, and retained from the time of cessation of use until transfer or storage in the radioactive waste storage facility warehouse.

3. Radioactive waste management records and used radioactive source management records must include the following complete information:

a) Radioactive waste statistics: Information on collected waste, waste discharged into the environment, information on the transfer and receipt of radioactive waste, information on stored conditioned waste packages;

b) Statistics on used radioactive sources: Identification information of the radioactive sources, information on the transfer and receipt of used radioactive sources, information on stored conditioned blocks and containers containing used radioactive sources;

c) Safety assessment reports when applying for a permit to conduct radiation work;

d) Design records for waste storage pools, warehouses, and treatment systems;

đ) Measurement and evaluation results of environmental emissions and environmental radiation monitoring;

e) Reports on incidents related to radioactive waste management and used radioactive source management.

Chapter III

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT,

USED RADIATION SOURCES

Article 12. Responsibilities of the Source Owner of Radioactive Waste

1. Shall be responsible for managing to ensure safety and security of radioactive waste from its generation until it is permitted to be disposed of as non-hazardous waste, transferred to a radioactive waste storage facility, or transferred to a recycling facility for contaminated radioactive metals.

2. Shall collect solid radioactive waste and radioactive effluents in accordance with the requirements stipulated in Article 4 of this Circular.

3. Shall apply filtration and control measures for radioactive gas waste in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 5 of this Circular before directly discharging into the environment.

4. Shall manage solid radioactive waste and radioactive effluents after collection in accordance with their characteristics, types, and specific conditions of the facility:

a) Store low-level, very short-lived solid radioactive waste at the facility to await decay and disposal as non-hazardous waste in accordance with Clause 3, Article 5 of this Circular.

b) For solid waste not falling under the category specified in point a of this Clause, process, conditionize, and store long-term at the facility if having sufficient capacity, or transfer to a radioactive waste storage facility within no more than three years from the date of collection, stored temporarily in a temporary storage warehouse.

c) Store radioactive effluent to await decay and treat radioactive effluent before discharging into the environment in accordance with Clause 4 and Clause 5, Article 5 of this Circular.

5. Ensure the availability of a temporary storage warehouse for radioactive waste in accordance with Clause 2, Article 9 of this Circular. In cases where self-processing, conditioning, and long-term storage at the facility is conducted, it must ensure that the facility has the conditions and capacity required for a radioactive waste storage facility as stipulated in Article 10 of this Circular and must obtain a permit from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration to conduct radiation work for processing and storing radioactive waste. When transferring radioactive waste to a radioactive waste storage facility, it must comply with the requirements stipulated in Clause 1, Article 6 of this Circular.

6. Establish and retain management records of radioactive waste from its generation until disposal or transfer to a radioactive waste storage facility, or transfer to a recycling facility for contaminated radioactive metals in accordance with Article 11 of this Circular.

7. Comply with legal regulations on ensuring radiation safety and safe transportation of radioactive materials.

8. In cases of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the source owner of radioactive waste falls under point d of Clause 1, Article 34 of the Atomic Energy Law, the source owner of radioactive waste shall be responsible for:

a) Implementing the provisions of Article 36 of the Atomic Energy Law.

b) Fulfilling financial obligations related to radioactive waste as decided by the court or competent authorities deciding to cease operations.

9. In cases of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the source owner of radioactive waste does not fall under Clause 8 of this Article, the source owner of radioactive waste shall be responsible for:

a) Notifying the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration of the reasons and anticipated time of cessation of operations.

b) Implementing measures to ensure safety for radioactive waste and transferring radioactive waste to other organizations or individuals capable of managing it according to the guidance of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration.

c) Fulfilling financial obligations related to radioactive waste as decided by the court or competent authorities deciding to cease operations.

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Subject of Used Radiation Sources

1. Select and apply one of the following options to manage used radiation sources:

a) Transfer to another organization or individual for use if the source remains intact and has not leaked radiation;

b) Return to the manufacturer or foreign supplier;

c) Transfer to a radioactive waste storage facility;

d) Long-term storage at the facility if it has the capacity to store radioactive waste as stipulated in Article 10 of this Circular and must obtain a permit from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency to conduct radiation work for processing and storing radioactive waste;

đ) Temporary storage at the facility for a period not exceeding three years until one of the options specified in points a, b, c, and d of this Clause is implemented;

2. Inspect and evaluate radiation leakage of the radiation source immediately after ceasing use, placing it in temporary storage, and before transferring it to another organization or individual or returning it to the manufacturer or foreign supplier.

3. Bear responsibility for managing used radiation sources safely and securely from their generation until they are returned to the manufacturer or foreign supplier or transferred to another organization or individual for use or transferred to a radioactive waste storage facility.

4. When transferring used radiation sources, comply with the requirements stipulated in Clause 4, Article 6 of this Circular; when storing used radiation sources at the facility, ensure that the sources are stored in a warehouse designed to ensure safety as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 9 of this Circular and must obtain a permit to conduct radiation work for storing used radiation sources according to the law.

5. Establish and retain records of used radiation sources from their generation until they are transferred to another organization or individual as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular.

6. Comply with legal provisions on ensuring radiation safety, security of radiation sources, and safe transportation of radioactive materials.

7. In cases of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the subject of used radiation sources falls under points b and c of Clause 1, Article 34 of the Atomic Energy Law, the subject of used radiation sources shall be responsible for:

a) Implementing the provisions of Article 36 of the Atomic Energy Law;

b) Fulfilling financial obligations related to used radiation sources according to court decisions or decisions of competent authorities terminating operations.

8. In cases of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the subject of used radiation sources does not fall under Article 7 of this Law, the subject of used radiation sources shall be responsible for:

a) Notifying the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Administration of the reasons and anticipated time of cessation of operations.

b) Taking measures to ensure safety for used radiation sources and transferring used radiation sources to another organization or individual capable of managing them according to guidelines from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency;

c) Fulfilling financial obligations related to used radiation sources according to court decisions or decisions of competent authorities terminating operations.

Article 14. Responsibilities of Organizations and Individuals Transporting Radioactive Waste, Used Radiation Sources

1. Fulfill responsibilities as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 63 of the Atomic Energy Law and Article 35 of Circular No. 23/2012/TT-BKHCN dated November 23, 2012, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology guiding the safe transport of radioactive materials.

2. Fully transfer radioactive waste, used radiation sources to the receiving party according to the contract and implement the requirement to sign confirmation in the handover record of radioactive waste, used radiation sources as stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 15. Responsibilities of the radioactive waste storage facility owner

1. Ensure the requirements for radioactive waste storage facilities as stipulated in Article 10 of this Circular.

2. Only accept radioactive waste and used radiation sources when having a permit to conduct radiation work for processing, storing radioactive waste and used radiation sources.

3. Notify the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency each time radioactive waste or used radiation sources are accepted according to Model No. 4 in Appendix V of this Circular.

4. Establish and retain records for radioactive waste and used radiation sources stored at the facility in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of this Circular.

5. Comply with legal regulations on ensuring radiation safety, radiation source security, and safe transportation of radioactive materials.

6. Radioactive waste storage facilities funded from the state budget must unconditionally accept, process, and store radiation sources outside of control, radioactive waste without identifiable owners of the radioactive waste sources, and other special cases due to state management requirements.

7. In case of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the radioactive waste storage facility falls under the subject defined in point đ Clause 1 Article 34 of the Atomic Energy Law, the owner of the radioactive waste storage facility shall be responsible for:

a) Implementing the provisions of Article 36 of the Atomic Energy Law;

b) Fulfilling financial obligations related to radioactive waste and used radiation sources according to the decision of the court or competent authorities deciding to cease operations.

8. In case of bankruptcy, dissolution, or cessation of operations where the owner of the radioactive waste storage facility does not fall under Clause 7 of this Article, the owner of the radioactive waste storage facility shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of Clause 9 Article 12 and Clause 8 Article 13 of this Circular.

Article 16. Responsibilities of State Management Agencies for Radiation Safety and Nuclear Safety

1. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency shall be responsible for:

a) Organizing and supervising the collection of radioactive waste without identifiable owners of the radioactive waste sources and radiation sources outside of control without identifiable owners of the radiation sources.

b) Guiding organizations and individuals on measures for managing radioactive waste and used radiation sources.

c) Reviewing safety and issuing permits for radiation work that generates radioactive waste and radioactive waste storage facilities.

d) Inspecting compliance with legal regulations on managing radioactive waste and used radiation sources throughout the country and handling violations.

2. Provincial Science and Technology Departments shall be responsible for:

a) Organizing and coordinating with the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency to collect radioactive waste and radiation sources discovered within their jurisdiction without identifiable owners.

b) Guiding organizations and individuals operating within their jurisdiction on measures for managing radioactive waste and used radiation sources.

c) Organizing inspections and coordinating with the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency to inspect compliance with legal regulations on managing radioactive waste and used radiation sources within their jurisdiction and handling violations.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 17. Transitional Provisions

Organizations and individuals who have been granted permits and are currently conducting activities related to managing radioactive waste and used radiation sources but do not meet the requirements stipulated in this Circular must implement corrective measures according to the requirements of this Circular within six months from the date this Circular takes effect to continue their activities.

Article 18. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from November 1, 2014.

2. During implementation, if there are obstacles or new issues arise, organizations and individuals concerned are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Science and Technology for review and amendment./.