|
The Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (RAWRA) was established on 1st June 1997 as the result of Ministry of Industry and Trade Decision No. 107/1997 issued in pursuance of Article 26 of Act No. 18/1997 Coll., on the peaceful utilisation of nuclear energy and ionising radiation (the Atomic Act), as a state organisation responsible for the management of all those activities related to the disposal of radioactive waste.
The Radioactive Waste Repository Authority's mission is to ensure the safe disposal of existing and future radioactive waste (RAW) in the Czech Republic and to guarantee the fulfilment of the various requirements in place for the protection of both the public and the environment from the potentially adverse impacts of such waste. RAWRA observes the provisions of the Atomic Act, other relevant laws and regulations and the conditions set out in its statute as approved by the Government. RAWRA conforms with all those international recommendations and treaties concerning the use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation adopted by the Czech Republic. RAWRA works in active and open co-operation with the local communities and municipalities in the vicinity of which repositories are located, as well as with the general public represented by non-governmental environmental organisations, civic associations, etc. RAWRA provides the general public with objective and complete information concerning its activities and intentions.
RAWRA's activities are supervised by RAWRA's Board
RAWRA´s main responsibilities are set out in Article 26 Paragraph 3 of the Atomic Act, according to which RAWRA is obliged to:
-
ensure the preparation, construction, commissioning, operation and closure of radioactive waste repositories and the monitoring of their impact on the environment,
-
ensure the management of radioactive waste,
-
ensure the conditioning of spent or irradiated nuclear fuel into a form suitable for its disposal or further utilisation,
-
keep records of received radioactive waste and its producers,
-
ensure the administration of payments to the nuclear account,
-
develop proposals for the determination of payments to the nuclear account,
-
ensure and co-ordinate research and development in the field of radioactive waste management,
-
audit licensees´ financial reserves for decommissioning of their installations,
-
provide services in the field of radioactive waste management,
-
manage radioactive waste transported to the Czech Republic from abroad should it not be possible to return it,
-
ensure the temporary management of radioactive waste which may become state property in case of found, left, or hidden items.
Number of terms and obligations related to fulfilment of RAWRA´s tasks is specified in the Atomic Act.
Additional responsibilities of RAWRA result from other provisions of the Atomic Act (such as Article 9, Duties of Licence Holders), other laws (e. g. the Labour Code, Government budget principles, the Construction Code, the Public Tenders Act, the Mining Act, etc.) and RAWRA's Statute.
Co-operation with foreign organisations
RAWRA co-operates with several international institutions, particularly with NEA/OECD, the European Commission, and the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna as well as with other national organisations for the disposal of radioactive waste.
This co-operation ensures the inclusion of Czech representatives on RWMC (Radioactive Waste Management Committee) and in its working groups. Since 1998 RAWRA has taken part in regular meetings of the Radioactive Waste Agencies Club with the participation of European Commission representatives. In 1998 RAWRA signed a general agreement with the Spanish organisation ENRESA and a year later a general agreement on co-operation with the Swiss organisation NAGRA. This agreement enables RAWRA, in co-operation with the Centre of experimental geophysics of the Czech Technical University to participate in experiments in the underground laboratory at Grimsel in Switzerland. Participation in international projects gives RAWRA access to valuable information, data and technology.
|
