Articles and Publication Ecology INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN THE EUROPEAN NORTH IN THE SPHERE OF RADIOECOLOGY
INTERNATIONAL
INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN THE EUROPEAN NORTH IN THE SPHERE OF RADIOECOLOGY
© E. V.
Komleva
Institute of the
North Industrial Ecology Problems,
Contact: komleva@inep.ksc.ru
INTRODUCTION
A part of the European North- Barents Region is
an important geopolitical and economic region of our planet. Here there are
concentrated huge reserves of various ores, diamonds, oil and gas. It is washed
by the Atlantic seas which are the traditional places of fishery. The region is
envisaging further development for mutually beneficial economic co-operation.
At the same time it is one of the regions where
the activities dealing with use of nuclear energy are extraordinarily intensive.
Nuclear proving ground on Novaya Zemlya, Kola Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the
only in the world atomic ice-breaker fleet being in exploitation by the Murmansk
Shipping Company, ships and submarines with nuclear energetic plants of the
Northern Fleet of Russia, coastal bases and works serving atomic civil and
military ships, nuclear weapon of Russia and NATO, atomic submarines of USA and
Great Britain patrolling in the Northern seas- this is a far from being complete
list of possible and real sources of radioactive pollution.
Chernobyl has shown that in the catastrophical
situation radioactive pollution does not recognise State frontiers.
Nuclear technologies, however, have not only
negative consequences. Energy production, reliable cargo transportation through
the Northern Sea Way are necessary for Russian and international economics.
Therefore for forming right society attitude to
the use of nuclear energy in the region, for its sustainable and safety
development there is necessary the comprehensive, objective and available
information both about negative and positive international experience in this
field. In particular about the progressive leading experience of Finnish and
Swedish NPP, companies and firms working on the problem of radioactive wastes (RW)
and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management, and also of State control organisations
and public ecological movements, first of all of Finland, Sweden and Norway.
It goes without saying that the corresponding
activities of other EU and/or NATO countries are also an important part of the
information space in the region.
The objectives
of the work in question are to show the participants of international
information activities in the European North in the sphere of radioecology, to
analyse its forms. It could be useful to increase the quality of ecological
education, information service of population and local authorities,
international public opinion, could further creating of conditions for export to
Russia of western information systems and their functioning methodology,
technologies of radiation monitoring, reliable underground disposal of
radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel, safe NPP exploitation, etc.
The authoress would like to thank Pertti Lakkala,
Raimo Pyyny, Eija Kinnunen for help in organising and carrying out the work,
including for the kind given opportunity to ask as many as possible participants
of the information activities in question. It would not be possible to realise
without the up-date communication systems of The Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic.
I am also very grateful to the specialists of all
firms and organisations- interrogatory participants- who could find time to pay
attention to my information request. Special gratitude to Helena Hyttinen,
Finnish Barents Group, Bjorn E. Cedervall Dept. Radiation Oncology, SUNY Health
Science Center at Brooklyn, Nick Schulyak, Business Development CIS Marketing,
British Nuclear Fuels plc for interesting and useful discussion.
PARTICIPANTS OF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION
ACTIVITIES
During the first research stage there was formed
the initial database. It has included the address list and various materials (more
than 200 printed documents) received immediately from organisations, firms,
societies and other participants. The participants' materials were received in
response to my written request by carrying out the mass interrogation using the
modern communication systems.
The membership of participants (more than 60 ones:
21 - from Finland, 14 - from Norway, 12 - from Sweden, per 5 from Russia and
United Kingdom, 2 - from the Netherlands, per 1 from Austria, Germany, Denmark,
France and Switzerland) varies. These are international organisations, State
institutions, large nuclear companies, universities, consulting firms, public
organisations and movements, individuals, experts, etc. Total qualitative and
quantitative description of the participants is given in table 1.
Table 1
Total description of the participants of
international information activities in the European North in the sphere of
radioecology
|
Activity |
Statistical indexes of the interrogation (cross-examination),
items
|
| |
Interna-tional organisa-tions
|
State admini-strative institu-tions |
Large nuclear compa-nies
|
Ecological centres, societies, universities |
Others
|
|
Request |
6 |
20 |
10 |
23 |
5 |
|
Answer |
4 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
2 |
It is significant that the maximum response per
cent (100%) was shown by the large nuclear companies. Other participants are
approximately at the same level (about 50% of response). Evidently the given
statistical indexes show the fact that the large nuclear companies consider this
information as sufficiently important.
MANAGEMENT
Management of information activities depends
naturally on the structure within that these activities are being realised.
Some examples.
Within European Commission the subdivision C/3,
Directorate XI co-ordinates the questions of education, specialists training in
the field of RW management and radiation safety for the nuclear-fuel cycle works,
nuclear power plants, regional systems of RW neutralisation and ecological
monitoring. To its competence also belong the law and social problems of RW
management and their publishing in mass media too [ 1]
.
Within the organisational stricture of large
nuclear companies or State institutions there is without fail or the division
“Information and Public Affairs” [ 2]
, or “Information Services” [ 3]
, or “Information Department” (The Swedish Radiation Protection Institute),
or press service (Murmansk Shipping Company and Northern Navy), etc.
Information activities management within the
separate programmes of universities’ ecological centres, public movements,
societies and so on does not require special branched subdivisions and is being
carried out immediately by the programmes’ managers.
FORMS OF ACTIVITIES
In the first turn there is necessary to single
out two large blocks: information activities for professionals and
information activities for general public. Though sometimes it is rather
difficult to determine precisely the destination of this or other information
because of its mixed character.
As the examples of the first kind of activities
could serve the scientific articles, reports, books, magazines, normative
documents, programmes of scientific conferences, etc.
So, The Swedish Radiation Protection Institute (SSI)
has among various functions informing, educating, advising and also monitoring
radiation levels in the environment [ 4]
.
SSI’s publications, reports and brochures are
available from its research library.
Its educational unit compiles courses aimed at
specific target groups.
The following literature is available from the
SSI information department:
o SSI News
o SSI Reports
o Information
material about current radiation issues
The Finnish Centre for Radiation and Nuclear
Safety (STUK) is an authority and an expert in radiation and nuclear safety
matters [ 3] .
Radiation and Nuclear Safety stem from accurate
information and from work based on that information. This is the safety culture
that STUK expects of its customers- and requires of itself.
Among the other forms of STUK information
activities mainly for professionals it is possible to single out the following
ones which deal with radioecological aspects at all events:
|
SUPERVISION OF
NUCLEAR SAFETY |
SUPERVISION OF
RADIATION PRACTICE |
(is based on the Nuclear Energy Act 990/87) (is
based on the Radiation Act 592/91)
|
o safety
requirements |
o safety
requirements |
|
o preliminary
inspection of plans |
o safety
licences |
|
o approvals,
licences, comments |
o inspections |
|
o inspections
at plant sites |
o monitoring
of radiation doses |
|
o monitoring
of the environment |
o reports on
operating events and control measures |
|
o reports on
operating events and
control measures |
|
|
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS |
PUBLICATIONS |
|
o nationwide
radiation monitoring |
o scientific
original publications in international journals |
|
o
investigation of exceptional
observations and information |
o STUK-A
series |
|
o making
provisions for exceptional radiation situations |
o STUK-B
series |
|
o
co-operation with other authorities |
o papers,
articles, reviews |
|
o reports on
radiation monitoring and on instances of preparedness |
o
“Radiation and Nuclear Safety Reviews” series |
| |
o “STUK
informs“ series |
| |
o periodical
ALARA |
| |
o radiation
news tel. 9700-8877 |
| |
o radiation
fax 9600-8899 |
| |
o radiation
safety pages 195-197 on Teletext |
Protective actions which reduce radiation doses:
|
Actions |
Early notification, descriptions of the
situation (radiation situation, account of the event), recommendations
for protective measures, news releases, emergency bulletins by the
authorities |
|
Participants |
Finnish co-operation partners (central
administration, regional administration, local administration), co-operation
partners abroad, the media, enterprises and corporations, citizens |
Number of STUK publications in various directions
of information activities has increased 2-3 times from 1991 to 1995 [
3] .
Style of the materials’ presenting which are
available not only for the professionals but for the general public as well is
characteristic for the popular booklets and generalised annual reports of the
large nuclear companies, for example, Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO, Finland) and
Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co (SKB, Sweden) as well as for the
union “Bellona” reports.
In particular, SKB gives the information on the
system of RW and SNF transportation in Sweden [ 5]
. This information and the corresponding technologies could be very important
for Russia because all nuclear objects - RW and SNF producers on the Kola
peninsula as well as the objects of Sweden are located near the sea coast.
Providing consulting services in various
directions is one of the information functions of any large nuclear firm in the
West, including SKB [ 3] .
Some 250 people are engaged in research,
development and demonstration activities. They come from the institutes of
technology in Stockholm and Gothenburg, the universities in Lulea, Umea,
Stockholm, Linkoeping, Uppsala and Lund, Vattenfall Engineering AB, Sydkraft
Konsult AB, ABB Atom, MRM AB, SGU (the Geological Servey of Sweden), the
Corrosion Institute, Studsvik AB, Geosigma AB, VBB-Viak AB, Siab AB, Kemakta AB,
Golder Associate AB, IPA-konsult AB, ABEM AB, Clay Technology AB, Skanska and
Conterra AB. In addition SKB employs some 50 people for special investigations
and for information and public relations activities.
The goal of SKB’s information is to broaden and
deepen the public’s knowledge regarding:
o the radioactive
waste that exists today, and the fact that it will pose a risk in the future if
it is not handled properly, for example if it goes astray;
o the fundamental
ethical and technical principles that guide Swedish waste management policy:
- the nuclear waste must be dealt with in a
responsible fashion with high standards of safety,
- the planned systems must be designed so that we
do not shift any environmental or economic burdens to future generations;
o the fact that the
knowledge and the capability to build safe repositories now exists in Sweden and
other countries and that SKB is actively participating in international research
and development;
o the system we
have built up in Sweden and that is already being used to dispose of all
radioactive waste for a long time to come;
o the work SKB has
now begun of siting a deep repository for spent nuclear fuel. Apart from the
disposal method, the aim to have in 20 years’ time a metod, a site, a facility
under construction and funds. This will enable future decision-makers to either
continue along the beaten path, or choose other solutions.
The best way to bring about a dialogue with
people is to meet them face-to-face. That is why SKB holds exhibitions on a
large scale, with the participation of the company’s own personnel. Visits are
made to schools, local communities and trade fairs throughout the year, in some
cases with a mobile exhibition. In this way, SKB gets to meet the general public,
local political and community leaders and special interest groups in an open
dialogue.
SKB’s facilities - CLAB, SFR and the Aespoe
Hard Rock Laboratory - are open to visitors by appointment and have permanent
exhibitions that can be visited year-round. At the localities where SKB
initiates feasibility studies, information offices are opened with associated
exhibitions. Thus, interested visitors can there come into direct contact with
representatives of SKB.
SKB’s information is now also on the
Internet’s World Wide Web at the following address: http://www.skb.se/skb/
The basic philosophy is that anyone who wants to
should be able to find out the facts, principles and future plans for the
radioactive waste.
As in previous years, SKB pursued ambulatory
information activities for example during 1995. With lecturers and mobile
exhibitions, SKB visited 42 schools, meeting 6 878 pupils in 315 classes.
Increased interest was noted during the year among teachers, and special teacher
conferences were arranged in conjunction with the school visits. The school
information package “At Depth” was revised after an evaluation in 1995 and
is now available at most upper-secondary schools in the country. SKB also took
part in eight trade fairs of different kinds.
During the summer the transport ship M/S Sigyn
served as a floating exhibition hall. For the seventh year in a row, visitors
were able to view equipment used to handle the waste, such as transport casks,
as well as models of the planned deep repository and the prospective canister.
New for the year was a series of on-board seminars to which citizens’s groups
and politicians were invited for debate. SKB’s exhibitions were visited by a
total of 61 000 persons, including members of the public, upper-secondary school
pupils, local political and community leaders and special-interest groups. Of
these, 51 500 visited the exhibition on board the Sigyn.
SKB’s facilities CLAB, SFR and the Aespoe Hard
Rock Laboratory (HRL) also received a large number of visitors from both Sweden
and other countries. Among the visitors were senators and several groups of
teachers, who spent their in-service training days visiting the facilities.
SKB ran a major series of advertisements in the
daily press and trade journals. The ads dealt with four questions relating to
the Swedish nuclear waste: “How long is it hazardous? Who takes care of it?
What do we do with it? and Where will it be disposed of?” A fact book could
also be ordered from the company free of cost during the ad campaign. In
response to ads, 6 000 people ordered additional information from SKB.
Lagerbladet, SKB’s newsletter, was published
twice during 1995 and distributed to about 25 000 subscribers [
3] .
A special group of information materials is being
represented by popular and total available leaflets, including advertising
booklets of various ecological movements, publications in mass media.
Lately there are being broadly used the
specialised electronic information systems such as Nuc Net of the European
Nuclear Society (http://www.aey.ch/nucnet/), computer systems of large companies,
for instance computer system at SKB [ 3]
. To the tasks of the regional Kola Net web belongs also the accumulation and
analysis of radioecological data.
It is necessary to mention that the forms of
information activities in question are in Russia less diverse and popular than
in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Information- demonstration centres at the large
nuclear objects are only being founded now. Ecological education of population
and first of all pupils is at the first stage of its development as rule. In
such situation the western experience could be irreplaceable for the Russian
participants of the Barents region.
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
International co-operation in the information
sphere is being realised on various levels.
A Community Plan of Action in the field of
radioactive waste management was approved by the Council of the European
Communities. The plan is provided for [ 6]
:
o continuous
analysis of the technical situation, designed to keep the Community and its
Member States up to date on work and achievements in all areas of radioactive
wastes management;
o examination of
measures which could ensure the long term or permanent storage of radioactive
waste under optimum conditions;
o consultation to
ensure that the maximum benefit is obtained from the work of national, Community
and international programmes;
o continuity of
Community research and development programmes during the plan;
o provision of
information to the public.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Norwegian
Ministry of Environment in co-operation with the corresponding institutions of
Russia co-ordinate and finance the activities of the joint Norwegian-Russian
expert group working on the evaluation of radioactive pollution of the Northern
seas. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published (1995) the
“Actions plan in accordance with the Storting report N 34 (1993-94) in the
field of nuclear activities and chemical weapon in the regions situated near the
Northern Norway”. In this document it informs the Russian partners about the
possible organisational and financial support for solving a number of problems
at the nuclear objects of the Kola peninsula: safety increasing of the Kola NPP,
RW and SNF utilisation, creating the nuclear accidents warning systems, etc.
In May 1995 on the initiative and financial
support of Norway, Finland and Sweden in Vienna there was taken place an
international IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) seminar given up to RW
and SNF of Russia, including ones situated in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk
regions.
A characteristic example of information
activities co-ordinated on the international level is The Arctic Monitoring and
Assessment Programme (AMAP) [ 7]
.
AMAP was initiated by the Ministers from the
eight Arctic countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Federation of
Russia, Sweden and USA at a Ministerial Meeting in Rovaniemi, Finland in June
1991.
Following the request of the Governments of the
Nordic Countries, AMAP Secretariat was applied by the Nordic Environment Finance
Corporation (NEFCO) to develop proposals for environmentally sound investment
projects in the Russian part of the Barents region. At present these projects
are being evaluated for implementation with financial and technical involvement
of financial structures and industrial companies of the Nordic countries, as
well as the international financial organisations, including the World Bank,
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and others.
The AMAP assessment process will also utilise
data arising from (recent) monitoring and research activities conducted as part
of the AMAP National Implementation Plans (NIPs). To support the AMAP assessment
process and assist AMAP assessmentgroups in accessing, in particular, those data
which have not jet been published, AMAP Thematic Data Centres (TDCs) have been
established to meet different objectives, for instance:
o to meet the terms
of reference of the Ministerial declarations, charging AMAP with establishing
databases of sources, types and levels of radionuclide contamination of the
atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial environments of the Arctic and Northern
areas.
Among the AMAP TDCs currently exists, for example,
the Radioactivity data centre- NRPA (Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority,
Oslo, Norway).
Work is under development to implement GIS (geographical
information system) and mapping support for the AMAP assessment process. This
will be integrated with the data compilation at AMAP thematic data centres and
will provide specific support for requirements of assessment groups in relation
to graphical presentation of data, etc.
Assessment of radioactivity in the Arctic is one
of the major components of the AMAP Assessment, and a priority issue on which
information has been requested by Ministers.
The assessment considers two main aspects: the
source related assessment, and the individual related assessment. To
conduct the source related assessment, information is being compiled on present
and potential sources of radioactive contamination in the Arctic. These include:
o historical
sources associated with nuclear tests conducted in the Arctic;
o sources related
to accidents involving nuclear submarines or nuclear materials, etc.;
o dumped
radioactive waste and storage sites for radioactive waste;
o installations (including
nuclear power plants and military facilities) where radioactivity is used and
where discharges occur, or may occur as a result of accidental releases, etc.
In addition to working through its own channels,
AMAP has established cooperations with a number of relevant international
organisations and initiatives which will collaborate in providing AMAP with data
on, for example, dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas (the IAEA-MEL
programme, etc.), the sunken “Komsomolets” submarine (NATO/CCMS), etc.
Information is being compiled on the location of
sources, their type and characteristics, including the physical and chemical
properties and amounts of different radionuclides for each source, to facilitate
assessment of possible release rates. In conjunction with modelling work to
establish pathways and transports, and GIS applications, the aim of the source
related assessment is to produce a risk assessment for possible release and
dispersion scenarios, including estimation of the resulting doses to man and the
environment.
For the individual related assessment, data is
being compiled on measured levels of radioactive contamination in various
environmental media, including foods consumed by human populations. This will
further facilitate the work of estimating doses to man and the environment from
actual and potential sources of radioactive contamination.
The radioactivity assessment is being
co-ordinated with the human health assessment, and with input from indigenous
people's organisations of information concerning locations of populations,
utilisation of food resources, etc.
To conduct the work of data compilation and
evaluation in support of the AMAP radioactivity thematic data centre has been
established at the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Oslo, Norway. This
data centre will work in close co-operation with the AMAP radioactivity
assessment group, involving participants from all AMAP countries, to provide the
data and technical resources (database, modelling, GIS) required to fulfil the
described objectives.
AMAP maintains a strong co-operation with United
Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the assessment of
radioactivity in the Arctic and radioactive wastes management in Russia. IAEA
has established a Contact Expert Group, the goal of which is to co-ordinate
international activities in this field, which objectives similar to the
activities undertaken by AMAP and Nordic Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO)
under the radioactivity component of their joint project. The AMAP Secretariat
intends to take an active role in the Contact Expert Group.
The AMAP Secretariat has established close
co-operation with the NATO/ NACC (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, North
Atlantic Co-operation Council) group performing the Pilot Study: Cross- Border
Environmental Problems Emanating from Defence Related Installations and
Activities, Report on Radioactive Contamination. The final report of the first
phase of this project is available and provides information for the AMAP
radioactivity assessment; a second phase has been initiated.
The AMAP Secretariat has produced information
sheets and poster concerning the AEPS and AMAP and its activities. This
information has also been made available on the Internet World Wide Web (WWW) on
http://www.grida.no/amap/amap.htm. The “Arctic Bulletin” prepared by WWF
provides a useful source of information for the general public on AMAP
activities.
A number of initiatives are under consideration
for communication of the results of the work of AMAP and its Assessment to a
range of target audiences. Priorities are communication to Indigenous People and
other Northern inhabitants, including possibilities for preparation of
educational materials for use by northern communities. Additionally,
possibilities for presentation of AMAP’s results on various electronic media (e.g.
CD-ROM, Internet WWW) are being investigated [ 7,8]
.
As an example of international co-operation for
evaluating the specific radiation situation in a separate country could serve
the STUK activities) [ 3]
:

A message of an exceptional radiation situation
may be received from various sources. The Finnish Centre for Radiation and
Nuclear Safety serves as the national contact point receiving all alarm signals
pertaining to radiation.
SSI participates on a national and international
level through organisations such as the International Commission on
Radioecological Protection - ICRP, the International Atomic Energy Agency within
OECD - NEA, and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic
Radiation - UNSCEAR.
SSI has contributed towards improvements in
radiation protection standards in the former Soviet states, especially in the
Baltic and Russia, through the project, Radiation Protection East.
The activities of companies and organisations
that use radiation are regulated by the Radiation Protection Act and by a set of
directives issued by SSI. Activities involving radiation often require SSI
licence before they can begin.
Nordic co-operation functioned well through all
branches of radiation and nuclear safety. In 1995 a real-time exchange of
information on monitoring metrology was agreed upon, to the end that authorities
from each Nordic country can directly follow the radiation situation and its
changes in the neighbouring countries.
The interface in Finnish-Swedish co-operation on
safety was expanded through the joint implementation of specific consultation
and training projects focusing on authorities in adjacent regions [
3] .
Nordic Nuclear Safety Research is a voluntary
co-operation body financed by relevant national authorities, nuclear companies
and other organisations within the five Nordic Countries: Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The co-operation is in the fields of nuclear safety,
radiation protection and emergency preparedness. Research projects are initiated
and supported in these fields and one example is AFA-1, which deals with
long-lived low and intermediate level waste. Waste of this kind is, more or less,
present in all five countries and therefore of common interest. SKB is involved
in AFA-1 and contributes to the study. AFA-1 is divided into three areas:
o Characterisation
of long-lived and intermediate level radioactive waste (Subproject AFA-1.1).
o Function analyses
for the near-field of repositories for long-lived waste (Subproject AFA-1.2).
o Environmental
impact statement for repositories for long-lived waste (Subproject AFA-1.3).
The Programme in its present form started in 1994
[ 2] .
Separate companies of the region are being in
co-operation. Imatran Voima OY (IVO) helped the Kola NPP to determine the
conception of underground disposal of radioactive wastes of this station.
Teollisuuden Voima OY (TVO), IVO and SKB took part in the tender of the European
Commission to carry out contracts R4.10-13/95 concerning the problem of RW and
SNF of the north-western Russia in the whole.
SKB has a very close co-operation with TVO in
many fields of the research on nuclear waste management.
During 1995 a bilateral information exchange
meeting between SKB, TVO and IVO was held in Sweden. SKB and TVO scientists have
during 1995 had numerous meetings where information and experience exchange have
been carried out [ 2] .
The German firm NUKEM has planned to carry out
the system analyses of the stages of conception concerning constructing on the
Kola peninsula of the united RW treatment system.
DBE (Deutsche Gesellschaft zum Bau und Betrieb
von Endlagern fur Abfallstoffe mbH) and the Mining Institute of Kola Science
Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences accomplished the report in accordance with
the contract of the European Commission COSU/CT/94/940096-B collected, analysed
and generalised the information about RW and SNF of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk
region [ 9] .
The international information integration in the
sphere of radioecology has already started. However, there are a lot of things
to be done in prospect. In particular, it would be desirable to use maximum the
foreign experience and discussions concerning the right choice of the sites of
RW and SNF underground disposal in the north-western Russia. The potential
danger of this question is extraordinary large for all Northern countries. At
the same time Northern countries have large collective experience to help Russia
to make the right decision.
FINANCING
Unfortunately in the presented materials even by
the Western participants there was not enough data about the financing of
information activities. It makes difficult to determine the level of
“necessary financing” of this kind of activities and to work out the
recommendations by analogy with the practice of Western countries concerning the
question about the corresponding expenses to be planned by the Russian
participants in order to meet the Western “information standards”.
A positive exception on background of the total
data deficit concerning the financing of information activities is materials of
SKB (Sweden), STUK and Posiva Oy (Finland) [ 2,3,10]
.
The current operating costs of SKB in 1995 are
characterised in the table 2. The debit items have to do to the certain extent
with the information activities for professionals (finally direction is to
increase the effectiveness and ecological safety of an enterprise) and general
public are marked.
Table 2
SKB’s approximate operating costs 1995
|
Activities |
SEK
million |
% |
|
Research, development and demonstration |
123 |
15,2 |
|
Planning and design of encapsulation plant
and deep repository, etc. |
103 |
12,6 |
|
Operation of CLAB |
69 |
8,5 |
|
Operation of SFR |
27 |
3,3 |
|
Operation of transportation system |
19 |
2,3 |
|
Interest and depreciation |
86 |
10,6 |
|
Fuel services |
325 |
39,9 |
|
Public relations |
31 |
3,8 |
|
Other |
31 |
3,8 |
|
Total |
814 |
100 |
Let us illustrate only a part of financial
expenses of STUK in the sphere of information activities connected with expert
services [ 3] .
By total annual operating costs of STUK in 1995
approximately FIM 100 mill., the expert services about FIM 14 mill. amounted to
14% and increased 2-3 times compared to 1991.
In 1995 the joint costs of TVO and IVO in the
sphere of RW and SNF management amounted to FIM 3803,2 mill. At the same time
the total research costs of these two companies directed to obtain and publish
new scientific information concerning the problem in question accounted to FIM
49,1 mill. [ 10] .
In the given case the total information
activities are being financed not more than 1,3% from the total problem costs.
Thus large firms and organisations spend from 1
to 15% of the current operating costs for various forms of information
activities.
CONCLUSIONS
There are considered the basic features (characteristic
peculiarities) of international information activities in the European North in
the sphere of radioecology.
The analysis carried out has shown that these
activities are diverse and could further increasing the safety of nuclear
technologies and sustainable development of the countries in region.
It would be optimal if the inevitable criticism
of the negative points accumulated would be being directed not towards the total
negation of using nuclear energy in the economy but towards the creation of
constructive proposals concerning their removal.
In Russia the information activities in question
are not so intensive as by its neighbours and partners. It would be very
desirable if on the basis of the increasing of information exchange and
following it Russia with the help of leading western companies and organisations
could secure the safety and effective functioning of nuclear energetic, atomic
fleets, systems of radiation monitoring and RW and SNF handling objects.
For example, The Centre on informing and
educating population on nuclear problems in the North-West Russia is only being
planned (protocol of the workshop on TACIS projects, March, 15- 16, 2000 signed
by the vice-president of RAS N.P. Lavyorov and deputy minister of Russian
Federation on atomic energy V.A. Lebedev).
There is accumulated the experience of developing
the methods of special sociological investigations, various contacts, business
correspondence, etc. with the majority of specialists within international
information activities.
The complete set of materials, including
necessary appendices - examples of information activities only for professionals,
both for professionals and broad public, mainly for the broad public - is
available at the Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic and Arctic Centre (Finland).
REFERENCES
- Programme of International Conference
“Radioactive wastes. Disposal. Transport. Utilisation. Impact on human
beings and environment.” St. Petersburg, 14-18 October, 1996. The Central
Research Institute for Construction Materials “Prometey”.
- Annual report SKB (The Swedish Nuclear Fuel
and Waste Management Co), 1995.
- Annual report STUK (The Finnish Centre for
Radiation and Nuclear Safety), 1995.
- The Swedish Radiation Protection Institute.
Overview of Operations, 1995.
- SKB: Transportation of Radioactive Waste,
1995.
- Managing Radioactive Waste in the European
Community.
- The Monitoring Programme for Arctic Monitoring
and Assessment Programme, AMAP. AMAP Report 93:3.
- AMAP Publications. Information sheet
12/2,1996.
- H.Engelmann et al. Inventory of Radioactive
Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel at the Kola Peninsula Region of Northwest
Russia. Contract COSU/CT/94/940096.
- Annual report, Posiva OY, 1995
Publishing date: November 12, 2002
Source: SciTecLibrary.ru
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