International Collaboration on Regulatory Supervision

abstract this paper describes the norwegian radiation protection authority’s experience in regulatory cooperation projects in russia, with special emphasis on inherited problems. this inheritance includes a large amount of waste sources, such as those used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators, and remediation of former military sites used for storage of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. the goals of the cooperation programme are to promote effective and efficient regulatory supervision, taking into account international recommendations and good practice in other countries. the specific projects in the program are aimed at specific challenges, which require practical local interpretation of icrp recommendations, the iaea basic safety standards and other iaea requirements and guidance documents. in some cases, new regulatory documentation has been required, as well as new regulatory procedures. in the long term, the program is intended to lead to an enhanced and enduring safety culture. the positive experience in russia encouraged the norwegian government in 2008 to extend the regulatory collaboration programme to the countries in central asia, based on the experience gained from russian regulatory authorities as well as from support of russian technical support organisations. the programmes are evolving into a regional regulatory support group. noting this experience, the paper includes suggestions and ideas about how such regional groups can be effective in addressing common radiation safety objectives while addressing local differences in technical, geographical, economic and cultural matters in each country.