PART 1General

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Radioactive Substances Exemption (Northern Ireland) Order 2011 and comes into operation on 1st October 2011.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In this Order—

“the Act” means the Radioactive Substances Act 1993;

“Ba-137m eluting source” means a source which consists of Cs-137 in a sealed container which is designed and constructed to allow the elution of Ba-137m, and which is radioactive material or radioactive waste solely because of that Cs-137;

“Bq” means becquerels;

“Chief Inspector” means the Chief Inspector within the meaning of Article 4 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993;

“Class A gaseous tritium light device” means such a device where the activity of the device does not exceed 2 x 10¹⁰ Bq of tritium;

“Class B gaseous tritium light device” means such a device installed or intended to be installed on premises and where the activity—

“Class C gaseous tritium light device” means such a device installed or intended to be installed—

“disposal permit” means—

“electrodeposited source” means an article where radionuclides are electrodeposited onto a metal substrate and which is radioactive material or radioactive waste solely because it contains Ni-63 or Fe-55;

“gaseous tritium light device” means a sealed source in a device which is an illuminant, instrument, sign or indicator which—

“landfill” has the meaning given to that term in article 2(g) of Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste(3);

“luminised article” means an article which is made wholly or partly from a luminescent substance in the form of a film or a paint and which—

“recovery” has the same meaning as given to that term in Article 3(15) of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste(4);

“relevant river” means a part of a river which—

“relevant sewer” means—

and “sewer”, “public sewer” and “private sewer” have the same meanings as in Article 2 of the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006(5);

“relevant standard conditions” has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2;

“sea” includes any area submerged at mean high water springs and also includes, so far as the tide flows at mean high water springs, an estuary or arm of the sea and the waters of any channel, creek, bay or river;

“sealed source” means a radioactive source containing radioactive material where the structure is designed to prevent, under normal use, any dispersion of radioactive substances, excluding such a source where it is an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source;

“stored in transit” means the storage in the course of transit of radioactive material or radioactive waste, but does not include any storage of such material or waste where it is removed from its container;

“Table 1”, “Table 2”, “Table 3”, “Table 4” or “Table 5” means the table with that number in Schedule 1;

“a tritium foil source” means an article which—

“uranium or thorium compound” means a substance or article which is radioactive material or radioactive waste solely because it is or contains metallic uranium or thorium or prepared compounds of uranium or thorium, and in respect of which metal or compound the proportion of—

“waste permitted person” means, in respect of the radioactive waste where the term appears, a person who holds—

“week” means any period of seven consecutive days; and

“year” means a calendar year.

(2) In this Order, where any radionuclide carries the suffix “+” or “sec—

(a)that radionuclide represents the parent radionuclide in secular equilibrium with the corresponding daughter radionuclides which are identified in column 2 of Table 5 adjacent that parent radionuclide; and

(b)a concentration or activity value given in respect of such a parent radionuclide is the value for the parent radionuclide alone, but already takes into account the daughter radionuclides in column 2 that are present.

(3) In this Order, where any reference is made to radioactive material or radioactive waste possessing a concentration or quantity of radioactivity which does not exceed the value shown in a particular column in Table 1 or Table 4, that value is not exceeded if—

(a)where only one radionuclide which is listed or described in the relevant table is present in the material or waste, the concentration or quantity of that radionuclide does not exceed the concentration or quantity specified in the appropriate entry of that column in that table; or

(b)where more than one radionuclide which is listed or described in the relevant table is present, the sum of the quotient values of all such radionuclides in the material or waste, as determined by the summation rule following that table that applies to that column, is less than or equal to one.

(4) References in this Order to a section are to that section of the Act.

Interpretation: NORM

3.—(1) In this Order, “NORM waste” means a substance or article which is solid radioactive waste under—

(a)section 1B; or

(b)section 1C, where—

(i)the waste arises from the remediation of land; and

(ii)except where paragraph (2) applies, that land was contaminated by the process described in section 1C.

(2) Land is not contaminated under paragraph (1)(b)(ii) where the land is on a site in respect of which a nuclear site licence is or has been in force and the contamination occurred—

(a)when that licence was in force; or

(b)before that licence was granted, when the site was used for the purpose of installing or operating an installation described in subsection (1) of section 1 (restriction of certain nuclear installations to licensed sites) of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965(6) or in regulations made under that subsection.

(3) In this Order, “NORM waste concentration” means, in respect of radionuclides contained in NORM waste, the sum of the concentrations of the single radionuclide with the highest concentration in each of the natural decay chains beginning with—

(a)U-238;

(b)U-235; and

(c)Th-232.

Tables of radionuclides and descriptions of radioactive material and radioactive waste

4.—(1) Schedule 1 (tables of radionuclides and descriptions of radioactive material and radioactive waste) has effect.

(2) Schedule 2 (relevant standard conditions under Parts 2 and 3 of this Order) has effect.

PART 2Exemption from registration under section 7 and authorisation under section 14

Exemption from registration under section 7

5.—(1) A person (“A”) is exempt from registration under section 7 (registration of users of radioactive material) in respect of—

(a)subject to paragraph (2), the radioactive material described in article 7, where A complies with the relevant standard conditions, and any conditions in article 8 that apply to the material;

(b)radioactive material stored in transit.

(2) A is not exempt from registration under paragraph (1)(a) in respect of a high-activity source where A takes possession of it.

Exemption from authorisation under section 14

6.—(1) A person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 14 (accumulation of radioactive waste) in respect of—

(a)subject to paragraph (2)(a), radioactive waste described in article 7—

(i)where A has received the waste for accumulation (with a view to its subsequent disposal by A) on premises on which A manages, treats or disposes of radioactive waste mixed with substantial quantities of waste which is not radioactive waste, provided that A disposes of the radioactive waste as soon as is practicable; or

(ii)except where paragraph (i) applies, where A complies with any conditions in article 8 that apply to that waste and the relevant standard conditions;

(b)subject to paragraph (2), radioactive waste consisting of a sealed source, an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source, which—

(i)contains a quantity of radionuclides which exceeds the value specified in column 2 of Table 2 in respect of the relevant type of source; and

(ii)immediately before it became radioactive waste, was radioactive material in the form of a sealed source, an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source (as appropriate),

where A complies with the relevant standard conditions; or

(c)radioactive waste stored in transit.

(2) A is not exempt from authorisation—

(a)under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) in respect of a high-activity source where A accumulates it and it is waste when A takes possession of it; or

(b)under paragraph (1)(b) where A has received the waste for the purpose of A disposing of it.

Radioactive substances exempted under articles 5 and 6

7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), articles 5 and 6 apply to—

(a)a substance or article described in an entry in column 1 of Table 2 which contains a quantity of radionuclides that does not exceed the value specified in column 2 of Table 2 in respect of that substance or article; or

(b)any substance or article which is not described in an entry in column 1 of Table 2.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration which is less than or equal to 10 Bq/g.

Conditions in respect of the total quantity or concentration of radioactive substances on any premises

8.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies to a person (“A”) to whom article 5(1)(a) or 6(1)(a) applies in respect of an article described in article 7(1)(a).

(2) A must ensure that, in respect of the total amount of such substances or articles on the premises (including any such article which is on the premises and which is mobile radioactive apparatus), the quantity of radionuclides does not exceed the value for that substance or article in column 3 of Table 2.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies to a person (“B”) to whom article 5(1)(a) or 6(1)(a) applies in respect of a substance or article described in article 7(1)(b).

(4) B must ensure that—

(a)in respect of the total amount of such substances and articles on the premises, the quantity of radioactivity does not exceed the value specified in column 2 of Table 1; or

(b)no such substance or article on the premises contains a concentration of radioactivity that exceeds the value specified in column 3 of Table 1.

Exemption from authorisation under section 14 for NORM waste

9.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 14 in respect of the accumulation on premises of NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration that does not exceed 10Bq/g where—

(a)A has received the waste—

(i)from another person under a disposal permit held by that person or under an exemption from holding such a permit that applied in respect of the transfer from that person; and

(ii)for accumulation by A with a view to its subsequent disposal on those premises by A; or

(b)except where paragraph (a) applies, A complies with the relevant standard conditions.

(2) In respect of premises in respect of which A holds an authorisation under section 14 for the accumulation of NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration which exceeds 10Bq/g, the exception in paragraph (1) does not apply to A in respect of NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration which exceeds 5 Bq/g which is accumulated on those premises.

PART 3Exemption from registration under section 10

Exemption from registration under section 10

10.—(1) A person (“A”) is exempt from registration under section 10 (registration of mobile radioactive apparatus) in respect of—

(a)a mobile radioactive apparatus described in an entry in column 1 of Table 2 which contains a quantity of radionuclides that does not exceed the value specified in column 2 of Table 2 in respect of that apparatus, where A complies with paragraph (2); or

(b)mobile radioactive apparatus stored in transit.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, A must—

(a)ensure that in relation to the total amount of all such mobile radioactive apparatus that A holds, the quantity of radionuclides does not exceed the value specified in respect of that apparatus in column 3 of Table 2; and

(b)comply with the relevant standard conditions.

PART 4Exemption from authorisation under section 13: solid radioactive waste

Exemption from authorisation under section 13: solid radioactive waste

11.—(1) A person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 13 (disposal of radioactive waste) in respect of the disposal on premises of solid radioactive waste described in article 12(1)(a) where—

(a)A receives the waste for the purpose of it being disposed of by A and on those premises;

(b)in respect of those premises A manages, treats or disposes of substantial quantities of waste which is not radioactive waste; and

(c)the radioactive waste will be disposed of by A as soon as is practicable and whilst dispersed in non-radioactive waste .

(2) A person (“B”) to whom paragraph (1) does not apply is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of the disposal from premises of solid radioactive waste described in article 12 where B complies with the conditions in article 13 that apply in respect of that waste.

Solid radioactive waste

12.—(1) Solid radioactive waste referred to in article 11 means—

(a)subject to paragraph (2), solid radioactive waste described in an entry in column 1 of Table 3 which does not contain a concentration of radionuclides that exceeds the value specified in column 2 of that Table in respect of that kind of waste; or

(b)a sealed source, electrodeposited source or tritium foil source which is not described in sub-paragraph (a).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to waste—

(a)where, prior to the disposal of that waste, a person has diluted it with the intention of ensuring that sub-paragraph (1)(a) is met; or

(b)which is NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration which is less than or equal to 10 Bq/g.

Conditions in respect of solid radioactive waste

13.—(1) A person to whom article 11(2) applies in respect of a waste which is—

(a)described in article 12(1)(a); and

(b)not a sealed source, an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source,

must ensure that the quantity of the waste or, as applicable, the quantity of any radionuclide which that waste contains, does not exceed the value specified in column 3 of Table 3 in respect of the total quantity of that waste disposed of on or from the premises during the period stated in that column.

(2) A person to whom article 11(2) applies must—

(a)keep an adequate record of the solid radioactive waste which the person disposes of on or from any premises under that article;

(b)dispose of the waste by a route identified in paragraph (3);

(c)where the disposal route in sub-paragraph (3)(a) is used, ensure that where practicable any marking or labelling of the waste or its container is removed before the person disposes of that waste;

(d)where the waste is or was a high-activity source, notify the details of the disposal to the chief inspector within 14 days of the disposal (including the information required by Annex II of the HASS Directive), in such form as may be required by the chief inspector; and

(e)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions that apply in respect of that article are complied with.

(3) The routes referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(b) are by transfer to—

(a)subject to paragraph (4), a person who disposes of substantial quantities of non-radioactive waste for burial in landfill, incineration or recovery and where the radioactive waste will be mixed with such non-radioactive waste for the purposes of such burial, incineration or recovery;

(b)a waste permitted person; or

(c)where the waste is a sealed source, an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source, to a licensee of a nuclear site or to a person situated in another Member State who is lawfully entitled to receive such waste.

(4) The route in sub-paragraph (3)(a) only applies in respect of waste described in article 12(1)(a)—

(a)which is not a sealed source, an electrodeposited source or a tritium foil source; or

(b)which is such a source, where in respect of the total amount of such sources which are disposed of on or from the premises under article 11(2), the quantity of the waste or, as applicable, the quantity of any radionuclide which that waste contains, does not exceed the value specified in column 3 of table 3 in respect of that source during the period stated in that column.

PART 5Exemption from authorisation under section 13: aqueous radioactive waste

Exemption from authorisation under section 13: aqueous radioactive waste in Table 3

14.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of an aqueous radioactive waste described in an entry in column 1 of Table 3, where A complies with the conditions in paragraph (3).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to waste where the person who generated that waste did not take all practicable measures available to minimise the quantity of radionuclides generated as waste.

(3) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that A must—

(a)ensure that in respect of the total amount of a waste described in that paragraph that is disposed of on or from the premises under that paragraph in a year, the quantity of the waste or, as applicable, the quantity of any radionuclide which that waste contains, does not exceed the value specified in column 3 of Table 3 in respect of that waste;

(b)dispose of the waste described in that paragraph to a relevant sewer or to a waste permitted person;

(c)keep an adequate record of the waste which A disposes of from the premises under that paragraph; and

(d)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions in this paragraph are complied with.

Exemption from authorisation under section 13: other aqueous radioactive waste

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of the waste described in paragraph (3) where A disposes of that waste in accordance with the conditions in article 16 that apply to A.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to A in respect of premises in respect of which A holds an authorisation under section 13 in respect of aqueous radioactive waste.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the waste referred to in paragraph (1) is aqueous radioactive waste—

(a)which is not described in an entry in column 1 of Table 3; and

(b)with a total concentration of radioactivity which does not exceed 100 Bq/ml.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply to waste—

(a)where a person has diluted it with the intention that—

(i)the waste has a concentration of radioactivity which is below the value in paragraph (3)(b); or

(ii)the condition in article 16(3)(a) or 16(4)(b) is complied with in respect of that waste; or

(b)where the person who generated that waste did not take all practicable measures available to minimise the quantity of radionuclides generated as waste.

Conditions in respect of aqueous radioactive waste in article 15

16.—(1) A person (“A”) to whom article 15(1) applies must—

(a)subject to paragraph (2), dispose of the waste in respect of which that article applies—

(i)directly into a relevant river or the sea;

(ii)to a relevant sewer; or

(iii)to a waste permitted person.

(b)keep an adequate record of the waste which A disposes of from any premises under that article; and

(c)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions that apply to A in respect of that article are complied with.

(2) In respect of disposals of aqueous non-Table 3 waste disposed from the premises, A may not use both of the disposal routes described in paragraphs (1)(a)(i) or (ii) in a year and where—

(a)A uses the route in paragraph (i), the conditions in paragraph (3) apply to A; or

(b)A uses the route in paragraph (ii), or A does not use the route in either paragraph (i) or paragraph (ii), the conditions in paragraph (4) apply to A.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, A must ensure that—

(a)in respect of any aqueous non-Table 3 waste which A disposes of, the concentration of radioactivity does not exceed the value shown in column 2 of Table 4; and

(b)in respect of the total amount of aqueous non-Table 3 waste which A disposes of from the premises in a year, the quantity of radioactivity does not exceed the value shown in column 4 of Table 4.

(4) Where this paragraph applies—

(a)where any of the aqueous non-Table 3 waste disposed of from the premises in a year has a concentration of radioactivity which exceeds the value shown in column 2 of Table 4, A must not, in respect of the total amount of aqueous non-Table 3 waste which is disposed of from those premises in a year, dispose of a quantity of radionuclides which exceeds—

(i)1 x 10⁸ Bq for the sum of the following radionuclides: H-3, C-11, C-14, F-18, P-32, P-33, S-35, Ca-45, Cr-51, Fe-55, Ga-67, Sr-89, Y-90, Tc-99m, In-111, I-123, I-125, I-131, Sm-153, Tl-201; and

(ii)1 x 10⁶ Bq for the sum of all other radionuclides;

or

(5) In this article, “aqueous non-Table 3 waste” means aqueous radioactive waste which is not described in an entry in column 1 of Table 3.

PART 6Exemption from authorisation under section 13: gaseous radioactive waste

Exemption from authorisation under section 13: gaseous radioactive waste

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of—

(a)gaseous radioactive waste where the only radionuclide contained in that waste is Kr-85, where that person complies with the conditions in article 18; or

(b)subject to paragraph (3), gaseous radioactive waste—

(i)which is released from within a container at the time that the container is opened; and

(ii)that has been emitted by solid or liquid radioactive material within the container,

where that person complies with the conditions in article 18(2).

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to waste where the person who generated that waste did not take all practicable measures available to minimise the quantity of radionuclides generated as waste.

(3) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply in respect of any gas which arises as a result of a process applied by a person to the contained radioactive material

Conditions in respect of gaseous radioactive waste

18.—(1) A person to whom article 17(1)(a) applies must ensure that in respect of the total amount of waste described in that sub-paragraph which is disposed of from the premises in a year, the total quantity of radioactivity does not exceed 10¹¹ Bq.

(2) A person to whom article 17(1) applies must—

(a)to the extent that is reasonably practicable, in respect of gaseous radioactive waste to which that article applies—

(i)which arises in a building, cause the waste to be disposed of by an extraction system which removes the waste from the area where it arose and which vents the waste into the atmosphere; and

(ii)prevent the entry or, where paragraph (i) applies, the re-entry, of the gaseous radioactive waste into a building; and

(b)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions that apply to that person in respect of that article are complied with.

PART 7Exemption from authorisation under section 13: NORM waste

Exemption from authorisation under section 13 for NORM waste

19.—(1) A person (“A”) is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of the disposal on premises of NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration that does not exceed 10 Bq/g where A receives the waste—

(a)from another person under a disposal permit held by that person or under an exemption from holding such a permit that applied in respect of the transfer from that person and;

(b)for the purpose of its disposal by A on those premises.

(2) A person (“B”) to whom paragraph (1) does not apply is exempt from authorisation under section 13 in respect of the disposal on or from premises of—

(a)NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration that does not exceed 5 Bq/g where—

(i)the quantity of radionuclides in the total amount of such NORM waste disposed of per year by B on or from those premises does not exceed 5 x 10¹⁰ Bq and B complies with the conditions in article 20(1); or

(ii)subject to paragraph (3), the quantity exceeds that number and B complies with the conditions in article 20 which apply to B; or

(b)subject to paragraph (3), NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration that exceeds 5 Bq/g but does not exceed 10 Bq/g where B complies with the conditions in article 20.

(3) The exemptions in paragraphs (1), (2)(a)(ii) and (2)(b) do not apply to a person in respect of premises in respect of which that person holds an authorisation under section 13 for the disposal on or from those premises of NORM waste with a NORM waste concentration which exceeds 10 Bq/g.

Conditions in respect of NORM waste

20.  A person (“A”) to whom article 19(2)(a) or (b) applies must—

(a)keep an adequate record of the NORM waste which A disposes of on or from any premises under that article;

(b)where the disposal route in paragraph (c)(i) or (ii) is used, ensure that where practicable any marking or labelling of the waste or its container is removed before A disposes of that waste;

(c)dispose of the NORM waste in respect of which that article applies—

(i)subject to paragraph (3) where it applies, by burial or landfill (or transfer to a person for such burial);

(ii)by incineration (or transfer to a person for such incineration), but only to the extent that—

(aa)none of the incinerated waste has a NORM waste concentration in excess of 5 Bq/g; and

(bb)the quantity of radionuclides in the total amount of NORM waste incinerated per year does not exceed 1 x 10⁸ Bq; or

(iii)to a waste permitted person; and

(d)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions that apply to A in respect of that article are complied with.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies to a person (“B”) to whom article 19(2)(a)(ii) or (b) applies where B intends to dispose of NORM waste under one of those exemptions by burial in landfill.

(3) B must—

(a)make a written radiological assessment of the reasonably foreseeable pathways for the exposure of workers and the public to radiation in respect of the disposal of that waste at the place of disposal;

(b)be satisfied that the assessment demonstrates that radiation doses are not expected to exceed—

(i)1mSv per year to workers at the place of disposal; and

(ii)300µSv per year to the public;

(c)provide that assessment to the chief inspector at least 28 days before the first disposal is made; and

(d)not dispose of that waste or continue to do so if the chief inspector objects in writing to that assessment.

PART 8Transitional Provisions

Previously exempt activity in relation to keeping or using radioactive material

21.—(1) This article applies to a person (“A”) carrying on an activity immediately before 1^st October 2011 in relation to radioactive material (the “continuing activity”) where—

(a)the activity is described in section 6 (prohibition of use of radioactive material without registration); and

(b)immediately before 1^st October 2011 A was exempted from the duty to hold a registration granted under section 7 (registration of users of radioactive material) in relation to that activity under one of the Orders listed in Schedule 3 to this Order.

(2) In relation to the continuing activity, the exemption described in paragraph 1(b) continues to have effect in relation to A, subject to any conditions specified in the Order in which that exemption is contained, until the date calculated in accordance with paragraph (3).

(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is–

(a)where, in relation to the continuing activity, A does not become exempted under article 5 of this Order from the duty to hold a registration before 1^st April 2012–

(i)where A applies for a registration under section 7 in relation to that activity before 1^st April 2012–

(aa)if the application is granted, the date of grant;

(bb)if the application is refused and A appeals against the refusal under section 26 (registrations, authorisations and notices: appeals from decisions of the appropriate agency), the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn;

(cc)if the application is refused and A is entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26 of the Act, but does not do so, the date which is the day after the last day on which an appeal could have been brought, determined in accordance with the appeals regulations; or

(dd)if the application is refused and A is not entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, the date of the refusal; or

(ii)where A does not so apply, the earlier of–

(aa)1^st April 2012; or

(bb)the day on which A ceases to carry out the activity;

(b)where A does become so exempted under that article before 1^st April 2012, the day on which A first becomes so exempted.

(4) Where A–

(a)on 1^st October 2011, holds a registration under section 7 in respect of an activity described in paragraph (1) to which paragraph (1)(b) does not apply; and

(b)in relation to the continuing activity, applies for a variation of that registration instead of applying for a new registration,

then paragraph (3) applies to A in relation to the calculation of the duration of the exemption, but with references in that paragraph to an application for a variation of a registration under section 12 (cancellation and variation of registrations) substituted for references to an application for registration under section 7.

Previously exempt activity in relation to mobile radioactive apparatus

22.—(1) This article applies to a person (“A”) carrying on an activity immediately before 1^st October 2011 in relation to mobile radioactive apparatus (the “continuing activity”) where—

(a)the activity is described in section 9 (prohibition of use of mobile radioactive apparatus without registration); and

(b)immediately before 1^st October 2011 A was exempted from the duty to hold a registration granted under section 10 (registration of mobile radioactive apparatus) in relation to that activity under one of the Orders listed in Schedule 3 to this Order.

(2) In relation to the continuing activity the exemption described in paragraph (1)(b) continues to have effect in relation to A, subject to any conditions specified in the Order in which that exemption is contained, until the date calculated in accordance with paragraph (3).

(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is—

(a)where, in relation to the continuing activity, A does not become exempted under article 10 of this Order from the duty to hold a registration before 1^st April 2012—

(i)where A applies for a registration under section 10 in relation to that activity before 1^st April 2012—

(aa)if the application is granted, the date of grant;

(bb)if the application is refused and A appeals against the refusal under section 26 of the Act, the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn;

(cc)if the application is refused, and A is entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, but does not do so, the date which is the day after the last day on which an appeal could have been brought, determined in accordance with the appeals regulations; or

(dd)if the application is refused, and A is not entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, the date of the refusal; or

(ii)where A does not so apply, the earlier of—

(aa)1^st April 2012; or

(bb)the day on which A ceases to carry out the activity;

(b)where A does become so exempted under that article before 1^st April 2012, the day on which A first becomes so exempted.

(4) Where A—

(a)on 1^st October 2011, holds a registration under section 10 in respect of an activity which is not described in paragraph (1); and

(b)in relation to the continuing activity, applies for a variation of that registration instead of applying for a new registration,

then paragraph (3) applies to A in relation to the calculation of the duration of the exemption, but with references in that paragraph to an application for a variation of a registration under section 12 substituted for references to an application for a registration under section 10.

Previously excluded activity in relation to disposal of radioactive waste

23.—(1) This article applies to a person (“A”) carrying on an activity immediately before 1^st October 2011 in relation to radioactive waste (the “continuing activity”) where—

(a)the activity is described in section 13 (disposal of radioactive waste); and

(b)immediately before 1^st October 2011 A was excluded from the duty to hold an authorisation granted under that section in relation to that activity under one of the Orders listed in Schedule 3 to this Order.

(2) In relation to the continuing activity the exclusion described in paragraph (1)(b) continues to have effect in relation to A, subject to any conditions specified in the Order in which that exclusion is contained, until the date calculated in accordance with paragraph (3).

(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is—

(a)where, in relation to the continuing activity, A does not become exempted under article 11, 14, 15, 17 or 19 of this Order from the duty to hold an authorisation before 1^st April 2012—

(i)where A applies for an authorisation under section 13 in relation to that activity before 1^st April 2012—

(aa)if the application is granted, the date of grant;

(bb)if the application is refused and A appeals against the refusal under section 26, the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn;

(cc)if the application is refused, and A is entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, but does not do so, the date which is the day after the last day on which an appeal could have been brought, determined in accordance with the appeals regulations; or

(dd)if the application is refused, and A is not entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, the date of the refusal; or

(ii)where A does not so apply, the earlier of—

(aa)1^st April 2012; or

(bb)the day on which A ceases to carry out the activity;

(b)where A does become so exempted under any of those articles before 1^st April 2012, the day on which A first becomes so exempted.

(4) Where A—

(a)on 1^st October 2011, holds an authorisation under section 13 in respect of an activity which is not described in paragraph (1); and

(b)in relation to the continuing activity, applies for a variation of that authorisation instead of applying for a new authorisation,

then paragraph (3) applies to A in relation to the calculation of the duration of the exclusion, but with references in that paragraph to an application for a variation of an authorisation under section 17 (revocation and variation of authorisations) substituted for references to an application for an authorisation under section 13.

Previously excluded activity in relation to accumulation of radioactive waste

24.—(1) This article applies to a person (“A”) carrying on an activity immediately before 1^st October 2011 in relation to radioactive waste (the “continuing activity”) where—

(a)the activity is described in section 14 (accumulation of radioactive waste); and

(b)immediately before 1^st October 2011 A was excluded from the duty to hold an authorisation granted under that section in relation to that activity under one of the Orders listed in Schedule 3 to this Order.

(2) In relation to the continuing activity the exclusion described in paragraph (1)(b) continues to have effect in relation to A, subject to any conditions specified in the Order in which that exclusion is contained, until the date calculated in accordance with paragraph (3).

(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is—

(a)where, in relation to the continuing activity, A does not become exempted under article 6 or 9 of this Order from the duty to hold an authorisation before 1^st April 2012—

(i)where A applies for an authorisation under section 14 in relation to that activity before 1^st April 2012—

(aa)if the application is granted, the date of grant;

(bb)if the application is refused and A appeals against the refusal under section 26, the date on which the appeal is determined or withdrawn;

(cc)if the application is refused, and A is entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, but does not do so, the date which is the day after the last day on which an appeal could have been brought, determined in accordance with the appeals regulations; or

(dd)if the application is refused, and A is not entitled to appeal against the refusal in accordance with section 26, the date of the refusal; or

(ii)where A does not so apply, the earlier of—

(aa)1^st April 2012; or

(bb)the day on which A ceases to carry out the activity;

(b)where A does become so exempted under either of those articles before 1^st April 2012 , the day on which A first becomes so exempted.

(4) Where A—

(a)on 1^st October 2011, holds an authorisation under section 14 in respect of an activity which is not described in paragraph (1); and

(b)in relation to the continuing activity, applies for a variation of that authorisation instead of applying for a new authorisation,

then paragraph (3) applies to A in relation to the calculation of the duration of the [exclusion], but with references in that paragraph to an application for a variation of an authorisation under section 17 substituted for references to an application for an authorisation under section 14.

PART 9Revocations and savings

Revocations

25.  The instruments in Schedule 3 are revoked on 1^st October 2011.

Savings

26.  Despite their revocation, the instruments in Schedule 3 continue in force for the purposes of, and to the extent provided by, Part 8 of this Order.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on the 26th July 2011.

Wesley Shannon

A senior officer of the Department of the Environment

Article 4

SCHEDULE 1Tables of radionuclides and descriptions of radioactive material and radioactive waste

Article 4

SCHEDULE 2Relevant standard conditions under Parts 2 and 3 of this Order

Introduction

1.  In this Schedule, “radioactive substances” means radioactive material, mobile radioactive apparatus and radioactive waste, and “exempt radioactive substances” means such radioactive substances in respect of which an exemption in Part 2 or 3 of this Order applies.

Relevant standard conditions

2.—(1) In respect of a person (“A”) to whom—

(a)article 5(1)(a) applies, the relevant standard conditions are those contained in paragraphs 3 and 4;

(b)article 6(1)(a)(ii) or (b) or 9(1)(b) applies, the relevant standard conditions are those contained in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6;

(c)article 10(1)(a) applies, the relevant standard conditions are those contained in—

(i)paragraph 3 (except sub-paragraphs 3(e)(ii) and (f)); and

(ii)paragraph 5.

(2) In respect of an article referred to in sub-paragraph (1), A is not required to comply with a condition in this Part unless that condition is a relevant standard condition for the purposes of that article.

General conditions

3.  A must—

(a)keep an adequate record of any exempt radioactive substances which A holds, and—

(i)in respect of exempt radioactive substances which are mobile radioactive apparatus, the locations at which they are kept or used;

(ii)in respect of other exempt radioactive substances, the location within the premises where A holds them;

(b)ensure that where practicable exempt radioactive substances or the container of such radioactive substances, is marked or labelled as radioactive;

(c)in respect of exempt radioactive substances which are sealed sources, electrodeposited sources or tritium foil sources, not modify or mutilate those sources or cause a loss of containment such that radioactive material or radioactive waste may be released outside the source;

(d)allow the chief inspector access to such records or such premises as the chief inspector may request in order to determine that all of the conditions in respect of the relevant exemption are complied with;

(e)hold the exempt radioactive substances safely and securely to prevent, so far as practicable—

(i)accidental removal, loss or theft from the premises where it is held; or

(ii)loss of containment; and

(f)in respect of exempt radioactive substances in a container—

(i)not modify or mutilate that container; and

(ii)prevent any uncontrolled or unintended release of radioactive material or radioactive waste from the container.

Loss or theft conditions

4.—(1) A must, subject to sub-paragraph (2), in respect of an incident of loss or theft (or suspected loss or theft) of exempt radioactive substances (except mobile radioactive apparatus) from the premises where it is held—

(a)notify the incident to the chief inspector as soon as practicable; and

(b)include in that notification the details of any other incidents of loss or theft (or suspected loss or theft) of any radioactive substances from those premises over the 12 months preceding the incident being notified.

(2) In respect of an incident described in sub-paragraph (1), a notification to the chief inspector is only necessary where in respect of the aggregated total amount of exempt radioactive substances (excluding mobile radioactive apparatus) lost or stolen (or suspected to have been lost or stolen) from the premises in the incident and in all other such incidents in the 12 months preceding it, the quantity of radioactivity exceeds the value that is ten times the value in column 2 of Table 1.

Loss or theft conditions: mobile radioactive apparatus

5.—(1) A must, subject to sub-paragraph (2), in respect of an incident of loss or theft (or suspected loss or theft) of mobile radioactive apparatus from A—

(a)notify the incident to the chief inspector as soon as practicable; and

(b)include in that notification the details of any other incidents of loss or theft (or suspected loss or theft) of any mobile radioactive apparatus from A over the 12 months preceding the incident being notified.

(2) In respect of an incident described in sub-paragraph (1), a notification to the chief inspector is only necessary where in respect of the aggregated total amount of mobile radioactive apparatus lost or stolen (or suspected to have been lost or stolen) from A in the incident and in all other such incidents in the 12 months preceding it, the quantity of radioactivity exceeds the value that is ten times the value in column 2 of Table 1.

Condition to dispose of accumulated waste

6.  A must dispose of radioactive waste in respect of which the exemption in article 6(1)(a)(ii) or (b) or 9(1)(b) (as appropriate) applies as soon as practicable after it has become waste, and additionally in the case of such waste where it is a sealed source, a tritium foil source or an electrodeposited source, in any event within 26 weeks of that time unless the chief inspector advises in writing that a longer period of accumulation may take place.

Article 25

SCHEDULE 3Revocations

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order revokes and replaces a series of exemption orders made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (“the Act”) and its predecessor (the Radioactive Substances Act 1960(9) in order to rationalise the current system of exemptions and align this more closely with the structure and terminology used in the Basic Safety Standards Directive(10).

Part 1 contains interpretive provisions and gives effect to Schedules 1 and 2. Special interpretive provisions are included in respect of waste arising from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM waste).

Part 2 confers exemptions from the requirement to register under section 7 of the Act (use of radioactive material) and from the requirement to be authorised under section 14 of the Act (accumulation of radioactive waste). Special provision in relation to NORM waste is contained in article 9.

Part 3 confers exemptions from the requirement to register under section 10 of the Act (use etc. of mobile radioactive apparatus).

Parts 4 to 7 create exemptions from the requirement to be authorised under section 13 of the Act in relation to the disposal of radioactive waste. Part 4 deals with disposal of solid radioactive waste, Part 5 with aqueous waste, Part 6 with gaseous waste and Part 7 with NORM waste.

The conditions to which the new exemptions are subject are set out in the relevant Parts. Where those conditions include a requirement to comply with “the relevant standard conditions”, those conditions are set out in Schedule 2.

Previous exemption orders are revoked by article 25 and Schedule 3. Part 8 contains transitional provisions in respect of holders of exemptions and exclusions created by any of the orders listed in that Schedule. Such operators will have a period of six months in which to apply for any registration or authorisation which they may now require if they do not qualify for exemption under this Order, and will continue to be protected pending any appeal.

A Business and Regularity Impact Assessment has been prepared and placed in the Northern Ireland Assembly Library. Copies can be obtained from the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Environmental Policy Division, 6^th Floor, Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Belfast BT1 4NN.