Practical challenges in implementing

the BSS requirements

(Regulatory Control of NORM):
MALAYSIA
Dr. TENG IYU LIN
LICENSING DIVISION
Atomic Energy Licensing Board
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
MALAYSIA

Ensuring Safety, Security & Safeguarding Peaceful Nuclear Activities

CONTENT
 AELB, ACT & REGULATIONS
 NORM IN MALAYSIA
 ACT 304
 LICENSING REGULATIONS, 1986

 BASIC SAFETY RADIATION PROTECTION, 2010

 RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT, 2011

 EXEMPTION ORDER – LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE

MATERIAL & SMALL AMANG FACTORY
 CODE OF PRACTICE - OIL & GAS

 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS BASED ON GSR PART 3

 CHALLENGES
http://www.aelb.gov.my
2
 AELB, ACT & REGULATIONS

• To provide for the

regulation and
control of atomic
energy; Minister of Science, Ministry of Science,
• For the Technology & Innovation Technology & Innovation
establishment of (General Secretary)
Atomic Energy standards on liability
Licensing Act 1984
(Act 304)
for nuclear damage;
The Board
and
(5 Members)
• For matters
connected therewith
or related thereto. Executive Director General
Secretary AELB Department

• Atomic Energy Nuclear Policy, Code &

Licensing Board Sub- Installation Standard
(AELB) was establish Standing Division Division
standing
under Section 3 of the Safety
Safety
Act. 304 Committee
Committee Technical Licensing
Regulatory Body: • Ensuring safety, Support Division Division
security and
safeguarding peaceful
Nuclear Activities Administrative Enforcement
Services Division
Division

http://www.aelb.gov.my
3
 Hierarchy of Legal System

Atomic Energy Licensing Act (1984 ) • Act: provides the basic law
(ACT 304) concerning the development and
utilization of atomic energy and
safety regulations.

• Regulations: provides more detailed

Regulations provisions entrusted by the Act.

Section 68 Act 304

• Provides additional requirement which

Orders and Conditions not stated in the regulations or special
matters related to provisions entrusted
of License by the Act

Orders: Sec 69 Act 304

Licence conditions: Section 17 Act 304
Guidelines, Codes • Provides guides, codes and standards
and Standards to comply with and achieve goal
impose in regulations

http://www.aelb.gov.my
4
ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING ACT 1984
(ACT 304)
Scope of the Act 304
To control any :
radioactive materials,
nuclear materials,
prescribed substances, or
irradiating apparatus in
medical and non-medical
application.

http://www.aelb.gov.my
ATOMIC ENERGY ACTIVITIES IN MALAYSIA
a. NON MEDICAL ACTIVITIES
 Gamma sterilization
 Non Destructive Testing
 Gauging
 Oil Logging
 NORM/ TENORM
 Research
 Archeology
 Others…
b. MEDICAL ACTIVITIES

http://www.aelb.gov.my
6
NORM IN MALAYSIA
NORM vs TENORM:
a) Milling of minerals containing naturally occurring radionuclides:
RAW MATERIAL – PROCESS  PRODUCT + BY PRODUCT
(NORM) (TENORM)

b) Tin mining/ smelting activities

TIN MINING: TIN CONCENTRATE + TIN TAILING
TIN SMELTING: TIN INGOT + TIN SLAG

c) Oil and gas industries

OIL SCALE AND SLUDGE

http://www.aelb.gov.my
7
NORM RESIDUES/ WASTES
GYPSUM
IRON OXIDE

OIL SLUDGE/
SCALE

TIN TAILIN
(AMANG)

TIN SLAG http://www.aelb.gov.my

 RADIATION PROTECTION
REGULATIONS (LICENSING) 1986

 Explain the procedure and information needed to obtain,

renew and amend the license from the Board.

http://www.aelb.gov.my
 REG 3:CLASSIFICATION OF LICENCE

CLASS A CLASS B CLASS C CLASS D CLASS E CLASS F CLASS G CLASS H

RADIOACTIVE DISPOSAL/STORAGE
NUCLEAR IRRADIATING TRANSPORTATION IMPORT & NUCLEAR OTHERS
MATERIAL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
MATERIAL APPARATUS EXPORT INSTALLATION
BEFORE DISPOSE

ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY

-Manufacture -Same as -Purchase -Transport -Import -Same as -Dispose -Maintenance
-Trade in Class A -Sell -Export Class A -Store -Leak test
-Produce -Trade in
-Process -Transfer
-Purchase -Import
-Own -Export
-Possess -Possess
-Transfer -Own
-Handle -Use
-Sell -Store
-Store -Handle
-Import
-Export
http://www.aelb.gov.my
 ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING (BASIC SAFETY
RADIATION PROTECTION) 2010

Introduction
Atomic Energy Licensing (Basic Safety Radiation Protection)
Regulations 2010 [P.U.(A) 46] replaced the
[Radiation Protection (Basic Safety Standards) Regulations, 1988]

 Come into operation on 15th February 2010; and

 Describe the principles of radiation protection and safety such as,

system of dose limitation (justification, optimization), medical
exposure, operational radiation protection and role of licensee and
radiation worker.

http://www.aelb.gov.my
11
ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING
(RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS,
2011
1. COMMENCEMENT:

REGULATIONS COME INTO OPERATION ON 16 AUGUST 2011

2. APPLICATION:

SHALL APPLY TO ALL ASPECTS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND WASTE

MANAGEMENT ARISING FROM MEDICAL, INDUSTRY, RESEARCH &
ANY OTHER APPLICATION WHICH MAY BE SPECIFIED BY THE BOARD.

3. INTERPRETATION:

CLEARANCE LEVEL – THE VALUES ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD

AND EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY CONCENTRATION OR
TOTAL ACTIVITY, AT OR BELOW WHICH THE SOURCE OF RADIATION
MAY BE RELEASED FROM CONTROL (2nd SCHEDULE)

http://www.aelb.gov.my
eg. SECOND SCHEDULE

http://www.aelb.gov.my
13
 EXEMPTION
1. ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING (EXEMPTION) (LOW LEVEL
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL) 2002 - CALIBRATION SOURCE,
CHECK SOURCE, STANDARD SOURCE, REFERENCE SOURCE

2. ATOMIC ENERGY LICENSING (EXEMPTION) (SMALL

AMANG FACTORY) 1994.

Small Amang Factory” means any factory processing amang

which may cause exposure of ionizing radiation to the whole
body of a worker not exceeding 50 milisieverts (mSv) per
annum.

http://www.aelb.gov.my
CODE OF PRACTICE ON RADIATION PROTECTION
RELATING TO TECHNICALLY ENHANCED NATURALLY
OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (TENORM) IN OIL
AND GAS FACILITIES

Parameter Control Limit

External dose rate 0.5 uSv/h

Contaminated materials: 0.5 uSv/h

External dose rate at 5 cm from
surface
Waste categorization based on TAC: 3.0 Bq/g (inclusive
Total Activity Concentration (TAC) b/ground)
Waste disposal: 0.3 mSv/y
- Dose to critical group

http://www.aelb.gov.my
15
CODE OF PRACTICE
ON RADIATION
PROTECTION
RELATING TO
TECHNICALLY
ENHANCED
NATURALLY
OCCURRING
RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL
(TENORM) IN OIL
AND GAS FACILITIES

http://www.aelb.gov.my
16
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
IAEA: GSR PART 3
1. INTRODUCTION
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRORECTION AND
SAFETY
3. PLANNED ESPOSURE SITUATIONS
4. EMERGENCY EXPOSURE SITUATIONS
5. EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATIONS

AELB: Atomic Energy Licensing (Basic Safety Radiation

Protection) Regulations 2010 [P.U.(A) 46]
http://www.aelb.gov.my
17
1. INTRODUCTION
Radiation Protection and Safety of Radiation Sources:
International Basic Safety Standards (GSR Part 3) establish
requirements for the protection of people and the
environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation and
for the safety of radiation sources which apply to the 3
categories of exposure:

a. Occupational exposure
b. Public exposure; and
c. Medical exposure

http://www.aelb.gov.my
18
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTION AND
SAFETY

 Application of all principles of radiation protection for all exposure

situations
 Establish and maintain an appropriate and effective legal and
regulatory framework for protection and safety
 Training and recognition of competence workers in protection and
safety
 Graded approach to the implementation of the system of protection
and safety
 Protection and safety elements of the management system – Safety
culture/ human factors

http://www.aelb.gov.my
19
 REGULATORY CONTROL
ACT 304 GSR Part 3

Dose limits : Dose limits :

8(1) Workers – 20 mSv/y Workers – 20 mSv/y
9(1) Public – 1 mSv/y Public – 1 mSv/y

Competence workers – RPO/ Training and recognition of

RPA competence workers in
protection and safety
Training – Specified in
Radiation Protection Program

http://www.aelb.gov.my
20
 REGULATORY CONTROL
Act 304 GSR Part 3

Authorization: Graded approach to the

Licensing (Class A-milling; Class G –
store/ dispose of radioactive wastes;
Class H- D&D, consultation)
Enforcement: inspection, environmental
monitoring & sampling etc
implementation of the
system of protection and
safety

Registration: SEM, Lightning Arrester

Release from Regulatory Control:

RADIOACTIVE WASTE (NORM): U/Th < 1
Bq/g
OIL SLUDGE: TAC < 3.0 Bq/g

http://www.aelb.gov.my
21
 http://www.aelb.gov.my
http://www.aelb.gov.my
 http://www.aelb.gov.my
http://www.aelb.gov.my
 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

ERMS
Soil Water
Monitoring
methods

In-Situ TLD
Air
http://www.aelb.gov.my
3. PLANNED EXPOSURE SITUATIONS

SCOPE:
 The mining and processing of raw materials that involve
exposure due to radioactive material;
Eg: rare earth extraction plants

 Exposure due to natural sources (in general considered an

existing exposure situation), the relevant requirements for
planned exposure situations apply to: Exposure due to material
where the activity concentration in the material of any
radionuclide in the uranium or thorium decay chains is greater
than 1 Bq/g or the activity concentration of K-40 is greater than
10 Bq/g.
Eg: ex-mining activities (Amang plants)

http://www.aelb.gov.my
25
3. PLANNED EXPOSURE SITUATIONS

GRADED APPROACH
- Licensing: Processing of minerals containing NORM
- Exemption & Registration: Amang plant

NOTIFICATION AND AUTHORIZATION

- Section 12(1)(b) Act 304
- Radiation Protection (Licensing) Regulations 1986
Class A (milling) licence
Licence conditions (import/ export/store/process etc)

EXEMPTION AND CLEARANCE

- eg. Small Amang Plant Exemption Order 1994
- Clearance levels Schedule 2 (Waste Regulations, 2011)

http://www.aelb.gov.my
26
EXPOSURE DUE TO NATURAL SOURCES IS IN GENERAL
CONSIDERED AN EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATION AND IS
SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS STATED IN SECTION 5.

TABLE 1-3 LEVEL FOR CLEARANCE OF MATERIAL:

ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS OF RADIONUCLIDES OF
NAUTRAL ORIGIN

Radionuclide Activity Concentration

(Bq/g)
K-40 10
Each radionuclides in the 1
uranium and thorium decay
chains

http://www.aelb.gov.my
27
 3. AUTHORIZATION: REQUIREMENTS
DOSE LIMITS
- Workers: 20 mSv/yr
- Public; 1 mSv/yr

SAFETY ASSESSMENT
- Shall be conducted at different stages including the stages of siting, design,
manufacture, construction, assembly, commissioning, operation, maintenance
and decommissioning.

MONITORING FOR VERIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE

- Review and approve monitoring & measurements program
- Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Maintain inventory records
- Occupational exposure – compliance with dose limits
- Monitoring of the workplace
- Workers health surveillance
- Training
- Classifications of working areas
http://www.aelb.gov.my
28
4. EMERGENCY EXPOSURE SITUATIONS

Emergency management system is established and

maintained for the purposes of emergency response to
protect human life, health and the environment in the event
of a nuclear or radiation emergency.

Technical Guide:
- LEM/TEK/66: for the preparation of Emergency Plan and
Drill
- Training & Drill – once/year (internal)

http://www.aelb.gov.my
29
 National Radiological
Emergency Response Drill

30 http://www.aelb.gov.my
5. EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATIONS
Existing exposure situations apply to:
i. Contamination of areas by residual radioactive material –past
activities that never subject to regulatory control, eg. Tin mining
ii. Exposure due to natural sources, in which the activity
concentration of no radionuclide in either the uranium or thorium
decay chains exceeds 1 Bq/g or the activity concentration of K-40
does not exceed 10 Bq/g

The regulatory body shall ensure:

 Remediation of areas with residual radioactive materials
- Landfilling/ reclamation
 Establish and implement an action plan for controlling public
exposure due to radon indoors
- ventilation
 Establish and enforce requirements for the protection of workers
- environmental monitoring
- PPE provided to the workers
http://www.aelb.gov.my
31
 CHALLENGES
1. Existing exposure situation: Contamination of areas by residual
radioactive Material (tin mining activities); which radionuclide in either
the uranium or thorium decay chains exceeds 1 Bq/g or the activity
concentration of K-40 exceed 10 Bq/g [REMEDIATION]
2. Processing of raw materials that involve exposure due to material
where the activity concentration in the material of any radionuclide in
the uranium or thorium decay chains is greater than 1 Bq/g or the
activity concentration of K-40 is greater than 10 Bq/g.
[AUTHORIZATION]
3. Public acceptance – After the Fukushima accident, the decision making
process in controlling and supervising atomic energy activities,
especially related to mineral processing and disposal of radioactive
waste containing NORM had been reviewed. [PUBLIC
ACCEPTANCE]
4. Competence authority - Increase public confidence: 3S (SAFETY,
SECURITY & SAFEGUARD)
http://www.aelb.gov.my
32
1. EXISTING EXPOSURE SITUATION
Existing exposure situation: Contamination of areas by
residual radioactive Material (tin mining activities); which
radionuclide in either the uranium or thorium decay chains
exceeds 1 Bq/g or the activity concentration of K-40 exceed
10 Bq/g

 Isodose mapping throughout the country (environmental

monitoring and sampling etc)
 Remediation of ex-mining areas (landfilling/ reclamation)
 Development of ex-mining areas (Future plan)
- Ventilation
- PPE to workers
http://www.aelb.gov.my
33
MONITORING EQUIPMENTS AND PPE

http://www.aelb.gov.my
 2. PROCESSING OF RAW MATERIALS

Processing of raw materials that involve exposure due to

material where the activity concentration in the material of
any radionuclide in the uranium or thorium decay chains is
greater than 1 Bq/g or the activity concentration of K-40 is
greater than 10 Bq/g.

 Authorization: Licensing
 Licence conditions: Import/ exports/ storage/ processing
 Radioactive waste management
-waste minimization (Reduce, Reuse. Recycle)
- disposal facility
http://www.aelb.gov.my
35
3. PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE
 Indirectly, Fukushima accident also had influenced the
decision making process in controlling the atomic energy
activities in Malaysia. This also had given big impact on the
level of thrust to the regulator in controlling and
supervising atomic energy activities, especially related to
mineral processing and disposal of radioactive waste
containing NORM.

 Thus, AELB have increased its public engagement activities

and make it a compulsory to all applicants for mineral
containing NORM processing and radioactive waste
disposal activities.
http://www.aelb.gov.my
36
 Public Acceptance Activities
 Outreach/ Awareness program
- Outreach program – to the politicians, other governmental officers, industries, school
and universities students
- Awareness program & Public communication - Address Public Concern, Ensure Safety
& Health Of The Public, Workers And The Environment

 Public Engagement
- Media briefing
- Presentation
- FAQ (online)

http://www.aelb.gov.my
4. COMTEPENCE AUTHORITY: TO ENHANCE
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
NUCLEAR SECURITY & PHYSICAL PROTECTION:
RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL CATEGORY 1-3:
 SECURITY PLAN
 THREAT ASSESSMENT

NATIONAL RADIOACTIVE AND NUCLEAR DETECTION SYSTEM

(PORTAL MONITOR):
 To prevent illicit trafficking/illegal movement of radioactive and
nuclear material
ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION MONITORING SYSTEM (ERMS):
 A detection of early warning sign of trans-boundary
radioactivity on the environmental in case of any radiation or
nuclear contamination
http://www.aelb.gov.my
38
 NUCLEAR SECURITY & PHYSICAL PROTECTION
National Emergency
Response Centre
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
MONITORING OF 3’S’: SAFETY,
SECURITY AND SAFEGUARDS

 - Incident
 - Accident
 - Sabotage
 - Illicit trafficking
 - Misused
Environmental radiation
monitoring system

Illicit trafficking & border control

http://www.aelb.gov.my
39
Environmental Radiation Monitoring System ERMS
 Malaysia have installed ten (10) units of Environmental Radiation
Monitoring System (ERMS) throughout the country that gives a detection of
early warning sign of trans-boundary radioactivity on the environmental in
case of any radiation or nuclear contamination
 Data from all site are transmitted and monitored at AELB control centre.
Thank you

http://www.aelb.gov.my