(Promulgated by the National Environment Protection Agency on July 16, 1987)ª¥ª¥

Chapter I  General Provisions

Article 1  The present Measures are enacted in accordance with "The Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China", in order to promote widespread applications of radioisotopes and radiation technologies, and to strengthen management for radioactive wastes and spent radiation sources arising from these activities, to protect the environment and the public health.ª¥

Article 2  The Measures are applicable to all organizations that generate radioactive wastes and spent radiation sources in the application of radioisotopes and radiation technologies in industry, agriculture, medical treatment, scientific research, education and others.ª¥

Article 3  Every environment protection department in the province, autonomous region or municipality shall establish specific section with professional personnel, to take the responsibility of supervision and environmental monitoring over the radioactive wastes generated from nuclear technology application in the local area.ª¥

Article 4  The management of radioactive wastes generated from nuclear technology applications is socially benefit. Required expenditure shall be covered by the local financial budget. The staff in the urban radioactive waste repository should receive relevant labor protection and health subsidies according to the State relevant regulations.ª¥

Chapter II  Classification of Radioactive Wastes

Article 5  Contaminated materials containing artificial radionuclides with specific activities more than 2(104 Bq/kg (5x10ª²7 Ci/kg), or containing naturally occurring radionuclides with specific activities more than 7.4 (104 Bq/kg (2x10ª²6 Ci/kg), should be controlled as radioactive wastes. Contaminated materials containing radionuclides below mentioned defined limits should be managed carefully.ª¥

Article 6  Contaminated materials without further decontamination and reuse, and with surface contamination level above the limits defined in the State Radiation Protection Regulation, may be sent for storage as radioactive wastes or disposed of accordingly, based on the case of specific contamination.ª¥

Article 7  The urban radioactive wastes are classified into three categories according to half-lives of the radionuclides contained in the wastes:

Short halfª²lived waste (ª«Tª­ª©1/2 <= 60d), ª¥Medium halfª²lived waste (60d<Tª­ª©1/2 <=5.3a), and ª¥Long halfª²lived waste (Tª©1/2ªªª«>5.3a).ª¥

Article 8  The urban radioactive wastes include six types:
1. Contaminated materials (metals and non-metals) and personal protection items;ª¥
2. Contaminated tools and equipment;
3. Solidified waste forms of miscellaneous low level radioactive liquids;
4. Animal carcasses and excreta;
5. Spent radiation sources; and
6. Organic scintillation liquids containing radionuclides more than 37 Bq/L (1x10 - 9ªªCª­i/L). 

Article 9  The urban radioactive waste repository equipped with incinerator should require the waste generators to separate combustible wastes from incombustible wastes and be collected separately. ª¥

Chapter III  Responsibilities of the Waste Generator

Article 10   The waste generator shall take any necessary measures to reasonably minimize the generation amount and volume of radioactive wastes.ª¥

Article 11   During the temporary storage of radioactive waste and spent radiation sources at the waste generator's site, the waste generator should implement strict management and effective control to assure human safety and prevent contamination to the environment.ª¥

Article 12   Any waste generator can not dispose of the wastes and spent radiation sources. The radioactive wastes and spent radiation sources shall be collected and disposed by the urban radioactive waste management organization.ª¥

Article 13   The waste generator should register at the environment protection department in province, autonomous region and municipality or its authorized organizations (See Table 1 in the Attachment).  Before storage or disposal of radioactive wastes in the urban radioactive waste repository, the waste generator shall collect, package, and temporary storage according to requirements of the present Rules.ª¥

Article 14   The  collection of radioactive wastes
1. Radioactive wastes should be collected separately according to the requirements defined in Article 7 to 9,  and put into special bags ( containers) with category marks.
2. Prohibit mixing of radioactive waste with nonª²radioactive trash.
3. Spent radiation sources should be stored separately, and can not be mixed with other radioactive wastes.
4. Organic scintillation liquid containing radionuclides above the limits shall be stored in stainless steel container or glass steel container.
5. The waste generator should establish specific facility for storage of the radioactive wastes. The facility should be posted with ionizing radiation caution sign.ª¥

Article 15   The package of radioactive wastes
1. The special plastic bag for radioactive waste should be sealed and eak-proof.
2. Radioactive wastes with sharp ends or edges should be firstly enveloped in hard paper boxes or other materials, then placed into plastic bags.
3. The surface dose rate of each radioactive waste bag should not excess 0.1mSv/h (10mrem/h), with volume not excess 30 L and weight not excess 20 kg.ª¥

Article 16   The storage (disposal ) of radioactive waste
1. The radioactive waste should be dry enough with free liquid rate less than 1%.
2. The radioactive waste should be stable, without volatile, flammable, and explosive materials, and without strong oxidant and corrosive material.
3. Excreta should be de-watered, dried or ashed.
4. Animal carcasses should be solidified with cement or be treated with anti-corrosion measurement, dried and ashed.
5. Spent radiation source should be placed into the container. Destroyed spent radiation source should be repackaged and attached relevant notes.
6. Surface contamination level of the container is controlled as follows:ª¥ª«¦Á<0.04q/cmª¬2; ¦Â<0.4Bq/cm  2
7. For the purpose of safety, radiation sources disused temporarily may be stored in the urban radioactive waste repository and retrieved when needed.ª¥

Chapter IV Collection and Transportation of Radioactive Waste for Storage

Article 17  In general, the urban radioactive waste repository has special personnel and vehicle to collect radioactive waste at the waste generator site regularly. In special case, both sides may negotiate and reach an agreement.ª¥

Article 18   The transportation of radioactive waste shall use specially designed vehicle with essential safety installation and in compliance with radiation protection requirements.ª¥

Article 19   Upon preparation of the radioactive wastes for storage (disposal), the waste generator shall fill registration cards (See Table 2, 3 and 4 in the Attachment), three copies for each card. The receiving persons should examine and accept the radioactive wastes according to the registration cards and the present Rules. For unqualified waste, the receiving persons have right to refuse acceptance.ª¥

Article 20   The radioactive waste for storage (disposal) shall be put into a standard 200 liter container and the spent radiation sources should be placed into a special container. The waste generator should help the receiving persons to put the radioactive wastes into containers safely and properly. Surface dose rate on the standard container filled with radioactive waste should not excess 0.2 mSv/h (20mrem/h).ª¥

Article 21   The outer surface dose rate of the vehicle for the radioactive wastes transportation should be less than 0.2 mSv/h (20mrem/h). Dose rate in the driver's cab should be less than 0.025 mSv/h (2.5mrem/h).ª¥

Article 22   The receiving persons (especially the driver) should strictly follow the traffic rule for hazardous material transportation and ensure the safety of the radioactive wastes transportation. The traffic supervision department should provide assistance.ª¥

Article 23   Surface and body contamination of the receiving persons shall be examined after each collection and transportation of radioactive wastes. The persons can not leave the radioactive waste repository until they pass the examination. The vehicle and tools used should be examined too. Decontamination shall be conducted if the contamination excesses the limits defined in the State Radiation Protection Regulation.ª¥

Chapter V  Management of the Urban Radioactive Waste Repository

Article 24  Basically, the urban radioactive waste repository in each province, autonomous region, or municipality will only accept and store the radioactive wastes generated in the region under their jurisdiction. For storage of radioactive wastes generated outside the region, it shall be determined upon mutual negotiation between the management organization of repository and the waste generator. Approval is required from the People's government on the management organization's side.ª¥

Article 25 The radioactive wastes entered into the urban radioactive waste repository should be examined and accepted piece by piece. The registration cards should be filed  (See Table 5 in the Attachment) for a period longer than the radioactive wastes that come into unhazardous level.

Article 26   The radioactive wastes entered into the urban radioactive waste repository should be stored according to the categories. Those wastes and spent radiation sources which can not decay to the level less than 2(104  Bq/kg (5x10ª²7 Ci/kg) during the life time of the repository, can only be stored temporarily in the repository. Retrieval should be ensured for future transfer to the permanent disposal site (facility).ª¥

Article 27   The radioactive waste containers shall be properly stacked during the storage. The dose rate 0.5m above the waste pit cap should be no more than 0.05mSv/h (5mrem/h). In the storeroom, the dose rate 1m far away from the waste stacks should be no more than 0.1mSv/h (10mrem/h). The dose rate 20cm far away from the outside wall of storeroom should be less than 2.5 (Sv/h (0.25mrem/h).ª¥

Article 28   After proved by monitoring, if the radioactive wastes decay to the level less than 2(104Bq/kg (5x10ª²7 Ci/kg) during the storage period, they may be buried in simple pits within the boundary of the repository site upon approval of the environmental protection department in the province, autonomous region, or municipality.ª¥

Article 29   The tailing sludge pounds (pits) within the repository shall be covered properly and planted when fulfilled with wastes. Permanent signs should be established.ª¥

Article 30   The area within the boundary of the repository shall be zoned properly and controlled strictly to prevent destroy and sabotage. The area shall be afforested and planed properly in order to utilize as much as possible and promote the economic effectiveness.ª¥

Chapter VI  Management of Supervision and Monitoring

Article 31  The Environmental protection department in each province, autonomous region, or municipality shall enhance supervision over radioactive waste management, pay special attention to the work of the management staff in the repository, solve the problems in the work and strength supervision over and guide to the waste generators.ª¥

Article 32   The management staff of the radioactive waste repository shall strength the sense of responsibility, establish strict procedures and rules, strength technical training, summarize experiences continuously and improve management.

Article 33   The dose rate received by the staff of the radioactive waste repository shall be less than the limits defined in the national standards. Unnecessary exposure shall be prevented and all necessary exposure shall be kept in the most minimum level as low as reasonably achievable.ª¥

Article 34   The annual effective dose to the public shall not be more than 0.25mSv (25mrem) for the radioactive waste disposal in the environment.ª¥

Article 35   The environment monitoring in and around the repository shall be carried out on regular basis. The monitoring procedures and contents shall be in compliance with relevant standards and requirements. The monitoring results (including monitoring to the individual dose) shall be evaluated annually. The evaluation report and the operation report of the repository shall be reported to the environmental protection department in the province, autonomous region or municipality.

Accident shall be handled promptly and reported to the higher administrative departments according to relevant regulations.ª¥

Chapter VII  Fee Collection

Article 36   The waste generator who transfers radioactive wastes to the urban radioactive waste repository should pay the expenses for transportation and storage (disposal) in a sum lump according to the rules of management organization of the repository.ª¥

Article 37   The expense of radioactive wastes storage (disposal) is consist of costs of the repository construction, containers, transportation, service and longª²term maintenance.ª¥

Article 38   Formulating fee collection standards should base on volume, specific activity of the radioactive waste and storage duration, as well as the factors defined in Article 37.ª¥

Article 39   The management organization of the radioactive waste repository shall establish the detailed fee collection standards of radioactive waste storage (disposal) according to the above mentioned principles and taking consideration with the local conditions. The fee collection standards should be approved by environmental protection department in the province, autonomous region and municipality and shall be reported to the State Environment Protection Administration for file.ª¥

Chapter VIII   Rewards and Punishmentsª¥

Article 40   The higher competent authorities and environment protection departments should give rewards to the organizations and persons, who comply conscientiously for and execute the stipulations in the present Rules, and make remarkable achievements in management of radioactive waste and the urban radioactive waste repository.ª¥

Article 41   Environment protection departments, in collaboration with relevant departments, may impose a fine, impose an order to compensate damages, or go so far as to, prosecute for his/her criminal responsibility to any one of following cases based on specific condition of case by case.
1. Violate the stipulations in the present Rules, to place in disorder or bury radioactive waste and spent radiation sources or incinerates unjustified radioactive waste.
2. Cause environment pollution or human injury and create negative effects on the society due to careless management of radioactive waste and spent radiation sources.
3. Destroy the waste storage facility and take unjustified radioactive waste or spent radiation sources without authorization.

4. Do not pay the required expenses for storage (disposal) of radioactive wastes.ª¥
5. Other actions violating the present Measures.ª¥

Chapter IX Supplementary Provisionsª¥

Article 42   Based on the Measures and considering the specific situations, the environmental protection department in each province, autonomous region or municipality may formulate relevant detailed implementation rules. ª¥ 

Article 43   The National Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the interpretation of the Measures.ª¥

Article 44   The Measures shall come into force from the date of promulgation.