In addition to the basic principles set out in the Waste Directive and listed above, the national policy is also governed by the following principles:

 

. The spent fuel and radioactive waste are subject to safe management, particularly in the long term and with passive safety features;

 

. Abandonment of radioactive waste is expressly prohibited;

 

.  The application of security measures must follow a graded approach;

 

. Cost for the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste is supported by the producer;

 

. The classification of radioactive materials as radioactive waste is the responsibility the regulatory authority, and must meet the legal levels for exclusion;

 

. The release of radioactive waste from regulatory control is the responsibility of the regulatory authority and should meet legal release levels;

 

. The importation of radioactive waste is prohibited, except when authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority ;

 

. Radioactive waste produced in the country is eliminated in the national territory taking into account the criteria set out legally, unless there are international agreements;

 

. The transport of radioactive waste follows specific legislation on the transport of dangerous goods according to the transport sector it pertains;

 

. Education and training of all employees associated with the management or the installations must be guaranteed;

 

. Research and development should be encouraged with the aim to obtain better solutions . 

 

 

The decree 156/2013 establishes a licensing system for any activity or facility for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, except for the storage of radioactive waste for less than 30 days. According to this law whenever the holder of radioactive material does not forecast any further use for such material, he must contact the regulatory authority for the classification of the material and subsequent elimination.  The authorized discharges are exempt from this procedure. Moreover, in January of each year, the holders of radioactive waste have the duty to inform the regulatory authority about the production of radioactive waste on the year before and estimate the production for the current year.

 

The decree 156/2013 lays down the basic rules for the safe management of facilities, and imposes the existence of a system of management, review and periodic inspections. This law also determines that in Portugal, radioactive waste is eliminated near the surface and that the only disposal facility, is the Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon (IST- UL), located on the Nuclear Technology Campus ( CTN ). Elimination means the placement of radioactive waste or spent fuel in an authorized facility without the intention of retrieval.

 

Finally the decree 156/2013 grants a period of 6 months to all radioactive waste producers to inform the regulatory authority of the type and volume of radioactive waste they estimate to produce annually as well as its destination, and a period of 2 years to operators of spent fuel and radioactive waste facilities to show to COMRSIN that they meet the security requirements defined therein, which shall issue the corresponding certification. 

 

 

REGULATED ENTITIES

 

In Portugal, at the present time, the only facility that produces spent fuel is the Portuguese Research Reactor (RPI). Nevertheless this fuel will be transferred to the United States before the end of 2019, under a bilateral agreement between the Portuguese Government and the U.S. Government.

 

As regards the production of radioactive waste, in addition to the RPI, numerous entities in industry, healthcare, research and education generate such waste, due to the use of radioactive materials of various activities. On the other hand, managing bodies of non-radioactive wastes are occasionally confronted with the entry in their facilities of contaminated material, becoming, therefore, accidental holders of radioactive waste, but with the same duties as the remaining holders.

 

In the current situation, about 280 entities are licensed to exercise activities involving ionizing radiation, of which 72 % are located in the industrial sector, 26 % in the health sector and 2 % in the research and education sector.  All these entities are potential producers of radioactive waste and have the duty to inform and to follow the rules set out above. 

 

As mentioned earlier, the decree 156/2013 determines how the only elimination facility in the country, CTN IST- UL, must be licensed by the regulatory authority. Any other entity wishing to carry on the business of management or operate a facility for radioactive waste management and spent fuel must ask for their respective license. The only exception corresponds to the storage for less than 30 days (see above).