Full Description

Preface

This is the first edition of CSA N288.0, Environmental management of nuclear facilities: Common requirements of the CSA N288 series of Standards. This Standard is part of the N288 series of Standards and Guidelines on environmental management for nuclear facilities. The CSA N-Series Standards provide an interlinked set of requirements for the management of nuclear facilities and activities. This Standard captures the common elements of the CSA N288 series of Standards for the purposes of minimizing duplication of requirements within the series. Integration of CSA N288.0 will optimize the implementation of the series as well as facilitate optimal maintenance of the series as a whole. CSA N286 provides overall direction to management to develop and implement sound management practices and controls, while the other CSA Group nuclear Standards provide technical requirements and guidance that support the management system. This Standard works in harmony with CSA N286 and does not duplicate the generic requirements of CSA N286; however, it can provide more specific direction for those requirements. Users of this Standard are reminded that the design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities in Canada are subject to the provisions of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its supporting Regulations.

Scope

1.1 General This Standard provides the general requirements for environmental management at nuclear facilities. This Standard is used in concert with the other CSA N288 Standards.

Notes:

1) CSA N288 Standards might reference the use of this Standard in a clause and might also include an Annex that adopts portions or modification of the Standard.

2) See Clause 0 for a discussion of the CSA N288 series of Standards.

1.2 Facilities

1.2.1 This Standard applies to all nuclear facilities for which the CSA N288 series of Standards applies. Note: Nuclear facilities that typically use the CSA N288 series of Standards consist of Class 1 nuclear facilities, and uranium mines and mills. The conventional waste management facilities (e.g., landfills, incinerators, and sewage treatment plants handling non-radioactive material) of these nuclear facilities are also often included in the scope of a CSA N288 Standard.

1.2.2 This Standard may also apply to a) Class II nuclear facilities; b) facilities that use or store naturally occurring radioactive materials; c) institutions operating under the authority of a nuclear substances and radiation devices licence; or d) low-level effluent or emissions of nuclear and hazardous substances released to the environment due to existing exposure situations such as those resulting from the contamination of areas with radioactive materials produced or used in past activities. Note: In these situations, the operator of the facility is responsible for determining the applicability and suitability of this Standard in consultation with the AHJ.

1.3 Operating conditions The requirements described in this Standard are applicable as appropriate during normal conditions.

Notes:

1) Any release resulting from a deviation from routine operational practice that is expected to occur once or several times during the operating lifetime of a nuclear facility or licensed activity (i.e., reasonably foreseeable upset events, also known as anticipated operational occurrences including leaks and spills) is considered part of normal operation.

2) In the case of CSA N288.2, this Standard is applicable to accident conditions.

1.4 Terminology

1.4.1 In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.4.2 In this Standard, "shall be considered" or "shall consider" means that the user is required to consider the possibility, make a decision, and document the reason(s) for that decision. Note: Examples of decisions can include no action, operating procedures, and design features.