An NRC delegation visited Zambia December 4-5, 2023, to assess the recently completed first cycle of the radiation protection postgraduate program at the University of Zambia (UNZA), School of Health Sciences, carried out in partnership with the NRC and Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) of Zambia. The group of students that successfully completed the training program expressed their satisfaction and acknowledged that it was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. These students are now qualified to work as Radiation Protection Officers under Zambia’s regulatory requirements for use of...
News from 2024
From November 13-17, 2023, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (USNRC) Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) conducted a virtual workshop on “Regulatory Licensing for Low-Level Waste Facilities” for Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace and Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology.The workshop consisted of five 2-hour sessions. The RSRP instructors, Mr. Bob Gramm, Mr. Mike Layton, and Mr. Mark Thaggard provided an overview of the USNRC’s regulatory approach for the oversight of extended storage operations, including subjects such as Quality Assurance; Source Term...
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) delivered a workshop on the regulatory oversight of medical linear accelerators (LINAC) to the Mauritius Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security Authority (RSNSA) in Port Louis, Mauritius. The weeklong training from June 24-28, 2024, included formal in-class presentations, in-depth group discussions on regulatory best practices for licensing and inspection of LINAC facilities, and visits to two leading cancer treatment centers in Mauritius.The topics covered by the five-day workshop included: construction...
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) delivered a workshop on uranium recovery regulation workshop for managers and staff of the Zambia Radiation Protection Authority (RPA), members of GoviEx Uranium Inc., and other mining companies interested in developing uranium resources. The weeklong workshop from June 25-28, 2024, included multiple presentations and discussions on all regulatory aspects of uranium production, such as pre-licensing, facility operations for various types of uranium mills, decommissioning, and long-term care for uranium mill...
The USNRC Radiation Source Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) delivered an on-site training workshop on licensing and inspection of Cyclotron Positron Emission Tomography (PET) practices for Senegal's Authority for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARSN) and medical staff from local hospitals.Presentations and group discussions from June 24-28, 2024, focused on the possession and safe use of 7.5 to 18 MeV cyclotrons used to manufacture PET radiopharmaceutical materials, which can identify signs of cancer, heart disease and brain disorders. The workshop consisted of a full week of formal in-...
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) provided a workshop on the radiation safety aspects to consider during the licensing and regulatory inspection process for Interventional Radiology facilities. The workshop was organized as a hybrid event consisting of simultaneous virtual sessions with both Paraguay and Uruguay, followed by a two-day, on-site visit to each country. The virtual component included seven sessions, each lasting approximately 3 hours per day, from April 2-11, 2024. The in-person (on-site) activities were...
From March 4 -8, 2024, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) Radiation Source Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) delivered an on-site low-level waste licensing workshop in Thailand for managers and staff of the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT). The five-day workshop included a walking tour of Thailand’s low-level waste storage facilities in Bangkok and Nakhon-Nayok Province. The workshop included all aspects for reviewing licensing applications for low-level waste processing, handling, and disposal activities...
From February 19-22, 2024, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) participated in the 15th Meeting of The Arab Network of Nuclear Regulators (ANNuR) in Vienna, Austria. The NRC delivered a presentation on the international cooperation program which works with regulatory counterparts to enhance regulatory oversight in three main areas: (1) the regulatory framework and programs for power and research reactors, (2) all aspects of a country’s use and regulation of radioactive sources, and (3) assistance with uranium recovery activities as it relates to mining and...
The second offering of a postgraduate program in radiation protection is getting underway at the University of Zambia (UNZA) after UNZA and the Radiation Protection Authority of Zambia signed contractual documents on February 1, 2024, for financial and technical support from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The second cohort is expected to include Zambian students as well as students from neighboring countries in the region. The first group comprised entirely of Zambian nationals completed the program in December 2023.
Participants from 17 African countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) joined the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) at the Second USNRC Africa Regional Capacity Building Meeting to discuss their progress in building regulatory oversight programs and their current challenges and priorities. Held in Lusaka, Zambia, from January 29-31, 2024, the USNRC received feedback from partners, engaged new countries, and began planning collaborative activities for the next 18-24 months.The meeting was hosted by the Zambia Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) and included 47...