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REGULATORY INSPECTION OF NUCLEAR AND
03 RADIATION FACILITIES

3.1 REGULATORY INSPECTION PROGRAMME (v) available resources, and

Regulatory Inspection (RI) programme is one (vi) guidelines provided in regulatory and IMS
of the key regulatory processes. AERB carries out documents.
regulatory inspections of the nuclear, industrial and The inspection report is forwarded to the facility
radiation facilities under its regulatory purview to check for taking corrective actions. The inspection findings
compliance to regulatory requirements and consenting made during the regulatory inspections are broadly
conditions. The inspection programme provides a high
level of assurance that licenced activities are conducted categorised adopting a graded approach for follow up
in accordance with regulatory requirements and in of their review and resolution. The facility is required
to submit an action taken report on the deficiencies
conformity with safety and security objectives. In AERB, brought out during the inspection within a specified
a comprehensive and systematic annual inspection timeframe. These action taken reports (RI responses)
programme is prepared to oversee various Licensing/
Consenting stages of the facility viz. siting, construction, are reviewed in AERB for disposition and need for
commissioning, operation, decommissioning and enforcement actions, if any.
release from regulatory control. AERB may also initiate enforcement actions, if in
its opinion, the licensee has violated the conditions of
The regulatory inspections are carried out as per the the licence wilfully or otherwise or misinformed or did
guidelines given in AERB safety guide on ‘Regulatory
Inspection and Enforcement in Nuclear and Radiation not divulge the information having bearing on safety,
Facilities’ (AERB/SG/G-4). The provisions of the guide after specifying the reasons for such actions. The
regulatory inspection team can also initiate enforcement
as applicable to different types of facilities are further actions on-the-spot, if necessary, in case of serious non-
elaborated in the Integrated Management System (IMS) compliances.
documents of AERB.
The enforcement actions may include one or more
Inspections are carried out periodically as well as
in special circumstances. Generally, the inspections are of the following:
carried out with prior announcement. AERB also carries (a) A written directive for satisfactory rectification of the
out inspections with specific objectives. The frequency deficiency or deviation detected during inspection;
and the depth of regulatory inspections depend on
the hazard potential of the facility and the consenting (b) Written directive to applicant/licensee for
stage of the facility. AERB prepares a consolidated improvement within a reasonable timeframe;
plan for inspection of all nuclear and radiation facilities
considering the following: (c) Orders to curtail or stop activity;
(d) Modification, suspension or revocation of licence;
(i) potential magnitude and nature of the hazard
associated with the facility or activity and
(e) Initiate legal proceedings under provisions of the
(ii) outcome of safety review
Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
(iii) progress of activities at the facility
The information on regulatory inspections conducted
(iv) experience of previous inspections at various nuclear, industrial and radiation facilities
during the year is given in the following sections.

AERB Annual Report 2019 51