Exploration and Research to identify and evaluate uranium resources in the country is the prime mandate of Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD). For implementing this important task, investigations are taken up across the length and breadth of the country from Regional Exploration & Research Centres of AMD located at New Delhi , Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Jaipur, Nagpur and Hyderabad (Headquarter & South Central Region).

AMD is presently employing world’s latest technology for airborne geophysical surveys, and multi-disciplinary field operations viz. geological, geophysical, Geo-chemical surveys on regional as well as detailed scale and drilling activities by induction of state of the art hydrostatic rigs. Its laboratories, to support the field investigations, are equally well equipped with latest facilities. AMD also has beach-sands & offshore and rare metal & rare earth Investigations Groups.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the national regulator for enforcing nuclear and radiation safety in the country, has been exercising its regulatory control over the exploration and research activities of AMD.

AERB receives the Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) report from AMD periodically and the Safety Committee of AERB with experts from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), reviews the safety issues related to AMD activities.

AERB’s regulatory inspection teams periodically inspect the drilling sites as well as the laboratories to assess compliance with the regulatory norms.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) carries out underground uranium mining at Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih, Bagjata and Mohuldih in Jharkhand and at Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh. It also operates an open cast uranium mine at Banduhurang, Jharkhand. AERB regulates the uranium mines under the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004.

In addition, UCIL has three ore processing plants at Jaduguda, Turamdih and Tummalapalle. These plants are engaged in chemical processing of mined out uranium ore to recover uranium values. In these plants, apart from the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, AERB also enforces industrial safety aspects under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Atomic Energy (Factories) Rules, 1996.

A multi-tier review process is adopted in AERB for safety review of these facilities such as review by In-House Review Group (IHRG), Unit Safety committee and Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP)/ Advisory Committee for Project Safety Review of Fuel Cycle Facilities (ACPSR-FCF). The consenting procedures and safety evaluation of these facilities is carried out on the basis of AERB safety guides on Consenting Process for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities and Related Industrial Facilities Other Than Nuclear Power Plants and Research Reactors (No. AERB/RF/SG/G-2) and Radiological Safety in Uranium Mining and Milling (No. AERB/FE-FCF/SG-2). Based on the safety review at AERB, the consent is issued to these facilities at various stages. Periodic Regulatory inspections of these facilities are also carried out by AERB. AERB also issues authorization for disposal of radioactive wastes under Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987. The evaluation of waste management aspects of these facilities are carried out as per AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SC/RW) and AERB Safety Guides on Classification of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SG/RW-1) and Management of Radioactive Waste from Mining and Milling of Uranium and Thorium (AERB/NF/SG/RW-5).

Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) has three Mineral Separation Plants (MSP) at Chavara, Manavalakurichi and Chatrapur (Orissa Sands Complex –OSCOM) respectively which are involved in separation of heavy minerals like Ilmenite, Rutile, Garnet, Zircon, Sillimanite and Monazite from the mined out beach sands. AERB regulates MSPs of IREL under the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004.

In addition, IREL has two chemical processing plants at OSCOM and Udyogamandal respectively. In IREL, OSCOM, monazite is chemically processed to obtain uranium, thorium and rare earths values. IREL, Udyogamandal is engaged in value addition of rare earths and processing of secondary sources of uranium. In these plants apart from the provisions of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004, AERB also enforces industrial safety aspects under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Atomic Energy (Factories) Rules, 1996.

A multi-tier review process is adopted in AERB for safety review of these facilities such as review by In-House Review Group (IHRG), Unit Safety committee and Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP)/ Advisory Committee for Project Safety Review of Fuel Cycle Facilities (ACPSR-FCF). The consenting procedures and safety evaluation of these facilities is carried out on the basis of AERB safety guides on Consenting Process for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities and Related Industrial Facilities Other Than Nuclear Power Plants and Research Reactors (AERB/RF/SG/G-2) and Safety in Thorium Mining and Milling (AERB/NF/SG/IS-6).

Based on the safety review at AERB, the consent is issued to these facilities at various stages. Periodic Regulatory inspections of these facilities are also carried out by AERB. AERB also issues authorization for disposal of radioactive wastes under Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987. The evaluation of waste management aspects of these facilities are carried out as per AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SC/RW) and AERB Safety Guides on Classification of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SG/RW-1) and Management of Radioactive Waste from Mining and Milling of Uranium and Thorium (AERB/NF/SG/RW-5).

NORM are radioactive materials which occur naturally and where human activities modifies the exposure of people to ionizing radiation which may warrant regulation. For example beach sand minerals (BSM) industries, rock phosphate industries, columbine tantalite industries etc.The presence of uranium, thorium and radium in NORMs warrants the need to control exposures of workers and members of the public. AERB enforces the provisions of Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004 in these facilities.

BSM are a group of seven heavy minerals comprising of titanium bearing ones (Ilmenite, Rutile, and Leucoxene) and other four minerals being, zircon, monazite, garnet and Sillimanite, found in the beach sands along the country’s coastline.Mining and processing of beach sand minerals is carried out by many Private and Public Sector Industries. The Private Sector Industries are not permitted to produce monazite as a product. However, the preferential separation of heavy minerals (other than monazite) by these industries results in enhancement of monazite content in the left over sands generally referred to as monazite enriched tailings. The disposal of monazite enriched tailings has the potential to cause radiation exposures to occupational workers and members of the public.

The processing of Columbite Tantalite Ore andRock Phosphate (for phosphoric acid production) results in enhancement of radioactivity in the slag and phosphogypsum respectively. The disposal of slag and phosphogysum has the potential to cause radiation exposures to occupational workers and members of the public.

In NORM industries, the exposures are generally (but not always) moderate with little or no likelihood of approaching or exceeding the regulatory dose limits. Therefore, a graded approach to regulation commensurate with the hazard potential of the facility is followed for regulation of these industries by AERB. Some of the important regulatory requirements applicable for these facilities with respect to radiological safety are; designation of AERB approved Radiological Safety Officers, periodic radiation monitoring of the workplace, the disposal sites for Monazite enriched tailings, identifying the radiation prone areas with caution boards etc. AERB conducts regulatory inspections of these facilities with respect to the radiological safety aspects.

Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facilities are located currently in Hyderabad and Pazhayakayal (Tamilnadu). A new Fuel Fabrication facility is coming up at Rawathbhata (Rajasthan). Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facilities convert uranium ore concentrates (UOC), obtained from uranium ore processing plants, into uranium oxide pellets which are loaded into zircaloy tubes and fabricated into fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors. The AERB regulates nuclear fuel fabrication facilities under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act,1962, The Factories Act, 1948 and applicable rules framed there under, namely Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987, Atomic Energy (Factories) Rules, 1996and Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004.

A multi-tier review process is adopted in AERB for safety review of these facilities such as review by In-House Review Group (IHRG), Unit Safety Committee and Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP)/ Advisory Committee for Project Safety Review of Fuel Cycle Facilities (ACPSR-FCF). Consenting of these facilities is carried out on the basis of AERB Safety Code on Regulation of Nuclear & Radiation Facilities (AERB/SC/G, 2000) and its related Safety Guides. AERB Safety Guidelines on ‘Uranium Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facilities, AERB/FE-FCF/SG-3’ provide guidance for ensuring safety in site selection, design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, waste management and decommissioning of the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facilities.

Based on the safety review at AERB, the consent is issued to these facilities at various stages. Periodic Regulatory inspections of these facilities are carried out by AERB to verify the compliance of the prescribed safety requirements by the Consentee.

AERB also issues authorization for disposal of radioactive wastes under Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive Wastes) Rules, 1987. The evaluation of waste management aspects of these facilities are carried out as per AERB Safety Code on Management of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SC/RW) and AERB Safety Guide on Classification of Radioactive Waste (AERB/NRF/SG/RW-1).

UCIL MINE

Sl.no.	Plant Name	Location	Type
1.	Bagjata Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
2.	Banduhurang Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Opencast Mining (Ore Production)
3.	Jaduguda Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
4.	Bhatin Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
5.	Mohuldih Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
6.	Narwapahar Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
7.	Tummalapalle Mine	Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh	Underground Mining (Ore Production)
8.	Turamdih Mine	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Underground Mining (Ore Production)

UCIL MILL

Sl.no.	Plant Name	Location	Type
1.	Jaduguda Mill	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Milling (Ore Processing)
2.	Turamdih Mill	East Singhbhum, Jharkhand	Milling (Ore Processing)
3.	Tummalapalle Mill	Tummalapalle, Andhra Pradesh	Milling (Ore Processing - Trial Operation)

IREL Mining Facilities

Sl.no.	Plant Name	Location	Type
1.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Manavalakurichi, Tamilnadu	Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu	Beach Sand Mineral Separation Plant
2.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., OSCOM, Chatrapur, Odisha	Ganjam District, Odisha	Beach Sand Mineral Separation Plant
3.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Chavara, Kerala	Kollam District, Kerala	Beach Sand Mineral Separation Plant

IREL Mineral Production Facilities

Sl.no.	Plant Name	Location	Type
1.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Udyogmandal (HPRE)	Ernakulam District, Kerala	Rare Earth Production Plant
2.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., Udyogmandal (RED)	Ernakulam District, Kerala	Uranium Recovery Plant
3.	M/s Indian Rare Earths Ltd., OSCOM, Odisha (MoPP)	Ganjam District, Odisha	Monazite Processing Plant

NFC

Sl.no.	Plant Name	Location	Type
1.	Nuclear Fuel Complex	Hyderabad	Fuel Fabrication Facility
2.	Zirconium Complex	Pazhayakayal, Tamilnadu	Zircalloy Fabrication Facility

• Validity of License of Fuel Cycle Facilities