Department of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness
The Department of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness assists the Chairman of the Agency in performing his/her managerial functions related to management during crisis and his/her regulatory and control functions with regard to activities with sources of ionising radiation and the management of radioactive waste in sites with sources of ionizing radiation, including the transportation of radioactive waste to the facilities of the State Enterprise “Radioactive Waste”.
The department carries out the following activities:
- implements the control over activities with sources of ionizing radiation, plans and carries out inspections in facilities with sources of ionising radiation, maintains dosimetric equipment and performs the necessary radiation measurements;
- evaluates the design basis and the functioning of structures, systems and equipment related to radiation protection;
- analyzes the operational events and assesses the operational data and the radiation indicators of sources of ionising radiation;
- analyzes and evaluates the information on securing the radiation protection and physical protection in the issuing of licences and permits for activities with sources of ionising radiation;
- prepares the issuing, motivation for refusal, amendment, supplementation, renewal, termination and revoking of licences and permits;
- proposes assignments for research, analysis and expertise related to the assessment of radiation protection;
- independently and in coordination with other specialized and control bodies undertakes the necessary measures for ensuring the safety in case of detection of sources of ionising radiation or nuclear material of unknown origin, as well as in the cases of expropriation of sources of ionizing radiation or nuclear material by the specialized bodies of the Ministry of Interior or the specialized bodies of the National Inquest Service;
- participates in the emergency team of the Chairman of the Agency for action in case of radiological emergencies;
- controls the qualification and licence of competence of the persons working with sources of ionizing radiation;
- keeps a specialized database for emergency events related to nuclear safety and radiation protection;
- keeps registers of the issued permits and licences for operation of sources of ionising radiation and individual licences for work with sources of ionising radiation;
- participates in the preparation of the national reports on the implementation of the obligations ensuing from the Joint Convention on Safety in Management of Spent Fuel and on Safety in Management of Radioactive Waste, and the Convention of Nuclear Safety, as well as in the preparation of the reports on the bilateral agreements in the field of safe use of nuclear energy;
- develops drafts for internal rules and other internal acts related to insuring the quality of the activities carried out by the department;
- analyses and assesses the information related to emergency planning and preparedness and controls the activities on emergency planning and emergency preparedness in sites with sources of ionising radiation and nuclear facilities independently or jointly with the specialized and control bodies who are entrusted with these functions by a legislative act;
- implements the duties of an crisis management centre and a contact point in the following ways:
a) collects and processes the incoming data which characterizes the radiation status;
b) maintains an emergency station within the national automated system for monitoring of the gamma background on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria and keeps dosimeters for radiation measurement;
c) collects and processes incoming data which characterizes the development of an accident and prepares prognoses;
d) ensures the work of the emergency team for action in case of a crisis;
e) develops a plan for crisis management and maintains the emergency preparedness of the Agency;
f) organizes the assessment of the internal emergency plans of the entities operating nuclear facilities, as well as in manufacturing, transport and storage of nuclear material or with activities with sources of ionising radiation, related to the coordination with the Chairman of the Agency of these plans.
g) notifies in case of accidents and undertakes actions for rendering assistance according to the Convention for Notification in Case of a Nuclear Accident, The Convention for Assistance in case of Nuclear Accident or Radiation Emergency Situation and according to bilateral agreements;
h) organizes the training of the employees of the Agency for action in case of crisis.
- organizes and maintains the automated information system of the Agency - local networks, communication equipment and computer equipment;
- researches and implements information and communication technologies, ensures the protection of information from unauthorized access;
- implements and operates the specialized automated systems for assistance of the actions of the emergency team of the Chairman of the Agency;
- participates in the current work related to the preparation and implementation of programmes and projects for assistance to the Agency financed through international co-operation;
- prepares documents, summarizes information, carries out analyses and drafts expert assessments related to the management of the Radioactive Waste Fund.
- takes part in the preparation of analysis, statements, reports, information and reviews as well as in the development of the official position of the Agency on matters pertaining to the competencies of the department, ensuing from the membership of the Republic of Bulgaria in the European Union.
