1. What are the average occupational doses and the maximum exposure values for the personnel in the Krsko Nuclear Power Plant and what are the collective doses for the nuclear power plant or per MWh produced? 

2. What were actual release values of radioactive effluents in terms of absolute values or relative to prescribed limits? What was the trend over the past years? 

See Attachment 1.

What is the annual equivalent dose limit for a member of the public considering only plant effluents?

News effective equivalent dose limit due to plant effluents: 50 microSv.

Dose limits

(i) The classification system of workers for radiation protection purposes and related monitoring requirements is not specified.

(ii) Are so called specially authorised exposures provided for in cases where operations cannot be carried out under established dose limits? If so, who is responsible for authorisation?

i) In accordance with 15th article of Regulation Z-6 workers are classified into two categories, namely categories A and B. In category A the expected personal annual dose is likely to exceed 3/10 of annual dose limit, in category B the quoted level is unlikely to be exceeded. In practice, also category C was introduced for workers with expected levels of annual exposure of less than 1/10 of the dose limit. News limits are still based on ICPR 26 (50 mSv/y). The same regulation defines also personal monitoring requirements of the occupationally exposed workers and monitoring requirements of the working places. Individual dosimetry control covers all categories of workers: TLD is used for external radiation, the results of measurements of air concentrations and surface contamination at workplaces and whole body measurements are used in the case of internal exposure. Neutron dosimetry is applied where appropriate.

ii) Planned special exposures may be permitted for a worker, provided that the doses received do not exceed twice the relevant annual dose limit in any single event, and five times this limit in a lifetime. Planned special exposures shall not be permitted for women of reproductive capacity. These exposures may be approved by the responsible persons in the licensee organisation (for example by Technical Director and Radiological Protection Superintendent in NPP Krsko as defined by internal procedure). SNSA and Health Inspectorate are notified and perform an inspection of workers exposures for a determined period.

Could Slovenia give additional information regarding:

• individual doses : mean value, statistical distribution (histograms),
• collective doses,
• release of radionuclides in the environment and radiological impact to the public,
• evolution over the past years for these three points.

See Attachment 1.

The information on the regulatory activities regarding radiation protection is very limited. Details on the surveillance and control programmes being performed by SNSA or the Health Inspectorate to ensure the adequacy of NPP practices are needed. 

SNSA issues yearly decrees on radiological and meteorological monitoring programmes in the vicinity of the NPP.

The SNSA and the Health Inspectorate are the regulatory bodies which carry out inspections through weekly and ad hoc inspections of radiation protection:

Surveillance programmes: 

• environmental radioactivity monitoring, consisting of air, surface and drinking waters, soil, sediments, external radiation, agriculture products (foodstuffs, fodder) control of specific radioactivity, in the nearby environment of NPP and in the country 
• control of liquid and gaseous emissions from the plant
• automatic network system of the process radiological monitors, controlling the operating parameters
• automatic network for continuous gamma-dose rate measurements, located circularly around the site 
• maimtenance of dosimetry data base

• inspection of general radiation protection status at workplaces
• inspection of ALARA principle in performing the radiation protection tasks
• inspection of dosimetry data
• inspection of activities of the NPP radiation protection services regarding procedures, methods of work used, training programmes, specific methods used on the site,
• inspection of radwaste treatment and handling
• inspection of preparedness on radiation. protection dept. in case of emergency
• measurements of radiation at workplaces, determination of classified working areas, delineation and labelling of areas
• inspection of a preparing for handling and shipment of radioactive components 
• inspection of spent fuel