Laws, reports, studies, guidelines on the subject of NORM

The following offers a selection of further reading on the subject of "naturally occurring radioactive materials" (NORM). Alongside international guidelines and recommendations as well as legal regulations relating to NORM in Germany, investigation reports from research projects in the framework of the German Environmental Research Plan (UFOPLAN) can also be found here. Furthermore, we have included in the list of links references to measurement guidance for the monitoring of environmental radioactivity.

Investigation reports from research projects in the framework of UFOPLAN

• Hummrich, H., Schulz, H., Flesch, K., Gellermann, R. (2010):
  "Freisetzbarkeit natürlicher Radionuklide aus überwachungsbedürftigen Rückständen mit dem Sickerwasser" (Likely release rates of natural radionuclides into seepage water from residues that require surveillance / Final report from research projects 3607S04552 and 3608S052/1, in German)
  
  

• Mengenaufkommen an NORM-Rückständen für das deutsche Entsorgungskonzept (SR 2416) (PDF, 1 MB, File does not meet accessibility standards.)

  (Volumes of NORM residues for the German waste disposal concept, in German)
  
  

• Part 1: Historische Recherche zur Ermittlung der radiologischen Relevanz von NORM-Rückständen und Konzepte zur Standortidentifikation (Historical research into determining the radiological relevance of NORM residues and concepts for location identification, in German)
  
  

  Part 2: Radiologische Bewertung von NORM-Rückständen (Radiological assessment of NORM residues, in German)
  
  

  Part 3a: Bergbauliche Hinterlassenschaften der Steinkohle-Gewinnung (Mining legacies from black coal extraction, in German)
  
  

  Part 3b: Industrielle Hinterlassenschaften der Rohphosphat-Verarbeitung (Industrial legacies from rock phosphate processing, in German)
  
  

  Part 4a: Orientierende radiologische Untersuchungen an bergbaulichen Hinterlassenschaften der Steinkohle-Gewinnung (Exploratory radiological investigations into mining legacies from black coal extraction, in German)
  
  

  Part 4b: Orientierende radiologische Untersuchungen an industriellen Hinterlassenschaften der Rohphosphat-Verarbeitung (Exploratory radiological investigations into industrial legacies from rock phosphate processing, in German)

  
  

• Report I: Vorkommen und Entstehung von radiologisch relevanten Bodenkontaminationen aus bergbaulichen und industriellen Prozessen (The depositing and incidence of radiologically relevant soil contamination from mining and industrial processes, in German)
  
  

  Report II: Bericht II: Untersuchung von Modellgebieten (Investigation of model areas, in German)

Legal principles in the subject of NORM

• Radiation Protection Act (in German)
• "Ordinance on the Protection against Damage and Injuries Caused by Ionising Radiation” (StrlSchV), (includes provisions for the protection of humans and the environment from natural radiation sources during work activities)
• "Bundes-Bodenschutz- und Altlastenverordnung" (BBodSchV) (Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance] (deals with protection from adverse alterations of soil and the rehabilitation of contaminated sites, in German)

• European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road

• "Act to promote circular economy and safeguard the environmentally compatible management of waste” (KrWG)

International guidelines and recommendations

• Basic standards from the European Union (EU):
  

  “Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom”

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):

  "International Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources", Safety Series No. 115

Measurement guidance for the monitoring of environmental radioactivity

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) has published "measurement guidelines" for the monitoring of natural environmental radioactivity. These guidelines are available to download from the website of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

To implement the Richtlinie zur Emissions- und Immissionsüberwachung bei bergbaulichen Tätigkeiten (REI Bergbau) (Guideline relating to emission and pollution monitoring of mining activities - REI Mining - in German), the "Central offices for radioactivity monitoring issues in areas of increased natural radioactivity" appointed by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has compiled all relevant measurement processes and guidelines.