Russia's Duma to spell out requirements for radioactive waste storage.

MOSCOW, June 28 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's State Duma is expected to
consider a government bill on specifications for the storage of
radioactive waste.
It is expected that the MPs will introduce more than 230 amendments to
the document, which delimitates the powers of Russia's federal government
and the agencies of power of various levels, along with specifying the
functions of the national operator of radioactive waste and the duties of
the parties producing the waste.
The bill spells out the requirements for the dumping, state
accounting, control, and registration of the waste.
It stipulates, among other things, the exclusive right of the federal
authorities to the ownership of the waste containing nuclear materials.
The organizations the activity of which results in the emergence of
radioactive waste will be responsible for its safe and secure handling
until the moment of its transfer to the national operator.
The imports of nuclear materials for the purposes of storage,
recycling and/or dumping will be banned, with the exception of separate
cases.
The latter implies, for instance, the importation of the so-called
'spent closed sources of ionizing radiation' that are manufactured in
Russia. All the operations related to it will be financed by the initial
exporter.
An official comment on the bill says however its provisions "shall not
apply to the legal relations in the field of handling the spent nuclear
fuel."