Day One - Main ConferenceWednesday, 22 October 2025

Managing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) remains a significant challenge for many countries worldwide. While considerable progress has been made in assessing radiation exposure, detecting natural radionuclides, characterizing materials, estimating risks, and establishing regulatory frameworks, these efforts often lack alignment with national policies and strategic planning. A comprehensive inventory of NORM-related facilities and waste streams is still missing in many regions, hindering effective decision-making.

Critical infrastructure gaps persist—particularly in the availability of disposal routes for NORM waste, cost assessments for various management options, and laboratory capabilities for radionuclide analysis supported by standardized sampling protocols.

Yet, within these challenges lie powerful opportunities. In the context of sustainability, many NORM waste streams could be reclassified as residues, by-products, or even co-products with potential for beneficial use. This shift in perspective—from liability to asset—can catalyse a transition from a linear to a circular economy model. The traditional "take–make–dispose" approach is no longer viable, as it leads to the accumulation of materials that may pose greater risks than their reuse or repurposing.

The decommissioning of NORM-related facilities, particularly offshore oil and gas platforms, is expected to place additional pressure on national systems. However, with proactive dialogue among stakeholders and a commitment to innovation, these pressures can be transformed into collaborative opportunities.

The presentation will promote the idea of the creation of a platform to explore sustainable, safe, and forward-looking solutions for NORM management highlighting the importance of international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships between countries with varying levels of experience where challenges become catalysts for innovation and sustainability.

Recent decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2022 and 2024, known as the Major Questions Doctrine and the Chevron decision, have created significant challenges for federal regulation of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM) in the absence of specific legislation and regulatory authority from Congress. This shifting legal landscape has made it increasingly difficult for federal agencies to enact comprehensive regulations for TENORM.

At present, oversight and management of TENORM exposures are primarily handled by individual states, utilizing their inherent police powers to safeguard public health. This decentralized approach has resulted in fifty distinct regulatory frameworks across the country. The variability among state regulations may lead to inconsistencies in the protection of workers, the general public, and the environment. Although Congress has granted specific authority over certain naturally occurring isotopes through various environmental statutes, this authority has not been applied consistently, leaving gaps in federal oversight.

Currently, there are no federal cleanup standards for TENORM, except for uranium mill tailings managed under the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). Following the Fukushima accident, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued updated guidance (GSR-1) outlining basic requirements for federal regulation of radiation, including natural sources. GSR-1 provides a comprehensive framework detailing what is required at the federal level. Additionally, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report #180 offers recommendations regarding justification, optimization, and dose limits, as well as reference levels and dose constraints, specifically addressing natural sources of radiation.

Based on these developments, the author advocates for a clear and structured process: Legislate, Regulate, Delegate, and Appropriate. This approach emphasizes the need for Congress to enact targeted legislation, followed by the development of robust regulations, delegation of appropriate responsibilities, and allocation of necessary resources. However, the policies of the current Administration have leaned toward deregulation and the relaxation of standards, rather than efforts to improve the regulatory system for TENORM

In April of 2025 the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors Part N working group finalized draft revisions to the suggested state regulations for licensure of NORM. The draft regulations are a stark departure from previous versions, but should promote the regulatory flexibility required of states and stakeholders. This presentation will provide an overview of that regulatory framework, discuss feedback received from industry and where we go from here.

This debate examines the fragmented regulatory landscape governing NORM/TENORM across jurisdictions, highlighting the urgent need for harmonised approaches as industries increasingly operate across borders. With divergent standards creating compliance challenges and potential safety gaps, stakeholders from regulatory bodies, industry representatives, and international partners will explore pathways toward regulatory convergence. The discussion will address how harmonisation can enhance radiation safety while maintaining operational feasibility, with particular focus on the oil and gas sector's unique NORM management challenges and the development of consistent frameworks that protect workers, the public, and the environment.

This session examines the diverse waste streams containing NORM across industries, with particular focus on identification, characterisation, and monitoring protocols. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies globally, stakeholders face growing challenges in waste stream management and compliance. The discussion will explore established and emerging monitoring technologies, disposal methodologies, and regulatory frameworks governing NORM waste. This presentation will provide concrete, practical recommendations that will help you identify, monitor and manage your most difficult waste streams.

With increasing focus on well closure programs and environmental protection, participants will explore comprehensive approaches to TENORM detection, monitoring, and management during well plugging operations. The session will examine current protocols, regulatory requirements, and best practices while addressing the complexities of methane emissions, radiation monitoring, and material disposal in abandoned well remediation projects.

Key Takeaways

• Gaps in TENORM surveillance during well closures
• Environmental risks from unmonitored spills and leaks
• Methane emission monitoring and management
• Current state and federal requirements for TENORM management
• Proper plugging procedures for TENORM-contaminated wells

Volker will present the evolving story of phosphogypsum (PG) - from its rise and initial promise, through regulatory and environmental challenges that led to its decline, to its remarkable comeback today. Drawing on the IFA’s latest report Phosphogypsum: From Waste to Inventory (2025), he will share insights especially relevant to the NORM community and international policy discussions under the IAEA. The presentation will highlight case studies, lessons learned, and new opportunities for safe reuse, inventory management, and circular-economy models.

Key Takeaways:

• How technical, regulatory, and economic drivers shaped PG’s trajectory
• Insights from past challenges and ambitious reuse initiatives
• Emerging pathways to reposition PG from waste liability to valuable asset

This session delves into the complexities of NORM/TENORM waste monitoring and radiation management within conventional oil and gas operations. The session addresses the industry's evolving challenges in NORM/TENORM management, regulatory compliance, and the implementation of comprehensive monitoring programs while highlighting best practices for worker protection and environmental stewardship.

Key Takeaways

• Integration of smart monitoring technologies with existing operations
• Personal dosimetry requirements and best practices
• Training programs and safety protocols
• Storage and disposal monitoring requirements
• Current regulatory framework for TENORM monitoring

Managing NORM in Brazilian offshore units (e.g., FPSOs) is complicated by unclear regulatory frameworks and varying contractual responsibilities. Some contracts assign NORM waste disposal to clients, delaying characterization until onshore and leaving operators unaware of onboard radiological risks. Others require onboard radiochemical analysis before offloading, but lab delays (45–60 days) force prolonged storage, creating operational and safety challenges. Brazil’s regulations (e.g., CNEN NN 8.01) lack offshore-specific guidelines, leading to inconsistent practices. The presentation will address these challenges from the perspective of an operator working under multiple contracts with different responsibility models, highlighting the risks associated with inadequate characterization, the operational impacts of prolonged storage, the lack of access to analytical results, and the urgent need for clearer, more agile regulatory guidelines compatible with the Brazilian offshore reality.

As global demand for these strategic resources intensifies amid energy transition initiatives, the industry faces distinctive radiological management challenges due to the frequent co-occurrence of thorium and uranium in rare earth deposits. Residual wastes containing NORM at mining and/or processing sites may require assessment, management and/ or control for long term rad and environmental protection purposes. This session includes risk mitigation protocols, means of regulatory compliance and monitoring tools along with control of radiation exposure to workers and public environment from NORM associated with REE & minerals sector.

Over six decades of uranium ore exploration, mining, and milling in Europe have resulted in a significant legacy of waste rock piles, below-grade ore heaps, and milling residues disposal sites, collectively known as Uranium Mine and Mill Tailings (UMMT). While these legacies are smaller in extent and volume compared to other types of mining, the associated radioactivity levels can be concerning. The session will highlight the unique management approaches necessitated by the strategic importance of uranium and its links to national defense & nuclear power, which have historically placed these activities outside civilian regulatory oversight.

Key Takeaways:

• The strategic importance of uranium - Understanding the historical & modern development of uranium mining and milling
• Needs and status of uranium mining and potential environmental impact for the next generation of SMRs and microreactors
• Radioactive contamination of air, soil, and water, and the long-term health effects on surrounding communities.
• How it will be handled in next 5 to 10 years?

Radon management is a critical component of NORM management, particularly in industries such as mining, oil and gas, and water treatment. This session will explore the latest research findings, technological advancements, and practical guidelines for effective radon mitigation and management. The session will provide a comprehensive overview of best practices for radon measurement, mitigation strategies, and regulatory compliance. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the environmental and health impacts of radon, innovative control technologies, and the importance of integrating radon management into broader NORM handling protocols.

Key Takeaways:

• Insights into international safety standards and regulatory frameworks for radon and NORM management, ensuring effective radiation protection
• Advanced monitoring techniques and measurement protocols for radon in NORM-affected facilities
• Integration of modern radon mitigation technologies with existing NORM management protocols
• Exploring cutting-edge radon control technologies used in buildings and industrial sites, including innovative mitigation methods and techniques
• Assessing the environmental and health impacts of radon exposure, including the effects on workers and the general public