CONSERVATIVITY ANALYSIS FOR CLEARANCE LEV ELS

Clearing material from nuclear installations is a well established pra ctice in Germany. The material specific clearance criteria used in Ger many have been derived from radiological assessments that necessarily involve a certain degree of conservativity in order not to underestima te possible doses. These material specific criteria show undesirable d ifferences in the level of radiological protection they offer. Therefo re the degree of conservativity involved in deriving the clearance cri teria was evaluated and compared In this article the clearance criteri a for conventional disposal of slightly radioactive waste are compared with the well established criteria for clearance of metal scrap from nuclear power plants, which represent a level of generally accepted co nservativity. Such comparisons can be used to harmonize the various cl earance criteria. Although before well established clearance criteria ar-e changed careful consideration regarding the economical and radiol ogical benefits should be made.