ORDER No. 74 of the National Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities subordinated to the Government validating the Basic Rules for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

These Basic Rules establish the procedure for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. They set forth the general principles and requirements regarding the application of the safe management of radioactive waste, including spent nuclear fuel, regarding the safe conduct, regulation, authorization and control of nuclear activities. The field of application: (a) all stages of spent nuclear fuel management, when it results from activities carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes; and (b) to all stages of radioactive waste management, from generation to final storage, when they result from activities carried out exclusively for peaceful purposes. These Basic Rules apply both to radioactive waste and orphan sources resulting from current or past practices, as well as to radioactive waste resulting from an intervention in the event of a nuclear accident and also in the case of activities related to the management of radioactive waste that present additional dangers: chemical, biological, pyrophoric, flammable. The objective of the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel is to protect human health and the environment, both now and in the future, without undue transfer of responsibility to future generations. The authorization holder must manage radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in such a way as to comply with the following principles: (1) protection of the health of the population; (2) environmental protection; (3) protection beyond national borders; (4) protection of future generations; (5) avoiding the imposition of unnecessary burdens on future generations; (6) the existence of the national legislative framework; (7) control of the generation of radioactive waste; (8) the interdependencies related to the generation and management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; (9) maintaining the security of the installations; and (10) polluter pays.