Government Resolution No. 486 validating the Rules for Selecting Sites for Nuclear Installations and Disposal Facilities.

These Rules for Selecting Sites for Nuclear Installations and Disposal Facilities establish mandatory requirements for assessing and selecting sites for nuclear, radiation, and electrophysical installations, as well as radioactive waste disposal facilities, with the aim of preventing nuclear or radiation accidents throughout the entire lifecycle of such installations. They define classifications of natural and man-made hazards, site evaluation classes, radiation hazard categories, seismic resistance categories, and key technical terms, while specifying that the requirements are fully applicable to facilities with higher radiation-risk categories.
The Rules set out a comprehensive framework for site assessment, including geological, seismic, hydrological, meteorological, and other natural processes, as well as external technogenic hazards such as industrial facilities, transport routes, explosions, fires, aviation accidents, and hydraulic structures. They require the identification of competing candidate sites, prioritization of locations with lower hazard levels, and performance of detailed engineering surveys using verified methods and quality assurance programs approved by the regulatory authority. Site suitability must be demonstrated through safety analysis reports, physical protection measures, and documentation showing the facility’s resilience to external impacts, including extreme earthquakes defined by specific recurrence intervals.
The document also addresses the interaction between nuclear installations, the population, and the environment, requiring assessment of radionuclide dispersion, water and soil contamination pathways, and long-term radiological risks under normal and accident conditions. It establishes planning zones for protective measures and mandatory evacuation, sets population density limits, and prescribes maximum radii for emergency planning zones depending on the radiation hazard category of the installation. Finally, the Rules define requirements for engineering protection measures, seismic zoning and micro-zoning, regulatory oversight, and record-keeping, and designate the authorized state body as responsible for supervision and enforcement to ensure public and environmental security.