Model Law on Radioactive Waste Management Adopted by CIS Parliamentarians in Astana

The document aims at convergence of norms, rules and technical regulations of the Commonwealth countries in the field of radioactive waste (RW) management, which is an important area of cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy.

On 13 March, a meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Agrarian Policy, Natural Resources and Ecology was held in Astana. The event was chaired by the Chair of the Commission, Secretary of the Committee of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Agrarian Issues, Nature Management and Development of Rural Areas Olga Bulavkina.

The event was attended by MPs, representatives of relevant departments and authorities, business community, international and environmental organizations, experts, academics from the Commonwealth and other countries.

The meeting endorsed the draft Model Law on Radioactive Waste Management.

It was noted that some Commonwealth countries lack criteria for the disposal of RW. As a result, states in the region have to store it for long periods of time, which has a negative impact on the environment and public health.

According to experts, for the successful operation of national programmes for the development of nuclear and radiation technologies, it is necessary to create a unified policy on radioactive waste management.

It was decided to ask the IPA CIS Council to submit the document for consideration at the next plenary session of the Assembly.

The parliamentarians also considered the draft Model Law on Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The document creates a legal framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support sustainable development and meet of countries’ international commitments. It regulates government management of emissions, establishes quotas and trade in carbon units, defines the obligations of companies and stipulates responsibility for violations.

The Commission members considered the draft Model Law on Land Management. The document describes the measures to be taken for the rational use of land and how this will be controlled by state bodies.

Another document considered was the draft revised Model Code of Land Management for the CIS Member States. It covers state management in the area of land use and protection, ownership and other rights to land, guarantees and protection of the rights of owners, possessors, users and lessees of land, the legal regime of various categories of land, as well as issues of resolving land disputes and liability for violation of land legislation.

The participants of the meeting were informed about the progress of work on the draft Amendments to the Model Mining Code for the CIS Member States.

The documents will be sent to the parliaments of the IPA CIS Member Nations for expert opinions.

The meeting discussed preparations for the second international forum “Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories”. This time it will be held on 1-3 October in Makhachkala (Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation). The main topic will be the role of municipalities in taking environmentally significant decisions in the field of sustainable development of mountain territories.

Members of the Commission were invited to take an active part in the organization of the Mining Forum.

The parliamentarians also considered the development of legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of agrarian policy, natural resources and ecology and the use in the country of model legislative acts adopted by the IPA CIS on the initiative of the Commission.