Statutory Instruments
2002 No. 1177
ATOMIC ENERGY AND RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
The Radioactive Substances (Natural Gas) Exemption Order 2002
Made
25th April 2002
Laid before Parliament
26th April 2002
Coming into force
17th May 2002
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by sections 8(6) and 15(2) of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993( 1 ), and of all other powers enabling her in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:
Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
1. —(1) This Order may be cited as the Radioactive Substances (Natural Gas) Exemption Order 2002 and shall come into force on 17th May 2002.
(2) This Order extends to Great Britain.
(3) In this Order—
“natural gas” includes natural gas in solid and liquid forms, and products derived by manufacture from natural gas; and
“specified natural gas” means natural gas which contains—
(a)radon-222, or
(b)a radionuclide which succeeds radon-222 in the same radioactive series,
in concentrations which do not exceed 5 becquerels per gram for each radionuclide.
Exemption from registration
2. A person who on any premises which are used for the purposes of any undertaking carried on by him keeps or uses, or causes or permits to be kept or used, specified natural gas is exempted from registration under section 7 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in respect of its keeping and use on those premises.
Exemption from authorisation
3. Sections 13 and 14 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 shall not apply to a disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste which is specified natural gas, or consists of products derived from the combustion of specified natural gas.
Signed by authority, of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Michael Meacher
Minister of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
25th April 2002