Introduction

The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) is the governing authority on atomic energy related affairs in Taiwan. The Council devotes great efforts to nuclear safety regulations, radiation protection, environmental monitoring, as well as, safety control of radwaste management at the three nuclear plants and other nuclear facilities that are in operation. For the advancement of peaceful nuclear applications, the AEC promotes technical development in nuclear safety as well as in all medical, agricultural and industrial areas through R&D at universities and research institutes.

The AEC consists of thirteen councilmen, mostly representatives of relevant agencies or ministries within the Executive Yuan and some experts in the relevant fields. The Chairman presides over the Council with the assistance of two Vice Chairmen and one Secretary General to supervise the Council affairs. Directly under their supervision operate five departments, three offices, three subsidiary organizations, three task groups, and six advisory committees.

The five departments directly under the Council's administration include the General Administration Department, which provides administrative functions, and four technical departments. The Planning Department is mainly responsible for: control and oversight of major policy implementations; planning, integration and assessment for R&D projects; supervision and evaluation of implementation of the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Program; nuclear safeguards and international cooperation. The primary task of the Nuclear Regulation Department is to implement safety regulations for construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power reactors and other nuclear facilities. The Radiation Protection Department is mainly responsible for regulating and supervising radiation safety of nuclear facilities, environmental protection, and the medical and non-medical application of radioactive materials and equipment capable of producing ionizing radiation. The primary functions of the Nuclear Technology Department are to integrate R&D for nuclear technology and to analyze and evaluate the performance of nuclear reactors.

The three subsidiary organizations are as follows: The Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) is responsible for technical development in all areas of peaceful nuclear applications and confirmative R&D on nuclear safety. The Radiation Monitoring Center (RMC) is in charge of nation-wide environmental monitoring of natural and man-made ionizing radiation. The Fuel Cycle and Materials Administration (FCMA) is responsible for planning, supervision, and regulation of the treatment, storage, transport and final disposal of radioactive waste. FCMA also is responsible for the import, export, storage and transport of nuclear source materials and nuclear fuels.