Media Release - 20 August 2001

First-Batch of Construction Licence Q&As Released

In Sydney today, ARPANSA released the first batch of answers received from ANSTO in response to its assessment of the major document supporting ANSTO’s replacement research reactor (RRR) construction licence application, the 11-volume Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR).

ARPANSA received replies to a total of 177 questions it asked about the licence application (document number LBD-03) and 5 different chapters in the PSAR. These were Chapter 1 "Introduction and General Description of the Facility"; Chapter 8 "Instrumentation and Control"; Chapter 9 "Electric Power"; Chapter 15 "Commissioning" and Chapter 20 "Emergency Planning and Preparedness".

The CEO of ARPANSA, Dr John Loy, said "Comments on the construction licence application were invited on 5 June and I promised then that I would make publicly available many forms of information about the proposed RRR. Anyone preparing a submission may find this first batch of replies from ANSTO about the reactor design and related safety issues useful.

Areas addressed include the reflector vessel, primary cooling system, reactor protection and containment, spent fuel storage arrangements, electronic sensing devices, failure mode and effects analysis, emergency plans - the list goes on. The Regulatory Assessment Team evaluation of the PSAR and other supporting documentation is continuing. Further instalments of Q&As will be posted on ARPANSA’s web site in coming weeks".

Copies of the first batch of Q&As called "ANSTO’s Responses to Questions Raised by ARPANSA During the Reactive Review Process" are available through this web address: http://www.arpansa.gov.au/reg_home.htm. Hardcopies can be requested from 'The Receptionist' at ARPANSA on 02 9545 8333, or from ARPANSA’s Public Resource Room, Suite 9, 19-21 Central Road, Miranda.

First-round public submissions on the licence application should be provided to ARPANSA by 5 September. However, as stated previously, a second-round will be invited later in the year – probably around October. The focus will be matters identified by the public and issues papers produced by the Nuclear Safety Committee that advises Dr Loy.

• The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) applied to ARPANSA for a licence to construct its proposed RRR in early May. The CEO of ARPANSA does not expect to decide on the application until February 2002.

• Copies of the full PSAR were provided to the National Library, all State and Territory Libraries, three Sutherland Shire Council libraries, Liverpool City Central Library and the ARPANSA Public Resource Room. CD-ROM and hardcopy comprehensive summaries of the PSAR are still freely available on request.

ENDS