Australia's independent nuclear regulator today released its plan for detailed consideration of the construction proposal for a replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights.
Dr John Loy, CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said he expected to receive the construction application from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) around May this year.
For planning purposes, Dr Loy expects to be in a position to make a decision on the application in February 2002.
Dr Loy said, "The construction application will be examined in detail by ARPANSA staff, independent experts and members of the public before I make a decision on whether it will be allowed to proceed.
The ANSTO application must include a comprehensive safety analysis of the reactor design. This analysis will be subject to international peer review and be made public. ARPANSA will put on record questions asked of ANSTO and the company supplying the reactor, INVAP, together with their replies".
Dr Loy said that he would also be seeking the advice of the Nuclear Safety Committee - an independent group of people with expertise - on several important issues, including:
"Other issues may emerge before May or in early examination of the preliminary safety analysis report accompanying the licence application," Dr Loy added.
ARPANSA will continue a program of public information meetings in the Sutherland Shire as part of its commitment to ensuring people in the vicinity of Lucas Heights are kept informed at all stages of the application assessment process.
A copy of Dr Loy's plan for consideration of the replacement research reactor construction licence is available on ARPANSA's web site - www.arpansa.gov.au
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