ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

This Page:

• What to include in the application
• Application Fees
• Prescribed Radiation Facility Licence Application
• Related Guidance Documents

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NOTE: An application made for a Department or Commonwealth body must be made:

1. in the name of the Department or body; and
2. by:
   1. the Secretary, chief executive, or an equivalent person for the Department or body; or
   2. another person authorised by the Secretary, chief executive or equivalent person.

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What to include in the application

1. The applicant’s full name, position and business address.
2. A description of the purpose of the proposed source licence.
3. A detailed description of the dealing that is to be authorised by the source licence.
4. Plans and arrangements describing how the applicant proposes to manage the controlled material or apparatus to ensure the health and safety of people and the protection of the environment including the following information:
   1. the applicant’s arrangements for maintaining effective control of the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   2. the safety management plan for the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   3. the radiation protection plan for the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   4. the radioactive waste management plan for the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   5. the plan for ultimate disposal or transfer of the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   6. the security plan for the controlled material or controlled apparatus;
   7. the emergency plan for the controlled material or controlled apparatus.

Authorisation for preparing a site for a controlled facility

5. A detailed site evaluation establishing the suitability of the site.
6. The characteristics of the site, including the extent to which the site may be affected by natural and man-made events.
7. Any environmental impact statement requested or required by a government agency, and the outcome of the environmental assessment.

 

Authorisation to construct a controlled facility

8. The design of the controlled facility, including ways in which the design deals with the physical and environmental characteristics of the site.
9. Any fundamental difficulties that will need to be resolved before any future authorisation is given.
10. The construction plan and schedule.
11. A preliminary safety analysis report that demonstrates the adequacy of the design of the facility and identifies structure, components and systems that are safety related items.
12. The arrangements for testing and commissioning safety related items.

 

Authorisation to possess or control a controlled facility

13. The arrangements for maintaining criticality safety during loading, moving or storing nuclear fuel and other fissile materials at the controlled facility.
14. The arrangements for safe storage of controlled material and maintaining the controlled facility.

 

Authorisation to operate a controlled facility

15. A description of the structures, components, systems and equipment of the controlled facility as they have been constructed.
16. A final safety analysis report that demonstrates the adequacy of the design of the controlled facility, and includes the results of commissioning tests.
17. The operational limits and conditions of the controlled facility.
18. The arrangements for commissioning the controlled facility.
19. The arrangements for operating the controlled facility.

 

Authorisation for decommissioning a controlled facility

20. The decommissioning plan for the controlled facility.
21. The schedule for decommissioning the controlled facility.

 

Authorisation for abandoning a controlled facility

22. The results of decommissioning activities at the controlled facility.
23. Details of any environmental monitoring program proposed for the site.

In deciding whether to issue the licence, the CEO must take into account international best practice in radiation protection and nuclear safety and the matters specified in the regulations.

The matters are:

1. whether the application includes the information asked for by the CEO; and
2. whether the information establishes that the proposed conduct can be carried out without undue risk to the health and safety of people, and to the environment; and
3. whether the applicant has shown that there is a net benefit from carrying out the conduct relating to the controlled facility; and
4. whether the applicant has shown that the magnitude of individual doses, the number of people exposed, and the likelihood that exposure will happen, are as low as reasonably achievable, having regard to economic and social factors; and
5. whether the applicant has shown a capacity for complying with these regulations and the licence conditions that would be imposed under section 35 of the Act; and
6. whether the application has been signed by an office holder of the applicant, or a person authorised by an office holder of the applicant; and
7. if the application is for a facility licence for a nuclear installation — the content of any submissions made by members of the public about the application.

Applicants should address these matters in support of their application

Application Fees

Prescribed Radiation Facility Licence Applications must be accompanied by an Application Fee.

The Fee varies depending on the type of controlled facility and the activity or activities the subject of the application for Licence for which a Licence is sought.

Refer to the ARPANS Regulations 1999 regarding amounts for more than one activity.

What fees are involved?

Prescribed Radiation Facility Licence Application

Applicants who wish to apply for a facility licence for a prescribed radiation facility should refer to the  REGULATORY GUIDE: Applying for a facility licence for a Prescribed Radiation Facility for guidance on how to complete the  Prescribed Radiation Facility Licence Application Form.

Related Guidance Documents

Regulatory Guideline on Review of Plans and Arrangements (PDF 484kb)

This regulatory guideline sets out the information requirements that should be satisfactorily demonstrated in an applicant’s or a licence holder’s plans and arrangements. The primary users of this guideline are the CEO of ARPANSA and regulatory staff. The document may also assist applicants in the preparation of licence applications and licence holders in the review of their current plans and arrangements.

Regulatory Assessment Principles for Controlled Facilities (PDF 274kb)

This document describes the assessment principles to be applied by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) when assessing an application for a facility licence as well as approvals under licence for changes to facilities already the subject of a facility licence.

Regulatory Guidance for Radioactive Waste Management Facilities (PDF 582kb)

This Guidance is intended to be used in relation to applications made under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 for a facility licence to prepare a site for, to construct, or to operate radioactive waste management facilities, being a radioactive waste disposal facility (near surface), or a radioactive waste store.

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