ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

John Loy
CEO of ARPANSA
17 July 2002

On Friday 12 July, I briefed the Nuclear Safety Committee on matters related to the discovery of faulting in the excavation prepared for the construction of the replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights. The Committee suggested that there would be value in making the presentation available to the wider public.

The presentation covers the following points:

• the additional seismic investigations required of ANSTO by ARPANSA in September 2001
• the outcome of the 'near site' seismic investigation
• the sequence of events leading to the confirmation of the faulting in the excavation
• a brief description of the faulting in the excavation
• the steps that ANSTO is taking to study the faulting further
• a definition of a 'capable' fault and the possible implications of faulting
• ARPANSA's role and the commissioning of experts to advise ARPANSA
• the licensing arrangements.

Download the CEO's presentation to the Nuclear Safety Committee (PDF 87kb)

As noted in the presentation, while the construction licence continues in force, a number of hold points result from a condition of licence that ANSTO must gain my approval prior to the construction of an item important for safety. As a consequence, ANSTO are unable to proceed with construction of the foundations until I have given my approval. Obviously, the findings of the further seismotechnical studies of the excavation will be an important factor in my considering any proposal from ANSTO to progress the construction.

I will be keeping the Nuclear Safety Committee briefed and I will make information available to the public as the matter is progressed.

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