Date: August 2, 2001

ANSTO Discharge Authorisation Submissions Invited

In Sydney today, ARPANSA invited public comment on the Airborne Radioactive Discharge Authorisation it issued to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in June when licensing the operation of the HIFAR research reactor. The Authorisation sets requirements and notification levels that ANSTO must satisfy to continue to discharge airborne radioactive material to the environment at its Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre (LHSTC) and National Medical Cyclotron (NMC), Camperdown, sites.

The Authorisation aims to ensure that the radiation dose to a member of the public from routine airborne radioactive discharges at ANSTO’s Lucas Heights and Camperdown sites is as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). The Authorisation remains in effect until the end of 2001 and may be modified following ARPANSA’s review of public comments received.

Dr Loy has agreed that the ANSTO ALARA Objective for radiation dose to a member of the public due to airborne discharges from the LHTSC is 20 microsieverts per year. This figure is subdivided as follows:

• 10 microsieverts per year due to the HIFAR operation
• 10 microsieverts per year due to radiopharmaceutical production
• less than 1 microsievert per year due to all other conducts and dealings.

The same overall ALARA Objective of 20 microsieverts per year applies to the NMC site.

Dr Loy said, "I encourage members of the public to review the Discharge Authorisation, and related Background Paper, before commenting on the notification levels and regulatory requirements currently set for all airborne radioactive discharges under the effective control of ANSTO. The community may identify further improvements that will assist when ARPANSA begins revising the document later this year".

The Authorisation requires ANSTO to develop, maintain and implement a detailed plan for managing radioactive discharges from its LHSTC and NMC sites that conforms to recognised standards agreed by ARPANSA’s CEO. Other requirements include monitoring of discharges, the accepted dose model, notifying the CEO of an exceedance, record keeping, restrictions to radiopharmaceuticals operations, regular reporting to the CEO and notification levels.

Copies of the 9-page document entitled "Airborne Radioactive Discharge Authorisation", and related Background Paper called "Regulation of Airborne Discharges from ANSTO Sites", are available through ththe ARPANSA web site. Both documents can also 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.

Submissions should be forwarded by 1 October 2001 to: The Director, ARPANSA Regulatory Branch, PO Box 655, Miranda NSW 1490. Comments can also be sent by e-mail to: narelle.smith@arpansa.gov.au.

ENDS