ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Date: 22 May 2007

ANSTO Application for a licence to possess and control the high flux Australian reactor

On 18 May 2007, Dr John Loy, CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) received an application from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) for a facility licence under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 authorising it to possess and control the High Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR).

HIFAR is a 20 MW research reactor that commenced operation in 1958 and is currently authorised to operate under a facility licence issued by the CEO of ARPANSA on 14 June 2001. The reactor was officially shutdown on 31 January 2007 with the spent fuel and heavy water since being removed and stored on site. The final shutdown of the reactor was authorised under the existing licence authorising operation.

ANSTO’s facility licence application to possess and control HIFAR is the first step in the regulatory process leading to the eventual decommissioning of the reactor. As part of the application, ANSTO proposes to measure and map the level of radioactivity in structures, systems and components of the reactor. In the longer term, it is anticipated that the organisation will apply for a further licence to decommission the reactor.

In receiving the licence application, the CEO of ARPANSA said that “HIFAR had provided a significant civic service to the Australian community including the production of radiopharmaceuticals’.

In accordance with regulations under the ARPANS Act, ARPANSA will place a notice in a daily newspaper circulating nationally, indicating that the CEO intends to make a decision on the application and inviting submissions from the public. The notice will include details of the period and process for making submissions.

The CEO said that ‘Members of the public can have confidence that the application will be subjected to a comprehensive and rigorous regulatory assessment’ and that ‘as much information about the application and the assessment as possible will be made available to the public through ARPANSA’s website’.

The CEO’s decision on the application will be based on the requirements under the ARPANS Act including consideration of net benefit, undue risk (from the proposed conduct), issues raised in public submissions and consideration of international best practice in radiation protection and nuclear safety as it relates to the application.

ENDS.

 

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