Meeting Summary—31 October 2014
Miranda Campus, ARPANSA
Opening of Meeting 
The meeting commenced at 10:00 am. All Members were in attendance except for Em Prof Ian Polmear, Mr Chris Tola and Dr Tamie Weaver who tendered their apologies. Professor Ray Kemp, Chair of the Radiation Health and Safety Council (RHSAC), attended the meeting.
Confirmation of the Minutes
The Minutes of the meeting, held on 20 June 2014, were confirmed out-of-session on 20 September 2014.
Correspondence
There were no items of correspondence in addition to those letters discussed under Business Arising.
Business Arising
OPAL Reactor Periodic Safety Review
On 18 July 2014, the CEO wrote to the Committee requesting advice on the safety issues associated with Periodic Safety Review of the OPAL reactor. The Committee responded to the CEO’s request on 18 August 2014. The CEO thanked the Committee for the advice provided which was taken into consideration when the CEO made the decision to issue an amendment to the OPAL reactor facility licence (further details of the CEO’s decision are available on the website).
ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Facility Construction submission
At the 20 June 2014 meeting, the Committee discussed the licence application ARPANSA received from ANSTO to construct a controlled facility, the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Molybdenum-99 Facility (ANM Mo99 Facility). The CEO had taken the Committee’s comments into consideration in reaching his decision to issue a licence to ANSTO to construct the ANM Mo99 Facility. The CEO’s statement of reasons and other related information are available on the ARPANSA website. 
REGULATORY GUIDE: Siting of Controlled facilities
ARPANSA developed a draft Regulatory Guide: Siting of Controlled Facilities to advise potential Commonwealth applicants of the issues that should be addressed by the applicant when applying for a siting licence for a controlled facility. Members discussed the draft document at the 20 June 2014 meeting and provided several edits and comments. ARPANSA incorporated Members’ comments into the final draft which was published on the ARPANSA website in August 2014.
Holistic Safety Assessment Report of ARPANSA’s Scientific Branches and Holistic Safety Assessment Tools
ARPANSA developed draft tools licence holders could use to help them improve the safety of their operations. ARPANSA requested the Committee provide feedback on these draft tools at the June 2014 meeting. Members’ comments and advice were then taken into consideration before the tools were published on the ARPANSA internet on 27 June 2014.
Main Items for Discussion
ANSTO Site Operations Safety Supervisors (SOSS) 
ANSTO maintains a 24 hour per day guardforce and emergency response safety function on-site. ANSTO submitted Regulation 51 (R51) and Regulation 52 (R52) requests to ARPANSA to change the arrangements of the guardforce and emergency response. The Committee discussed: change management; internal review processes; consultation requirements when undertaking changes; implementation processes; and R51 and R52 thresholds. ARPANSA will take the Committee’s comments into consideration when assessing further site supervisor changes.
Little Forest Legacy Site
On 10 October 2014, ANSTO submitted an application to ARPANSA for a ‘possess and control’ licence (see Section 32(1)c of the Act) for the Little Forest Legacy Site—used by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission as a disposal site for low level radioactive waste from 1960 to 1968. ARPANSA requested Members provide advice on the social and technical issues associated with licencing legacy sites. The Committee discussed the following: the importance of licencing legacy sites; best practice storage and disposal techniques; stakeholder consultation; and area monitoring. The CEO will consider Committee’s comments in reaching a decision whether or not to issue a licence to ANSTO to possess or control the site. 
Priorities for the Harmonised Radiation Protection Series
At the 20 June 2014 meeting, ARPANSA briefed the NSC on a project that aims to align the Radiation Protection Series and the International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Standards Series. At the 31 October 2014 meeting, ARPANSA provided a more detailed outline of the project, including the priorities for document preparation and drafting. The Committee noted these priorities and that it would be called to assist with the drafting and review of publications that pertain to nuclear safety and the safety of controlled facilities. 
Briefing and Discussion by the RHSAC Chair
The RHSAC Chair briefed the Committee on a meeting he had had with the UK’s Office of Nuclear Regulation. The RHSAC Chair summarised the nuclear safety issues and challenges facing the ONR and explained the ONR’s regulatory regime and processes. The NSC noted similarities between the ONR and ARPANSA and discussed the following: KPI’s used for the regulator; performance versus compliance based regulation; safety culture and culture of the regulator; and ability to influence safety of both small and large licence holders. ARPANSA considered that the points the Committee raised could be discussed further at the next meeting. 
The Government’s Draft Regulator Performance Framework
ARPANSA provided Members a copy of the draft regulator performance framework which the government expects Commonwealth regulatory authorities to use once published. ARPANSA requested Members’ provide advice on assessing and reviewing regulatory performance with respect to controlled facilities. Aspects the Committee discussed included: the difference between light and heavy handed regulation; leading and lagging indicators; the importance of consultation; how requirements can be integrated and streamlined. ARPANSA would take the Committee’s comments into consideration once the framework is published. 
Triennium Review
The 2012-2014 triennium ends on 31 December 2014. ARPANSA requested Members reflect on the activities of the Committee over the triennium and highlight areas which can be improved. The Committee discussed the following: the usefulness of site visits; the importance of bringing together different perspectives and disciplines; interaction between the NSC, RHSAC and RHC; and support from the secretariat. The CEO outlined the importance of the NSC’s advice when making licencing decisions. Members also highlighted issues that could be considered during the next triennium: residual risk versus raw risk and ARPANSA’s requirement clearly outlining the rigour, extent and depth of submissions.
Update on Controlled Facilities at ANSTO
Members were updated on the safety of controlled facilities at ANSTO. This included a brief outline of the inspections undertaken, and applications received, assessed and approved since the June 2014 meeting. 
Reports
ARPANSA’s activities
The CEO did not provide a report for this meeting.
Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council and Radiation Health Committee
The NSC was provided with a copy of the meeting summaries of the Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council (RHSAC) and RHC. 
Nuclear Safety Matters
For information, the NSC was provided a summary of meetings held by IAEA and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) regarding Fukushima. 
Other Business
The CEO of ARPANSA outlined that Members’ appointments to the NSC expire on 31 December 2014; the RHSAC would be consulted before the CEO appoints members to the NSC.
Closure of Meeting
The meeting closed at 4:00 pm. The NSC will next convene on 6 March 2015.