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www.radioactivewaste.gov.au

National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Frequently Asked Questions

1. How were the six nominated sites narrowed down? Twenty-eight voluntary land nominations were received in response to a call for nominations in March this year. The Minister has considered the nominations along with a range of advice, including the outcomes of a multi-criteria site assessment process. This assessment was conducted by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science in consultation with the Independent Advisory Panel and Geoscience Australia. The Minister has now announced six potentially suitable site nominations for further consideration. An initial round of consultation will take place within communities with a shortlisted site. The Minister will then select two to three preferred sites for detailed site assessment and further consideration. The six sites are located across Australia in NSW, QLD, SA and NT. Details on the sites can be found at www.radioactivewaste.gov.au.

2. Will all the nominations be made public? The location details for the six nominations announced for consultation have been made public. The areas from which other nominations were received will be disclosed following the completion of the consultation process and once the two to three preferred sites have been identified.

Personal information, including names and documentary evidence of identity and land title are considered confidential and will not be released.

3. Has anyone been forced to nominate land? No. The nomination process was entirely voluntary.

4. Why is the Government doing this now? A national facility will ensure Australia is in line with international best practice and can continue to conduct world-class research and produce valuable products such as radiopharmaceuticals.

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It also represents the safest, most cost effective option for long-term waste disposal and storage.

5. Will local communities get a say in whether their area should host a facility and on the design of the facility? Yes. The Government is placing a strong emphasis on community consultation and engagement throughout each stage of the project.

There will be a 120-day community consultation period following the announcement of the six sites. Feedback received will form part of the Minister’s consideration of sites to take to the next stage of the process.

Once sites are approved, there will be ongoing opportunities for the community to provide comment through dedicated Regional Consultative Committees in each area.

6. When will the final site be decided? It is intended that a proposed site be identified in 2016, after which the Detailed Business Case will be considered. Subject to regulatory approvals, the facility could be operational by the early 2020s.

7. What are the benefits for the local community? The host community will benefit from the substantial investment that will be made to the project and the jobs generated during construction and operation of the facility. This will be in addition to the provision of the National Repository Capital Contribution Fund, in which fees collected from users of the facility are directed to enhanced public services and infrastructure in the relevant region. The Fund must be credited with $10 million by the Commonwealth prior to commencement of operations.

8. How will the land value be calculated if the Commonwealth acquires the site? Land value will be calculated with reference to the relevant process for valuing land under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989. However, as a guide, the base formula is four times market value.

9. Are there any risks to safety and the environment associated with the facility? Australia’s nuclear industry has a strong safety record and the national facility will be established in accordance with international best practice.

All aspects of establishing the national facility, including site selection, construction and operation, will be subject to assessment under Australia’s strict environmental and radiation protection regulatory regimes. This requires the Government to demonstrate that there will be no adverse impact on human health or the environment arising from the national facility. The regulatory assessment process includes extensive community consultation that provides opportunities for stakeholders and members of the public to provide submissions for consideration.


10. Will there be any impacts on the water table? The facility will be established in such a way to ensure the protection of water resources. Regulatory approvals are required at every stage in siting, designing and constructing, and operating the facility to ensure there is no adverse impact on the community or environment. Detailed site characterisation will be undertaken on shortlisted sites to ensure a full understanding of the natural systems around sites including surface and subsurface water systems.

11. Will communities along the transport route be affected? Transport of radioactive waste to the facility will require approval and licensing from the radiation protection regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). ARPANSA will conduct extensive consultation with these communities during consideration of the transport license application.

The transport of radioactive materials, including waste, has an extremely strong safety record both in Australia and overseas. The transport of radioactive waste to the facility will be conducted under the most stringent safety requirements to ensure the protection of the community and environment.

12. Will the facility manage high level waste in the future? No. The facility will be established for disposal of low-level radioactive waste and storage of intermediate-level waste pending future disposal at another site. Intermediate waste will not be disposed of at the facility. No high-level waste will be managed at the facility.

13. Will waste from other countries be accepted at the site? The legislation for the national facility prohibits the acceptance of foreign generated

radioactive waste at the facility. The national facility is for Australia’s radioactive waste only.

14. Who will fund construction of the facility and how much will it cost? The Australian Government will be responsible for the cost of identifying and constructing a suitable facility. The final cost of the facility will depend on the characteristics of the site and the type of facility to be built. This will be determined by the Detailed Business Case to be developed in considering the final site.

15. What are the benefits of nuclear medicine? On average, every Australian can expect to have a nuclear medicine procedure that uses a radioisotope for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes at some stage in their life. Nuclear medicine and radiology are the medical techniques that involve the use of radiation or radioactivity to diagnose, treat and prevent disease. One in two Australians will receive treatment involving nuclear medicine at some point in their life, and nearly all of us benefit from scientific research in this area. Nuclear medicine and radiology are the medical techniques that involve the use of radiation or radioactivity to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.


16. What about the views of Traditional Owners? A key part of the communications and engagement strategy will be consulting with indigenous representatives and Traditional Owners in the local communities.

17. How is radioactive waste currently monitored by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights? ANSTO is regulated by the independent safety regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), who is charged with the responsibility to protect the health and safety of people, and the environment. ANSTO has effectively managed radioactive waste for over 60 years and places the highest priority on the safe management of waste products. A dedicated team at ANSTO have tools and equipment that monitor the local environment 24 hours a day. This environmental monitoring has taken place since the start of work at Lucas Heights. The radiation levels in the local area, stormwater, groundwater and surrounding creeks and atmosphere are routinely measured and reported to the nuclear regulator, ARPANSA, and the general public.

18. What about environmental protection? Environmental protection is always considered when planning and undertaking major capital works and any proposed radiation facilities are assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Proposals for new or modified facilities and processes also undergo a rigorous internal safety, regulatory and environmental assurance process.

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For more information visit www.radioactivewaste.gov.au

NATIONAL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY

Australia’s Radioactive Waste The design of Australia’s Radioactive Waste Management Facility will be tailored to the specific environmental and geological characteristics of the chosen location.

The final design will need to meet stringent requirements and will draw upon elements of other well-established international facilities. Some examples include those in Spain, United Kingdom, France, United States of America and South Africa.

National Radioactive Waste Management Facility

What does a Radioactive Waste Management Facility look like?

Cover images clockwise from top left:

El Cabril, Spain, image courtesy of Enresa

Centre de Stockage de la Manche (CSM), France, image courtesy of ANDRA

Andrews, Texas, image courtesy of Waste Control Specialists (WCS)

LLW Repository Ltd, UK, image courtesy of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

SpainEl Cabril is the facility used for the disposal of low level radioactive waste in Spain.

The facility has two platforms for the disposal of low level radioactive waste and another with a specific structure for very low level waste.

The facility also has the necessary infrastructure for the treatment and conditioning of wastes for disposal.

The disposal system uses natural and engineered barriers that safely isolate the materials for the time required to convert them into harmless substances.

United Kingdom

The Low Level Waste Repository is the United Kingdom’s national low level radioactive waste disposal facility.

Established in 1959, the site has safely disposed of the nation’s low level waste for over 50 years. Waste is disposed of in engineered concrete vaults and, where possible, treated, containerised and grouted before placement in the vault.

Germany

The Transport Cask Storage Facility (TBL) Ahaus has

been an interim storage facility for radioactive materials in

Germany since 1997. TBL Ahaus is located three kilometres from

the town of Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous

state in Germany.

Operated by Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH (GNS), the

facility consists of storage halls for casks containing high pressure

compacted radioactive waste, spent fuels from research reactors,

and low and intermediate level waste from nuclear power plants.

The casks are stored until they are able to be directly disposed of

or reprocessed.

FranceThe Centre de Stockage de la Manche (CSM) waste disposal facility (cover image) was the first repository to be built in France for low level radioactive waste in 1969. Since 2003 the facility has been in an official post-closure monitoring phase. In 1992 the French Atomic Energy Commissioned an additional disposal facility for solid low- and intermediate-level short-lived radioactive waste the Centre de Stockage de l’Aube (CSA). The CSA is located on rural land spreading across three jurisdictions in the Aube district: Soulaines-Dhuys, Epothémont and La Ville-aux-Bois. It covers 95 hectares, 30 of which are dedicated for disposal.

United States of AmericaThe Federal Waste Disposal Facility (FWF) run by Waste Control Specialists (WCS) in Andrews, Texas was designed, permitted, and constructed for disposal of low level radioactive waste.

All waste at the FWF is encapsulated in a robust liner and cover system, featuring a two metre thick liner system which includes a 30 centimetre thick layer of reinforced concrete. In addition, all of the waste is buried.

The Federal Waste Facility opened on June 6, 2013.

Source: LLW Repository Ltd, UK

Source: GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH, Germany

Source: GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH, Germany

Source:image courtesy of ANDRA - CSA, Aube district, FranceSource: construction of El Cabril mobile roof, Spain


Australia’s Radioactive Waste

In Australia, radioactive waste is produced from the beneficial use of radioactive materials in industry, research and medicine and the operation of the research reactor at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Sydney.

The waste is made up of radioactive material with no foreseeable further use. Just like car batteries, mobile phones and some household chemicals, this material requires particular procedures and methods for its management, storage and disposal.

Australian governments impose strict controls on radioactive waste management including treatment to convert the waste into a solid stable form and measurement to determine the amount of contained radioactivity.

Return of WasteMany confuse radioactive waste with unprocessed spent fuel. Spent fuel is not considered a radioactive waste because it remains a substantial energy source due its ability to be reused.

Much of Australia’s spent fuel from the research reactor at Lucas Heights is reprocessed in France and the UK. The waste by-products will be returned to Australia.

The waste that is returning is approximately one third of the size of a regular shipping container.



What is Radioactive Waste?

Digital version – www.radioactivewaste.gov.au

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Intermediate level radioactive waste

Intermediate level radioactive waste contains radioactive material at a concentration that requires shielding for safe handling and transport. Examples of intermediate level waste include waste from the production of radiopharmaceuticals, waste generated by the reprocessing of spent research reactor fuel, and disused radioactive sources from industry and medicine.

In line with international best practice, solid intermediate level waste is placed in special shielded containers and is managed within interim purpose-built, engineered facilities.

High level radioactive waste

There is no high level radioactive waste in Australia.

High level radioactive waste can be the by-product from the reprocessing of spent fuel from nuclear power reactors.

It is differentiated from intermediate level waste by the amount of heat generated by the decay of radioactive material in the waste.

How is radioactive waste classified?

Radioactive waste is classified by how much radiation it emits and for how long, plus the form the radiation takes. The waste is handled, stored and disposed of in appropriate ways.

Radioactive emissions are classified as low, intermediate or high level and the length of emission time is classified as short-lived or long-lived.

Australia’s national classification system is based on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Safety Guide.

Low level radioactive waste

Low-level waste emits radiation at levels which generally require minimal shielding during handling, transport and storage.

Examples of low level waste are contaminated laboratory waste, such as paper, plastic, glassware and protective clothing, contaminated soil, and discarded smoke detectors and emergency exit signs.

How much radioactive waste is in Australia?

Australia’s current waste is stored in licensed interim facilities. Waste held by the Commonwealth represents the majority of both legacy waste and future low and intermediate level radioactive waste.

As of 2014 Australia has accumulated approximately 4250 m3 of low level radioactive waste from over 40 years of research, medical and industrial uses of radioactive materials. In volume this is the equivalent of two Olympic sized swimming pools.

The Commonwealth is responsible for about 4048 m3 of this waste and the states and territories hold the rest (around 200 m3).

Australia currently holds approximately 656 m3 of intermediate level radioactive waste. This includes waste from the production of nuclear medicines, and used sources from medical, research and industrial equipment.

How much is currently produced in Australia?

Australia produces a very small quantity of low and intermediate level radioactive waste.

Each year, the amount of low level waste generated is less than 40 cubic metres (m3), smaller than one shipping container.

By comparison, Britain and France each produce around 25 000 m3 of low level waste annually—over 600 times more than Australia.

Australia generates less than 5 m3 of intermediate level radioactive waste annually – that’s the equivalent of the size of a skip bin.

Source: ANSTO


Australia uses nuclear technology for a range of crucial applications in research, medicine and industry.

As an example, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) creates more than 500 000 patient doses of nuclear medicine each year and more than one third of Australians will receive treatment involving nuclear medicine some time in their lives.

This production generates a number of by-products that need to be safely disposed of and managed responsibly.

As a result, Australia has built up a relatively modest inventory of low and intermediate-level waste to which we add a small amount each year.

At present, more than 100 sites across Australia are licensed to store low and intermediate-level radioactive waste and materials on an interim basis. This includes sites at ANSTO, as well as in metropolitan areas, and regional towns and cities.

Although safe, these storage conditions are temporary or not designed for disposal and long term storage. Many facilities are also nearing capacity.

A purpose-built national facility is undoubtedly the safest, most cost effective option for long-term waste disposal and storage.

Closing this loop through a single national waste management facility is essential to ensure Australia can continue to conduct world-class research, produce valuable materials for medical and other uses, and meet our international obligations.

Project Approvals

Following the identification of a preferred site, environmental and nuclear regulatory approvals will be required. These processes are conducted independently and will involve community consultation.

Detailed site characterisation studies and other approval activities will be undertaken on the approved sites during phase 3 of the project.

The detailed site investigations will enable a preferred site to be identified for more detailed assessment, including under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and Australian Radiation Protection

and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (ARPANS Act).

The Design

The design for the facility will be tailored to the specific site characteristics of the chosen location. The final design will draw upon and incorporate engineering elements from other well-established international facilities. The initial design brief will be outlined in the Detailed Business Case.



Why does Australia need a National Facility?

Digital version – www.radioactivewaste.gov.au

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The Case for action

Successive Australian Governments have long recognised the need for a national radioactive waste management facility. There have been a number of processes led by the Australian government for over 30 years to establish such a facility.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. It administers Australia’s rights and obligations under a number of specific international treaties, with the most relevant to radioactive waste storage being the IAEA Joint Convention

on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety

of Radioactive Waste Management (the “Joint Convention”) which was ratified by Australia in August 2003.

As part of the obligations under the Joint Convention, Australia, nationally, must act responsibly with regard to its own radioactive waste.

The Initial Business Case

The Initial Business Case was considered by Government in early 2014. The Initial Business Case assesses the case for action and the range of options available for the safe and secure long-term management of Australia’s radioactive waste.

It found that current arrangements are inefficient, expensive and pose avoidable risks to the ongoing operation of Australia’s nuclear science and medicine sector.

The Project

The Australian Government is currently seeking an appropriate site for Australia’s national radioactive waste management facility.

The selection process is based on voluntary nomination by landholders and is being run by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science in accordance with the National

Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012.

It will take several years to identify a preferred site and then design and build the facility. There are four key phases to the project:

• Phase 1: Nominations, Site Assessment and Shortlist Identification

• Phase 2: Site Characterisation Studies and Preferred Site Identification

• Phase 3: Site Selection, Facility Design and Licensing

• Phase 4: Construction and Operation

The Detailed Business Case

A Detailed Business Case will be developed for Government consideration and be completed once a preferred site is identified.

The Detailed Business Case will consider the following:

• cost benefit analysis • functional design brief • preliminary designs and drawings • risk management plan • project delivery and procurement strategy • project program • cost plan • whole-of-life cost estimate • other legislative requirements such as environment and

heritage obligations, and stakeholder management plans

Independent Advisory Panel

The Department receives advice on the project from an Independent Advisory Panel (IAP).

The Panel provides independent technical and project implementation advice to identify a site and establish a national facility. This advice included developing a site identification methodology that best reflects stakeholder and community values in accordance with:

• International best practice for long-term radioactive waste management

• Australia’s international legal obligations • The National Radioactive Waste Management Act 2012

• Australia’s radiation and environmental protection regulatory regimes

Source: ANSTO

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