regulatory activities Commonwealth Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (Regulatory Services) 90 licences (~60 source and ~30 facility) including for the Australian Defence Organisation, a radiopharmaceutical production facility, 2 research reactors (1 operating, 1 shutdown) 23 (plus expertise and support functions sourced from within the whole of ARPANSA) 18 regulatory scientists and engineers, 1 policy, 4 administrative South Australia Environment Protection Authority Approximately 800 Licences to Possess (e.g. Management Licences); 6 mines licensed to conduct mining or mineral processing of radioactive ores (3 uranium mines and 2 mineral sands mines). 1 company licensed to conduct developmental testing of a process involving radioactive ores. 3 sites licensed as facilities where radioactive material from past practices are stored or disposed. 1 facility licensed to produce radioactive material (cyclotron). Approximately 150 registered premises where unsealed radioactive substances are handled or kept. Approximately 760 registered sealed radioactive sources. Approximately 2900 registered radiation apparatus. Approximately 6200 individuals licensed to use or handle radioactive substances or licensed to use radiation apparatus 16 13 scientific and technical including management, 3 administrative and clerical
New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (Hazardous Materials, Chemicals and Radiation Section) 3544 radiation management licences to sell/possess radioactive substances or radiation apparatus, which are held 1664 sealed source devices and 279 premises where radioactive substances are kept or used. 14456 radiation users licences (either radiation apparatus or radioactive substances) 11 7 scientific and technical, including policy, and 4 administration Queensland Queensland Health (Radiation Health Unit) 2379possession licensees, 16503 use and transport licensees 5469 sealed radioactive sources registered 10107 radiation apparatus registered 11 8 scientific, 1 technical, 1 policy, and 1 administrative Tasmania Department of Health and Services (Radiation Protection Unit) 372 licences (consisting of 1099 apparatus, 605 radioactive materials, 2100 authorised persons) 450 registered premises 4 3 scientific and 1 licensing officer Victoria Department of Health and Human Services (Radiation Safety section) 13583 operator licences, 2635 management licences 14 10 technical and policy staff, 4 administrative staff Western Australia Western Australian Radiological Council (Radiation Health Unit) 7516 licences (covering users, service, manufacture, transport and sale), 2277 registered premises (a registration is equivalent to a management licence) including 35 registrations covering the mining and milling of radioactive ores and including 1 operating disposal facility 7401 sealed sources registered 6195 radiation apparatus registered 10 1 technical and 9 scientific and policy
Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Radiation Council (Radiation Safety Section of the Health Protection Service) 590 registrations, 1100 licensees 2 2 scientific Northern Territory Department of Health (Radiation Protection Section of Environmental Health Branch) 1300 licensees 518 registered apparatus 348 registered sealed sources 2.5 2 scientific, 0.5 administrative Effective independence of the regulatory function Within all jurisdictions in Australia, there is an effective independence between the appropriate regulatory authorities for radiation safety and other areas within organisations dealing with spent fuel or radioactive waste management, with the exception that the regulatory bodies all have some sources and store a small quantity of radioactive waste. Some jurisdictions have a form of executive management, independent of the regulatory body that can make decisions upon the safe management of facilities belonging to the regulatory body. There is an effective independence between ARPANSA and all its licence holders; for example ARPANSA and ANSTO report to different ministers, and ARPANSA reports directly to parliament on a quarterly and annual basis. In Queensland, the regulatory authority operates Queensland’s radioactive waste store on behalf of the State. However, the Store is operated under the scrutiny of the independent Radiation Advisory Council, which is required to seek, obtain and consider a report from an external technical auditor every two years to review all actions of the regulatory authority in managing the facility. Additionally, there is a Management Advisory Committee, which represents the State and the Somerset Regional Council (where the facility is located), which advises the Minister on the management of the facility based on the review of records, audit reports and any other inspection of the facility by the Committee. In Western Australia, the registration of the radioactive waste store at the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Site at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth is held by the Radiation Health Unit of the WA Department of Health. The WA Radiological Council does not own/operate the store. The Radiological Council requires a registration of premises and sources and imposes conditions on the registration.
Annex C – Overview Matrix of Current Policies and Practices in Australia Type of Liability Long-Term Management Policy Funding of Liabilities Current Practice / Facilities Planned Facilities Spent Fuel Spent fuel to be transported to France for reprocessing. The resulting ILW is stored pending transfer to national facility. Commonwealth funded. On-site storage followed by overseas reprocessing and interim storage of returned waste. National ILW storage facility pending development of a final disposal facility for ILW. Nuclear Fuel Wastes On-site disposal for mining and processing tailings. Responsibility of mine by means of bond. For legacy wastes, funding by the jurisdiction. On-site disposal. Application Wastes Commonwealth, State and Territory management of LLW and ILW. Funding by the Commonwealth for Commonwealth For other jurisdictions, funding is by the owner of waste. WA: disposal at State near surface disposal facility. Other jurisdictions: storage at site of generation or at central storage facilities within each jurisdiction. NRWMF Decommissioning Planned decommissioning of HIFAR research reactor. OPAL research reactor has met preliminary decommissioning plan requirements. Commonwealth funded. HIFAR – licence granted to possess and control facility. A detailed characterisation program is underway. NRWMF Disused Sealed Sources Repatriation to manufacturer where possible. Owner Repatriation to manufacturer where possible; otherwise storage awaiting disposal. NRWMF