Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management National Report from the Commonwealth of Australia October 2008

Article 14 Design and construction of facilities

Since Australia’s last national report, there have not been any new facilities, legislative requirements or mandatory standards for the design and construction of radioactive waste management facilities.

Limiting possible radiological impacts

In each Australian jurisdiction, the radiological impact of the design and construction of a radioactive waste management facility are examined as part of the licensing process for the jurisdiction in which the facility is to be located. For a proposed facility, all design and construction-related, legislated, technical and safety requirements need to be met. Under the legislative system, conditions can be imposed to require, for instance, the use of ‘best practicable technology’ and the preparation of technical provisions for the closure of the facility.

Facilities that are designated ‘nuclear actions¹⁶’ would also be subject to the Commonwealth legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and require the approval of the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) sets out mandatory requirements for the facility design which include packaging of waste, structural parameters, engineered barriers, cover specifications, backfill, surveying, water management, drainage, waste parameters, buffer zone and restricted occupancy zone.

Each jurisdiction has discharge limits set out in legislation, as conditions of licence, or as part of mandatory management plans. As mentioned previously, Australian regulators are in the process of harmonising discharge limits for very low level radioactive wastes.

Provision for decommissioning allowed in design

At the design stage of a waste management facility, plans and other provisions for decommissioning of the facility are only in the preliminary stages of development and are revised and updated as the facility moves through the licensing stages.

Technical provisions for closure of disposal facility

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) requires that prior to commencement of operations, the operator prepare draft or conceptual plans for decommissioning of the facility and rehabilitation of the site and that these plans be submitted for approval. The plans are required to be reviewed and resubmitted every five years for approval.

The Code also stipulates that approval for ceasing operations must be applied for at least three years prior to the proposed closure date. Detailed plans for the decommissioning of the facility and for rehabilitation must also be submitted at this time.

Validation of technologies for design and construction

The technologies incorporated in the design and construction of a radioactive waste management facility must be supported by proven design, experience, testing and analysis.

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) requires that the structure be constructed in accordance with best engineering practice.

In the case of uranium mining operations, the Code of Practice & Safety Guide on Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing (ARPANSA 2005), requires the use of ‘best practicable technology’ as part of the approved Radioactive Waste Management Plan, to ensure the release of radioactive material is minimised and to provide for the protection of people and the environment from the possible harmful effects of the associated mining and milling operations.

Assessment of compliance

As there have been no new facilities or legislative requirements, Australia remains compliant with Article 14.

Article 15 Assessment of safety of facilities

Safety and environmental assessment requirements

As part of legislative and regulatory requirements, an assessment of safety and environmental impact of a proposed radioactive waste management facility is required for approval before construction of the facility can commence. If deemed necessary by the relevant regulatory authority, the assessment of safety and environmental impact may be reviewed and updated prior to the operation of the facility. Regulators would also consider security in addition to safety.

As indicated earlier, ANSTO’s waste management facilities are subject to licensing processes under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth) and to internal safety review in accordance with the requirements of the ANSTO safety system.

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the national standard Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) requires the proponent to submit to the regulatory authority a detailed analysis of the design and operation of the facility and an assessment of the projected long-term integrity of the site after closure. A safety analysis subject to independent technical audit is also required of the proponent. The safety assessment must:

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  identify pathways through which radionuclides could be released during the operation of the facility or after its closure;
  
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  include a quantitative treatment of scenarios for inadvertent intrusion after institutional control;
  
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  demonstrate that protection of humans is optimised;
  
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  demonstrate that potential radiation exposure is below prescribed limits in the Code;
  
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  estimate the probability of the occurrence of the exposure scenarios; and
  
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  provide justification of any probability less than one for the identified scenarios.
  

Post-closure safety and environmental assessment requirements

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the national standard Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) requires that site rehabilitation plans must include the proper provision of site markers and that exclusion barriers are to remain for the duration of the institutional control period. Following the institutional control period, the Code also requires removal of all superfluous surface structures which may encourage occupation of the site. The operator is required to remain responsible for the site and all necessary site rehabilitation work until the work has been approved by the regulator.

The Code requires the regulator to ensure that a program of surveillance involving site inspections and environmental monitoring be carried out during the institutional control period and that the historical records of the waste disposed are maintained. This includes the location and purpose of the disposal site being marked on land titles as caveats or mentions for the institutional control period. The perimeter fence and site markers must also be maintained during the institutional control period.

Review of safety and environmental assessments prior to operation

In the case of a near-surface disposal facility, the national standard Code of Practice for the Near-Surface Disposal of Radioactive Waste in Australia (NHMRC, 1992) requires the establishment an environmental management plan prior to commencement of construction and operation of a near-surface disposal facility, and a radiation management plan prior to commencement of disposal operations. Both plans must be reviewed approximately every three years during the period of operation and the review must be reported publicly.

The radiation management plan includes personnel training, personnel monitoring, maintaining records, monitoring within the operational area of the facility, designation of areas of potential radiation exposure, emergency preparedness, contamination control and protective clothing and apparatus.

Assessment of compliance

Ongoing regulatory reviews and independent audits against national and licence requirements verify Australia’s ongoing compliance with Article 15.