The CEO of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), Dr John Loy, today announced that he had issued a licence to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) authorising it to operate the Open Pool Australian Light-water (OPAL) research reactor at Lucas Heights.

'I have issued a facility licence under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 after a comprehensive and detailed assessment of ANSTO's application', Dr Loy said. 'The facility licence will allow ANSTO to load nuclear fuel into the reactor and then to conduct the 'hot' commissioning tests. If tests raise any issues during hot commissioning, these must be resolved to my satisfaction. ANSTO may then proceed to operate the reactor for irradiation for isotope production and other purposes and to produce neutron beams for research'.

'As required by the Act, I took into account international best practice in radiation protection and nuclear safety in relation to the operation of a research reactor and other matters prescribed in the legislation in making my decision. My assessment took account of detailed reviews by ARPANSA staff developed over many months of examination, public submissions by community and other groups, reports from two independent people who took part with me in an open public forum, reports from the Nuclear Safety Committee and two international peer reviews. My reasons for decision are contained in a statement that I am releasing today.'

Dr Loy said. 'Two areas of major concern in public submissions were the management and disposal of spent reactor fuel and other radioactive waste; and the physical security and emergency arrangements'.

'I have previously stated that at the time of making this decision I needed to be convinced that arrangements for dealing with the spent fuel were firm and there had been sufficient progress with the development of proposals for long-term storage for intermediate level wastes, including the waste arising from the reprocessing of spent fuel.'

'I am satisfied that ANSTO has firm arrangements with the United States for the return of OPAL spent fuel to that country for storage and ultimate disposal. This arrangement applies for the ten years until May 2016, pending development of a research reactor fuel that is more able to be reprocessed than the current uranium-silicide fuel. It also has arrangements with COGEMA of France for the reprocessing of spent fuel, including for its present type of fuel, and the return of a vitrified waste product to Australia.'

'With regard to the development of a long-term store for intermediate level waste, I also took into account that the Australian Government has committed itself to the development of the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility (CRWMF) in the Northern Territory at one of three defence sites or at a site to be nominated by the Chief Minister or an Aboriginal Land Council. The Government has provided funding for the development of the project. It also proposed and the Parliament has passed the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 that addresses any legal obstacles to a selection of the site for the facility. I accept this as a major political commitment by the Government and that shows acceptable progress with these arrangements, recognising that this facility will still require consideration of application for licence by the CEO of ARPANSA.

'ANSTO has also been developing its management of radioactive waste at Lucas heights with plans for supercompaction of low level waste.'

'In fact, Australia's planning and arrangements for dealing with waste and spent fuel from its research reactors are in advance of other countries using only research reactors. Our radioactive waste and spent fuel management is consistent with the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management and has been the subject of review in the context of that international Convention.'

'In addition, there has been a very great deal of effort put into the development of the physical security arrangements for OPAL. These efforts have included assessment of sabotage scenarios. The physical security arrangements have been developed in consultation with relevant government agencies and have been reviewed and accepted by the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office.

'I also assess the emergency arrangements organised for OPAL and with NSW authorities in the event of any possible offsite consequences as being appropriate.'

Dr Loy said that the licence was subject to the conditions laid down in the legislation. Amongst other things, these conditions require ANSTO to comply with the commitments set out in its application, including operation according to the plans and arrangements that have been accepted after detailed assessment.

'I have also imposed some additional conditions to provide for periodic review of safety and security in the light of operating experience and changes in technology and the security environment', Dr Loy said. 'It is inevitable that in the first two years of operation, much will be learned about operating the reactor and it is important that this experience be fully incorporated into ongoing safety management. Similarly, the operation of the arrangements for physical security should be reviewed at this time'.

Periodic safety reviews will be required every ten years hence.

'Safety culture in operating OPAL needs constant attention, as it does in operations of all hazardous industries. I have included a licence condition requiring a safety culture program and safely climate surveys from time to time.'

The licence and statement of reasons is available at http://www.arpansa.gov.au/rrrp.htm.