Browsing by Author "Griffiths, H"

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    The scientific basis for future management options of the Little Forest legacy site
    (Australasian Radiation Protection Society, 2017-08-08) Griffiths, H
    From 1960 to 1968, the former Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC) disposed of radioactive waste at Little Forest, near its Lucas Heights research facility on the southern periphery of Sydney. The waste was disposed of in a series of trenches, following the international practices which were used at that time for the disposal of low-level solid and liquid wastes. The successor to the AAEC, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) controls and manages the site through continuous care, maintenance, surveillance, monitoring and research activities at the site, through which ANSTO has contributed to international research on such legacy disposal sites. Over the period since operations ceased there has been intermittent subsidence of the soil covering the trenches due to voids developing in the buried wastes, this has led to a mobilising effect known as the ‘bathtub effect’ which has been seen at other legacy trench sites. This has been described as a process in which the waste material has degraded, producing voids within a disposal trench and subsequent subsidence of the overlying soil, enabling entry of surface water into the trench. As the soil surrounding the trenches is sufficiently impermeable, the trenches filled with water. Any overflow of water from this ‘bathtub’ has the potential to distribute radionuclides derived from the wastes directly across the surrounding ground surface, Following such events, which have led to localised, low levels of surface contamination, further soil cover has been added, which has proved to be an effective remediation. In July 2016, the LFLS became the first site identified as a Legacy site under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act. A condition was placed on this licence to develop a plan to address the arrangements for managing the wastes and the facility over both the medium and long-term. The management plan needs to be sufficiently well developed, with contingency plans identified, to cope with foreseeable changes in Australia’s radioactive waste management policy. ANSTO has commenced a research project at LFLS to enable the assessment of possible management options including continuing the current regime of maintenance and monitoring, in-situ remediation, or exhumation. This presentation will describe the scientific basis being applied to the options analysis and decision-making with the aim of informing an Environmental Safety Case which substantiates the preferred option.
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    Synergies between security and safety at ANSTO
    (Australiasian Radiation Protection Society, 2011-10-16) Griffiths, H
    Nuclear and radiological safety and security are inextricably linked - failures in one area almost inevitably lead to consequences in the other. Both are also affected by perceptions of risk. However, despite the similarities, the two disciplines have tended to operate separately. Safety and Security are two separate assurance functions within ANSTO. This presentation will describe the ways in which the two roles are working together to provide a coherent, robust and enabling system that will promote an integrated safety and security culture within the organisation, while meeting the Regulatory requirements of both ANSO and AQPANSA.