The scientific basis for future management options of the Little Forest legacy site

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dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, Hen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-05T02:33:29Zen_AU
dc.date.available2022-05-05T02:33:29Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2017-08-08en_AU
dc.date.statistics2022-04-22en_AU
dc.description.abstractFrom 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.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationGriffiths, H. (2017). The scientific basis for future management options of the Little Forest legacy site. Paper presented to the APRS2017 Conference: "Science and the art of radiation protection: broadening the horizon", Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, Wollongong, NSW, 6-9 August 2017. (pp. 53-54).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate9 August 2017en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameAPRS2017 Conference: 'Science and the art of radiation protection: broadening the horizon'en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceWollongong, NSWen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate6 August 2017en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination53-54en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/13114en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralasian Radiation Protection Societyen_AU
dc.subjectANSTOen_AU
dc.subjectRadioactive waste disposalen_AU
dc.subjectGround releaseen_AU
dc.subjectNew South Walesen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectRadiation monitoringen_AU
dc.subjectSoilsen_AU
dc.subjectSurface watersen_AU
dc.subjectRadionuclide migrationen_AU
dc.subjectEnvironmenten_AU
dc.titleThe scientific basis for future management options of the Little Forest legacy siteen_AU
dc.typeConference Abstracten_AU
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