First Return of Reprocessed Intermediate

Level Waste to Australia

Dr Therese Donlevy 26 April 2016

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Background on Spent Fuel Shipments and

Reprocessing

Why Interim Storage at ANSTO

Communications

Intergovernmental Working Group

Transport Planning

Regulatory Approvals

Safety and Security

Operational Readiness

Questions

Overview

Loading HIFAR Spent Fuel

for Shipment

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Australia’s research reactors:

– The 10 MW HIFAR reactor operated from 1958 – 2007 for radioisotope

production & research

– The 100kW MOATA Reactor operated from 1961 to 1995 for research

purposes

Decision by Federal Government in 1997 to ship all spent fuel

overseas for processing into a suitable waste form.

ANSTO’s Spent Research Reactor Fuel

FOUO

Savannah

River, US

3 shipments

Dounreay,

Scotland, UK

2 shipments

La Hague,

France

4 shipments

to US

Lucas Heights, Sydney

9 spent fuel shipments

sent overseas between

1963 - 2009 HIFAR Research Reactor MOATA Research Reactor

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ANSTO Spent Fuel Shipments

1963 Dounreay 150 FA

1996 Dounreay 114 FA

1998 US SRS 240 FA

1999 COGEMA 308 FA

2001 COGEMA 360 FA

2003 COGEMA 344 FA

2004 COGEMA 276 FA

2006 US SRS 330 FA

2009 US SRS 159 FA

2281 Fuel

Assemblies in 9

shipments

(assessed under

EPIP Act from 1996)

Waste from

reprocessing of 1288

spent HIFAR fuel

elements to be

returned from France

The intermediate

level waste must

leave France by

December 2015 Dec 2015 AREVA ILW Return

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Spent Fuel Management –

Leading the Way

• ANSTO (Australia) has NO LEGACY SPENT FUEL from

HIFAR and Moata reactors

• OPAL Spent Fuel will be shipped for reprocessing on a

regular basis

• First OPAL Spent Fuel shipment scheduled for 2018

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What was the benefit?

• Radioisotope production for health

– Molybdenum-99: Technetium-99m

– Iodine-131

• Neutrons for Science

– Materials investigations

• Southern hemisphere leadership in research reactor

operation

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Spent Fuel Reprocessing ANSTO’s spent fuel reprocessed in combined batches with other

spent fuel to remove Uranium and Plutonium (La Hague, France).

ANSTO to receive radioactive equivalence of waste from

reprocessing of 1288 spent fuel assemblies.

– 20 canisters of vitrified waste within a Type B container utilised

internationally for such operations.

– An ISO container containing 6 cemented drums of lower activity

technological waste.

– Waste is Intermediate Level Waste (ILW i.e. not heat generating), not High

Level (HLW).

Sellafield Vitrified Waste

Canister (CSD-U) Vitrified Waste Storage , La Hague Waste Management from

Spent Fuel Reprocessing, La Hague Spent Fuel for reprocessing,

La Hague

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Vitrified Intermediate Level Waste Spent fuel reprocessing waste is immobilised within a highly stable

borosilicate glass matrix.

– radioactive elements bound to glass-forming elements to form a homogeneous

waste product.

– Molten glass/waste mix poured into stainless steel canisters (CSD-U) & cooled.

– Canisters are welded closed and are ready for storage and transport.

– No possibility for any significant radionuclide mobility after a millions of years at

storage temperatures below 100oC.

Canisters are

loaded into a

TN81 Transport

and Storage

Cask

Vitrified Waste Canister

(CSD-U) TN81 cask in storage

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TN81 Dual Purpose Transport & Storage Cask

The TN81 is a certified Type B cask

which will be used for the transport and

storage of the vitrified waste (CSD-U

canisters).

Can be used for transporting spent fuel

& HLW (ANSTO waste is only ILW).

Type B Packaging functions:

– Remove heat

– Protect against impact

– Containment of the radioactive contents

– Provide gamma and neutron shielding

– Criticality prevention

– Hold the waste canisters in place

– Help with handling and tie-down

20 x CSD-U placed into TN81

170 L Total Volume

150 L Vitrified Waste Volume

500 kg Gross weight

0.43 m Diameter

1.34 m Height

Top shock absorbing cover

with aluminium flange

bolted inside

Primary lid

Transport ring (impact

limiter)

Bottom shock absorbing

cover

7.22 m Length

2.75 m Diameter

115 T

130 T in cradle/container

TN81 Cask

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Technological Waste From spent fuel reprocessing - comprises gloves, overalls, laboratory

glassware, plastic and small process equipment such as valves.

– Radioactivity is orders of magnitude less than that of vitrified waste and does not

require the same protective packaging level.

Waste

compacted

inside steel

drums &

cemented.

Six CBF-C2 containers are

arranged in a metal frame and

placed in IP2 certified ISO

shipping container for secure

transport.

Cemented drums are

placed inside shielded

cement over packs for

transport and storage

(CBF-C2).

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Safety Record

Proven nuclear transport safety record

– More than 20 000 shipments of used fuel and high-level wastes since

1971 (over 80 000 tonnes).

– No accidents in which a Type B transport cask containing radioactive

materials has been breached or has leaked.

Defence in depth for ILW in the TN81

– Stable glass waste form

– Welded stainless steel CSD-U canister

– 20 cm thick steel TN81 cask

– Cask manufactured to Type B requirements

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Why Interim Storage at ANSTO?

• Multi-year process for acceptance, siting, construction and

regulatory approval of National Repository and

Intermediate Level Waste Store

• Definite return date 2015 – no postponement

• Government request to ANSTO for Interim Storage

– Proven experience in managing ILW

– Supporting infrastructure to securely manage the ILW

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Interim Waste Store (IWS)

• Public Works Approval

• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

Act Approval

• ARPANSA Facility Licence for Siting and Construction

then Interim Storage

FOUO

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Interim Waste Store (IWS)

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Australia’s returning Waste – First

Communications 2012

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Two key communication themes

running in parallel

1. Promote outcomes and benefits of

nuclear science and ANSTO’s work

with a focus on nuclear medicine.

2. Transparency about the waste

returning from France

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Planning Pre-

Announcement Announcement

Ongoing

Stakeholder

engagement

Waste Return

logistics

Ongoing

Stakeholder

engagement

March March - April

2012 2012 2012 - 2015 2015 2016 2012

5 Strategic

documented plans to

deal with each

stakeholder group

Ratified and

endorsement internally

and development of

clear consistent

messaging

Brief key local, state

and federal MPs

Brief shadows & local

community

stakeholders

Explain project -

meaning for community,

Aus, International

community & ANSTO

Identify and engage

with select media and

key politicians

ILW exclusive website

increase ANSTO’s

profile

Informing staff, local

community, general

public and media

Australia is a

responsible global

citizen. We benefit and

we understand the

responsibility

Assist Govt. in taking

the lead on

announcement

Engage all media

Prep to update

message

Be transparent

Regulatory

engagement

Be responsive to

media & stakeholder

needs

ANSTO is capable

of safety managing

the waste on behalf

of Australia

Remember we have

enjoyed the benefits

Reinforcing the

established and proven

benefits of nuclear.

Safety of transportation

internal case studies

Communication and

consultation is a key

part of logistics

planning

ANSTO safely handles

and transports nuclear

materials every day.

Continuous and

reassuring safety

messages with

stakeholders locally and

nationally

Reinforce ANSTO’s

position as interim

storage

ANSTO is temporarily

managing the waste

for Australia

Legislation prohibits

ANSTO from being the

national waste store

for Australia

April

Managing Reputation Risk

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With benefits comes by-products

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Ensure ongoing Government support

• Change of Government

• All levels of government clearly

understand ANSTO’s role and

the value it delivers

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Informing and engaging external

audiences

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Educating a new generation of

informed stakeholders

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Communications

• Long term Communications project 2012 - 2015

• Stakeholder mapping

– Local government (briefing packages, face-to-face)

– Federal government (ministerial and other briefs)

– Public (news articles, public briefings)

– Internal to ANSTO and tenants

– Non-government groups (e.g. Greenpeace)

• Public Website Information http://www.ansto.gov.au/NuclearFacts/Managingwaste/Returnof

waste/index.htm

• Joint announcements around AREVA maritime transport

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A long term engagement campaign

to inform the community

1 May 2012 6 December 2015

31 months

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Communications - Transport

• Specific notices for dates but no details of reason

– RMS Traffic Alert re road closures

– VMS advertising road closures

– Public notices for Port Kembla harbour closure

• General notices for return by end of December 2015

– News articles

– Briefings (local councils along potential route(s))

– Public website

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Long term engagement

with a broad audience

Reached over 63 million people in 37 months

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Managing stakeholder interest on its arrival

• 115 radio stories, plus

859 syndications

• 48 online stories

• 26 stories in print,

including two front page

stories

• 64 television news

stories, plus 427

syndications.

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Communications Outcome

• Mainly positive

– ANSTO is the best place for ILW management

– Government needs to progress the National Repository

and Store

– It’s OUR waste; We must manage it responsibly

– Waste arises ultimately from production of life-saving

radiopharmaceuticals

• Some negative

– Highly radioactive therefore dangerous to the public

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Intergovernmental Working Group Safe and secure transport of ILW from Port Kembla to ANSTO

ANSTO

Minister for Industry

Premier of NSW

NSW Emergency Services

NSW Police

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Intergovernmental Working Group

• Roads and Maritime Services

• Traffic Management Centre

• Fire and Rescue NSW

• Ambulance NSW

• NSW Health

• Port Authority of NSW

• NSW Ports

• NSW Police

• AFP

• ANSTO

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Intergovernmental Working Group

– NSW Police

FOUO

• Sutherland Local Area Command

– Operational Control

– Crime Manager

– Forward Commander - ANSTO

• State Planning Unit – MEIG

– Traffic Tactical Commander

– Public Order Tactical

Commander

– Project Planning

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Intergovernmental Working Group

– NSW Police • Wollongong Local Area Command

– Forward Commander - Port Kembla

– Convoy Traffic Commander, THPC Regional Highway

Patrol

• Marine Area Command

– 3 x Forward Commander Marine

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Transport – Planning Considerations • Port Operations

– Approvals for crane loading

– Contamination clearances of equipment

– Safety Briefings

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Transport – Planning Considerations • Oversize, heavy (radioactive)

cargo

– Securing of cargo

– Axle loadings (12-axle

trailer)

– Road, overpass and bridge

loadings (maximum and per

axle)

– Width of roads and turnings

– Speed of convoy

– Road closures (safety and

security)

FOUO

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Transport – Planning Considerations

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Transport – Planning Considerations

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Transport – Planning Considerations

• Prior notice to Port Kembla Harbour users – recreational fishers

• Minimisation of disruption to road users

– Low traffic density

• Choice of date

• Choice of time

• Avoid other Special Events

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• Transport within ANSTO

– Smaller trailer (7-axle and width)

– Gantry crane transfer of TN81

– Road loading assessments

– Safety briefings

FOUO

Transport – Planning Considerations

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FOUO

Transport – Planning Considerations

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Other Considerations

• Contractor Insurances – void when dealing with Class 7

dangerous goods (radioactives)

– Extension of ANSTO Comcover insurances

– Extension of Commonwealth Deed for Nuclear Liability

– Additional arrangements for port holding companies

• Definition of Workplace under WHS Act 2012

– Port

– Roadways

– ANSTO

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Regulatory Approvals

• Road, Maritime Services (route and cargo)

• Traffic Management and Control Plan

• ARPANSA Validation of TN81 for transport in Australia

• ARPANSA Import Permit

• AMSA Validation of TN81 for transport in Australia

• ARPANSA Transport Safety (safety entire operation from

arrival at port to arrival at ANSTO) – Shipment Approval

• ARPANSA Transport Security

• Facility Licence for the Interim Waste Store

• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

Act Approval – for transport of ILW from reprocessing

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Radiation Safety • Waste form

• Transport/Storage container

• Numerous radiation contamination checks between

France and Australia

– Before and after loading waste to TN81 in France

– Before and after loading TN81 to trailer and ship in

France

– In ship on arrival in Australia

– Before and after loading to trailer

– After offloading from trailer to Gantry and Interim

Waste Store

• Dosimeters for proximity workers

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Security vs Transparency

• Disclosure where possible

• Details kept ‘need to know’ for as long as possible

• Items that would be public knowledge anyway e.g. name

of ship – disclosed

It’s a balancing act

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Operational Readiness

• Familiarity / awareness of process for the project team

• Communicate responsibilities & manage expectations: all

internal and external stakeholders involved

• Training: staff sent to Zwilag to witness TN81 handling,

subject matter experts invited to ANSTO

• Practice, practice, practice: To-scale mock-up items built

• Review work instructions

• Dedicated staff: approval from line managers important to

ensure availability for training etc

• Preparation: early delivery enable inventory checks and

set up prior to cask arrival

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Operational Readiness

• Heavy crane lift (over 100 t)

– From trailer

– Across store

– Set-up for Interim Storage

• Dummy Cask Lifts

FOUO Unclassified

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Operational Readiness

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Operational Readiness

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Operational Readiness

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FOUO Unclassified

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Thanks

• NSW Emergency Services

• NSW Police

• Australian Federal Police

• NSW Ports

• Port Authority of NSW

• Toll Project Logistics

• Tutt-Bryant Heavy Lifting

• Gillespies Cranes

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Thanks

• Waste Operations

• Engineering and Capital Projects

• Safety and Reliability Services

• Nuclear Operations

• Radiation Protection and Health Physics

• Site Services – Facilities Management

• Government and International Liaison

• External Communications

• Security and Safeguards

• + apologies for those not mentioned here

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Questions

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