First Return of Reprocessed Intermediate Level Waste to ...–Extension of ANSTO Comcover insurances...
Transcript of First Return of Reprocessed Intermediate Level Waste to ...–Extension of ANSTO Comcover insurances...
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
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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
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• 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
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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
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Operational Readiness
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Operational Readiness
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Operational Readiness
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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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