Kimba nuclear waste dump proposal is in breach of International Atomic Agency Safety Guide

Susan Craig Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA, 9 Aug 18 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL IS IN BREACH OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC AGENCY GUIDE ON TWO COUNTS.

UNDER PARAGRAPH 2.22 AT PAGE 12 STATES:

2.22 In the classification scheme set out in this Safety Guide, low level waste is waste that is suitable for NEAR SURFACE DISPOSAL. This is a disposal option suitable for waste that contains such an amount of radioactive material that robust containment and isolation for limited periods of time up to a FEW HUNDRED YEARS are required.

This requirement is pretty much copied into the ARPANSA Guide under the heading of LOW LEVEL WASTE (LLW) at page 13 in Section 3.2

WITH RESPECT TO INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WASTE THE IAEA GUIDE UNDER PARAGRAPH 2.28 AT PAGE 14 STATES:

2.28 Intermediate level waste is defined as waste that contains long lived radionuclides in quantities that need a greater degree of containment and isolation from the biosphere than is provided by NEAR SURFACE DISPOSAL. Disposal in a facility at a depth of between a FEW TENS AND A FEW HUNDREDS OF METRES is indicated for ILW.

Again practically the same description is given on page 15 of ARPANSA Guide under the heading of INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WASTE.

As both IAEA and ARPANSA clearly say BOTH LLW and ILW has to be “near surface disposal” and certainly not above ground as proposed by the Department on behalf of the federal government.

The IAEA promotes adherence to and implementation of international legal instruments on nuclear safety adopted under its auspices. https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/