Regulating uranium Edit Master text styles Second level The EPA - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority Click to edit Master title style Regulating uranium • Edit Master text styles • Second level The EPA and the community • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Presentation to the NSW Legislative Council State Development Committee August 2019 Keith Baldry Director Science and Information keith.baldry@sa.gov.au www.epa.sa.gov.au 16/08/2019 1

About me Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles Amongst other things… • Second level • Windscale Pile reactor decommissioning (where the British weapons • Third level grade plutonium was made) • Fourth level • Maralinga nuclear weapons test site remediation • Fifth level • Regulation of the legacy sites at Radium Hill and Maralinga 16/08/2019 2

Who regulates radiation? Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level Environment • Third level Health • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 3

It’s not the numbers Click to edit Master title style 20 millisieverts all good • Edit Master text styles • Second level 0.01 millisieverts hmm not sure • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 4

Why the public doesn’t trust us Click to edit Master title style Local • Edit Master text styles issues • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Other countries Other sectors Enduring Catastrophes 16/08/2019 5

The trust gap is quickly filled Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 6

What are the features of a regulator that might build trust? Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level Represent the • Third level community • Fourth level • Fifth level Expert Involve the World’s community highest standards Leadership 16/08/2019 7

Click to edit Master title style Independence • Edit Master text styles Environment Radiation • Second level • Third level Minister • Fourth level EPA Board for Environment • Fifth level and Water Radiation Protection Committee EPA EPA Chief Executive Chief Executive Where regulatory independence has been criticised: Fukushima, BP Gulf of Mexico 16/08/2019 8

Click to edit Master title style Legislation that is in the public interest • Edit Master text styles The objectives of a regulatory framework and the regulator should have the interests of the public as its principle focus • Second level • Third level South Australian Environment Protection Act 1993 South Australian Radiation Protection • Fourth level that the use, development and protection of the and Control Act 1982 • Fifth level The Minister … must, in exercising and environment should be managed in a way, and at a rate, that will enable people and communities to provide for discharging powers, functions and duties under this Act … endeavour to their economic, social and physical well-being and for their health and safety ensure that exposure of persons to that proper weight should be given to both long and ionising radiation is kept as low as reasonably achievable … short term economic, environmental, social and equity considerations that all reasonable and practicable measures are taken to protect, restore and enhance the quality of the environment When the interests of the public was not put first: Maralinga nuclear weapons testing 16/08/2019 9

Click to edit Master title style Legislation that is in the public interest • Edit Master text styles …is also in the operator’s interest Social ial licen cence ce • Second level Global bal reputat tatio ion • Third level Keepin ing corn rner-cu cutters tters out t of the market et The public demands and deserves: • Fourth level • Fifth level • Approvals and hold points • Industry best practice benchmarking • Strong enforcement options with significant penalties • Transparent reporting – routine and incidents • Financial assurances or bonds 16/08/2019 10

Expertise Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 11

Click to edit Master title style Standards • Edit Master text styles Commonwealth – State – International Atomic • Second level ARPANSA EPA Energy Agency (IAEA) • Third level • Fourth level Fundamentals for IAEA Safety Radiation Protection • Fifth level Protection Against Fundamentals SF-1 and Control Act 1982 Ionising Radiation F-1 Codes for Radiation IAEA Safety Standards Authorisations Protection GSR Part 3 with conditions 16/08/2019 12

Standards (governance) Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles COAG Health Council • Second level • Third level Health Ministers Advisory • Fourth level Council (AHMAC) • Fifth level Australian Health Protection ARPANSA Principal Committee (AHPPC) Radiation Health Committee Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) (RHC) National Directory Codes for South for Radiation Radiation Australian State te repres resen enta tatio tion Protection (NDRP) Protection legislation 16/08/2019 13

Accountability Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • The operator has the prime responsibility for safety • Second level • Regulators must be visible and accessible • Third level • Decisions and documents must be available for scrutiny • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 14

Transparency Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 15

Community engagement Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 16

Time Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 17

Competent response capability Click to edit Master title style • ‘There’s only one in a million chance of an accident’ is no longer • Edit Master text styles acceptable • Second level • Government needs to tell the community what could go wrong, no • Third level matter how unlikely, and what the response will be • Fourth level • Fifth level • If it does happen, we get only one go 16/08/2019 18

Click to edit Master title style Transport (the most important issue?) What our regulatory framework seeks to achieve • Edit Master text styles • Second level • World’s best standards for uranium transport • Third level • Operators meet state regulatory requirements (safety, environment) • Fourth level • Fifth level • Commonwealth requirements are met (security, exports) • Clarity of responsibilities • Framework can accommodate new entrants and interstate operators • An incident can be managed • Public has access to information • Regulation is commensurate with risk (+10%) 16/08/2019 19

Transport Click to edit Master title style No. TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT PLAN 3 Documentation (work procedures, plans, training modules, registers) • Edit Master text styles 4 Key Contacts 6 Regulatory obligations, permits and approvals • Second level 7 Stakeholders (within company, Government, key third parties) 8 Company functions and responsible roles • Third level 9 Information on the materials transported 10 Risk assessment • Fourth level 11 Transport information • Fifth level 11.1 Shipment notification procedures 11.2 Pre-departure procedures 11.3 Vehicles 11.4 Loading of vehicles 11.5 Transport drivers 11.6 Unscheduled stops 11.7 Communication with owner 11.8 Delays to departure 11.9 Transport route 11.10 Alternative routes 11.11 End of transit procedures Incident response – managing incidents and spills 12 13 Incident reporting 14 Security 15 Post shipment reporting requirement 16 Education and training 17 Public education and information / engagement A ASNO approved transport routes B Responding to a UOC incident 16/08/2019 20 C Equipment for incident response

Click to edit Master title style Transport review Uranium Transport Steering Committee and working group • Edit Master text styles • Second level • EPA • Third level • Department for Energy and Mining • Fourth level • Fifth level • Premier and Cabinet • Country Fire Service • Metropolitan Fire Service • SA Police • ASNO --------------- • Operators (BHP, Heathgate, Cameco) • WA 16/08/2019 21

Click to edit Master title style Leadership • Edit Master text styles • Second level Department for Energy Environment Protection Making this • Third level relationship work and Mining Authority (EPA) • Fourth level • Fifth level Program for environment protection and EPA licence rehabilitation (PEPR) Optimal safety, environmental and business outcomes 16/08/2019 22

Thank you Click to edit Master title style • Edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level 16/08/2019 23