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Australian Nuclear Science & Technology OrganisationANNUAL REPORT 1996-1997

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CONTACT DETAILS

ANSTO

Lucas Heights Science and

Technology Centre

New Illawarra Road. Lucas Heights,

New South Wales 2234

Postal Address:

ANSTO

Private Mail Bag 1

Menai, NSW 2234

Telephone: (02) 9717 3111

Facsimile: (02) 9543 5097

Telegrams: ANSTO, Sydney

Email: [email protected]

InternetHome Page: http://www.ansto.gov.au

Guided tours of the ANSTO site and laboratories are

available for individuals, groups and schools

at no cost.

Bookings and information:

Telephone: (02) 9717 3168

Edited by Jeane Balcombe, ANSTO

Design by Laura Edwards, ANSTO

Photography by Tim Tapsell,Paul De Sensi and ANSTO staff

Printing by Nadley Press, Kirrawee

ISSN 1031 6655

AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE& TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION

LUCAS HEIGHTS SCIENCE 8 TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, NEW ILIAWARRA RD., LUCAS HEIGHTS, NSW

PRIVATE MAIL BAG 1 MENAI, NSW 2234General telephone (612)9717 3111Facsimile (612)95436907

22 September 1997

The Hon. Peter McGauran MPMinister for Science and TechnologyParliament HouseCanberraACT 2600

My dear Minister

In accordance with Section 63M(1) of the Audit Act 1901,1 am pleased to present theAnnual Report of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation forthe period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997.

Audited Group financial statements for the year ended 30 June 1997 are disclosed inthe Report. Also included in accordance with Section 63M(2) of the Audit Act 1901 isa Report by the Auditor General.

Yours sincerely

S M RichardsChairman

C O N T E N T S

ii CHAIRMAN'S LETTER TO THE MINISTER

iv ANSTO'S MISSION

iv ENABLING LEGISLATION

iv STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE

v ORGANISATION CHART

vi MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

1 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

7 CORE BUSINESS AREAS7 International strategic relevance of nuclear

science and technology17 Core nuclear facilities operation and

development25 Application of nuclear science and

technology to the understanding of naturalprocesses

31 Treatment and management of man-madeand naturally occurring radioactivesubstances

37 Competitiveness and ecologicalsustainability of industry

51 Organisational development and support

62 PERFORMANCE INDICATOR INFORMATION

66 SITE SAFETY

72 BUSINESS OPERATIONSTracerco

73 ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONSAINSE

75 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

101 APPENDICES1. Equality of employment opportunity2. Freedom of information3. Corporate Governance4. Functions of the Organisation under the

ANSTO Act5. Index of compliance with reporting

guidelines

111 GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS ANDABBREVIATIONS

112 INDEX

A N S T O ' S M I S S I O N

ANSTO's Mission

ANSTO's Mission consists of four components:

to provide expert scientific and technical adviceacross the nuclear fuel cycle to government andto support Australia's national strategic andnuclear policy objectives;

to operate large nuclear science and technologybased facilities in Australia and overseas for thebenefit of industry and the Australian researchand development community, includingpostgraduate students and staff in highereducation;

to undertake research on specific topics to advancethe understanding of nuclear science and thenuclear fuel cycle; and

to apply resulting technologies and other relevant,unique capabilities to focused research anddevelopment and other scientific activities toincrease the competitiveness of Australianindustry and improve the quality of life for allAustralians.

Enabling Legislation

The Australian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation (ANSTO) is a body corporateestablished by the Australian Nuclear Science andTechnology Organisation Ad 1987. The functions andgeneral powers of ANSTO are set out in Part 2,Sections 5 and 6 of the Act. See also 'Functions ofthe Organisation under the ANSTO Act', Appendix 4of this Report.

Statement of Compliance

This report is written according to the reportingguidelines provided for statutory authorities inRequirements for Departmental Annual Reports,published by the Department of the Prime Ministerand Cabinet in 1994 and updated in February 1996.An index of compliance in provided in Appendix 5.

O R G A N I S A T I O N C H A R T

Minister for Science & Technology

Executive Director

PFoiiSBFHeleWGarnTgtt

Deputy Executive Director

Research Project'Management

Engineering

Environment

Physics

Nuclear Technology

Safety

Radiopharmaceuticals

Executive Secretm y

•-J

PublicGovernment a Public Affairs

Corporate Services

IBusiness Collaboration

Information Management

M E M B E R S OF T H E B O A R D

Ralph Ward-Ambler

Chairman, 5 July 1996 - 31 December 1996. CompanyDirector, reappointed on 5 July 1996 until 31 December 1996.

Dr Max Richards

Deputy Chairman, 5 July 1996 - 31 December 1996

Chairman from 1 January 1997

Mike Codd

Deputy Chairman from 1 January 1997

Company Director, appointed on 5 July 1996 until 30 June1999.

Professor Helen Garnett

Executive Director, Member of the Board by virtue of Section9(1) of theANSTOAct.

Beryl Ashe

Trustee of a Superanuation Fund, reappointed on 5 July 1996until 30 June 1997.

Dr Tony Gregson

Primary producer, Company Director, reappointed on 5 July1996 until 31 December 1998.

Associate Professor Fred Khafagi

Nuclear Medicine Physician, appointed on 14 May 1997 until31 December 1999.

Greg Taylor

Secretary, Department of Industry, Science and Tourism,appointed on 5 July 1996, resigned on 31 January 1997.

VI

C H A I R M A N ' S R E P O R T

This is my first report as Chairman of ANSTO andthe 45th Annual Report of ANSTO or itspredecessor, the Australian Atomic EnergyCommission.

Net Parliamentary appropriation for ANSTO for1996-97 was $59.79 million, 8.8% less than in1995-96. Operating revenue from independentsources totalled $27.25 million, slightly less than in1995-96. Expenditure to maintain and upgradecapital stock was $14.48 million.

ANSTO is responsible for operating, maintaining andkeeping safe a number of major nuclear facilities ona National Facilities basis. They include the researchreactor HIFAR, the National Medical Cyclotron (NMC)and the Australian National Tandem Accelerator forApplied Research (ANTARES). The quality andperformance of these facilities defines ANSTO'sability to meet its obligations.

The 1995-96 Chairman's report explained the issuessurrounding HIFAR, not least the urgent need for adecision regarding the reactor's refurbishment orreplacement if a hiatus in the provision of nuclearservices and products was to be avoided. All optionswere presented to Government during the year andthe decision to replace HIFAR at Lucas Heights,subject to environmental approvals, has just beenmade as this Report goes to press. Meanwhile, thefacility has continued to operate satisfactorily withinits limitations. HIFAR's quality management systemwas certified by an independent accreditation bodyas complying with the NZS/AS-1SO 9001international standard.

During the year, major upgrades were made to theNMC production facilities. ANSTO staff designed,built and installed two new beam lines for theirradiation of Single Photon Emission ComputedTomography and Positron Emission Tomographytargets. The NMC already complies with the qualityassurance guidelines of the Therapeutic GoodsAdministration and the Codes of GoodManufacturing Practice; it continued to developquality systems for accreditation under theAustralian/New Zealand ISO 9000 Series.

Several major elements of ANTARES were upgradedduring the year to improve both the energy stabilityand the focal properties of the particle beam. The

Dr Max Richards

combined number of operational days provided forion beam analysis to university researchers (for boththe 3MV Van de Graaff accelerator and ANTARES)was 200, up 25% over the previous year.

The body of the Annual Report documents the usesto which these facilities have been put byuniversities, industry, medicine and Government. Inparticular $12.34 million revenue was generatedfrom the sale of radiopharmaceuticals, a growingbusiness for ANSTO and Australia that is dependenton the replacement of HIFAR.

Expertise and credibility in nuclear safety is one ofthe major benefits to Australia of the experienceaccumulated by ANSTO staff in operating theseNational Facilities. ANSTO is Australia's solerepository of this knowledge and expertise, and the

C H A I R M A N ' S R E P O R T

uses to which it is put are many. During the year itresulted in:

• involvement by some 60 ANSTO staff in IAEAexpert missions or training courses in the region

• a successful workshop on nuclear safety culture,which was hosted by ANSTO in Sydney under theauspices of the International Conference forNuclear Cooperation in Asia

• utilisation by Government of ANSTO's specialistresources in health physics to provide radiationmonitoring assistance and an emergencyresponse capability for visits of nuclear poweredwarships to seven Australian ports

• important contributions by ANSTO's scientists toan international study of the radiological situationon Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls, which wasinitiated following cessation of French nucleartesting in the South Pacific

• recognition of ANSTO's expertise in radioactivewaste immobilisation as demonstrated by the USDepartment of Energy decision to shortlist synrocas an option for the immobilisation of excessweapons grade plutonium. The formal decision onthe selected waste form is expected in the secondhalf of 1997.

Following the thorough Mission Review of theorganisation that was completed in December 1994,ANSTO has made considerable progress inrestructuring its policies and practices in support ofindustry, academia and government. Further stepstaken during 1996-97, consistent with reviewrecommendations, included:

• the development and presentation of a StrategicPlan for the period 1996-1997 to 1999-2000

• the establishment of a Technical AdvisoryCommittee (TAC) of the Board. The Board now hasadvice, independent of management, coveringthree important areas: safety, through the SafetyReview Committee and the Nuclear Safety Bureau;financial and compliance matters, through theBoard Audit Committee; and research, through theTAC.

During the year the Minister, the Hon. PeterMcGauran, announced a number of changes to the

ANSTO Board. Ralph Ward-Ambler completed ahighly productive term as Chairman at the end of1996. Beryl Ashe completed her term on 30 June1997 and her excellent contribution to the Board'sbusiness is acknowledged. Professor Fred Khafagi,who has a strong nuclear medicine background,was appointed to the Board for a 3-year term fromMay 1997.

The Board records its appreciation of the leadershipshown by the Executive Director, Professor HelenGarnett, and the continued dedication and effort ofall staff.

Dr Max RichardsChairman

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ' S R E P O R T

During 1996-97 ANSTO released a new StrategicPlan for the period till June 2000. This plan, whicharose from a lengthy process of consultation asreported last year, builds on the successes andlessons learnt from dealing with industry and othercustomers in recent years.

The Strategic Plan clearly identifies ANSTO's visionas being 'for nuclear science and technology to beaccepted as benefiting all Australians and for ANSTOto be acknowledged as the premier nuclear scienceand technology organisation within the Asia PacificRegion'. To strive toward this vision requires ANSTOto develop new knowledge in areas where nuclearscience and technology has the potential forgenerating future socio-economic benefits, as wellas using existing knowledge and know-how todeliver quality services and products to ourcustomers and to enable effective management of awide range of industrial, environmental and medicalproblems.

In accordance with the Strategic Plan, ANSTO hascontinued to focus its activities in six core businessareas.

Knowledge development and strategic research

To underpin the development of the core sciencebusiness areas, fulfil its mission and strategicallyposition itself for the future, ANSTO has directed themajority of its strategic research at seven topics,which were launched during the year. The topicsare:

International cooperative research to enhance safety ofnuclear facilities and safeguards for nuclear materials

- developing ways of verifying the non-proliferationof nuclear materials and characterising andmonitoring the level of safety of nuclear activities.This includes work to enhance the region'scapability to predict the consequences of releases ofnuclear material into the atmosphere.

Environmental dynamics - application of nucleartechniques

- applying nuclear techniques to develop andvalidate models to predict the fate and behaviour ofterrestrial material in the marine environment.

Professor Helen Garnett

Global climate change - application of nucleartechniques

-applying nuclear techniques to assess andunderstand global climate changes over the past500 000 years and possible changes over the next100 years.

Radioactive waste management

- developing advanced technologies for handlinglow, intermediate and high level wastes, anddeveloping knowledge to underpin radioactivewaste disposal strategies.

Ecological sustainability of the mining and mineralindustries

- developing new processes to separate uraniumand other radionuclides from solution for


applications in the milling of uranium ores and thetreatment of radioactive waste streams.

- developing technologies to reduce pollutantrelease from mine sites and minimise their impacton the environment.

Radionudides and radiopharmaceuticalsfor the 21stCentury

- developing processes and products that useradionuclides to enhance the effectiveness of thehealth, petrochemical and power industries. Thefocus is on developing radioparticulates for pre-clinical evaluation of liver metastases andsynovectomy, optimising specific industrialprocesses; and developing new radiopharmaceu-ticals for use in neurology and oncology.

Design and process of novel interfaces

- developing technologies based on nuclearanalytical procedures; manipulating structures andinterfaces to design and process novel materials foruse in functional devices.

Technical Advisory Committee

During the year, the first meeting of the TechnicalAdvisory Committee (TAC) was held to review theorganisation's program of strategic research. TheCommittee consists of four people, two fromAustralia and two from overseas, who are recog-nised as science and technology leaders within theacademic, industrial and scientific communities. TheTAC was established by the Board to advise it on:

• whether the topics being researched are relevant,given the mission and core science businesses ofANSTO

• whether the projects being undertaken arenationally or internationally important and arerealistic, given the resources of ANSTO, and

• whether the results of the research work are ofworld standing, timely, relevant and cost effective.

Knowledge application

Achieving our vision also requires us to apply ourknowledge and know-how to applied research anddevelopment, to our work with industry andGovernment agencies and to our provision ofproducts and services. Over the past year some of

the highlights of this work, additional to thosementioned in the Chairman's report, were:

International strategic relevance of nuclear science andtechnology

• Continued involvement in the IAEA RegionalCooperation Agreement (RCA) for research,development and training related to nuclearscience and technology. Overall, 28 IAEA fellowswere trained in Australia during the year.

• Application of ultra-sensitive measurement ofenvironmental samples using accelerator massspectrometry (AMS) in support of the IAEA'snuclear safeguards program.

Core nuclear facilities operation and development

• Certification of HIFAR quality managementsystems as complying with the NZ/AS-ISO 9001International Standard for quality management.

• Operation of the HIFAR research reactor for 7250hours at an average power of 10.04 MW.Excluding 13 scheduled shutdowns for fuelchanges, HIFAR was available for 94% of thescheduled operating time.

• Irradiation of more than 8000 targets for researchand to produce medical and industrial radio-isotopes. Over 20,000 mineral samples were alsoirradiated for commercial analysis. Income ofclose to $2 million was gained from irradiating820 batches of silicon for overseas electronicscompanies.

• Upgrades to the National Medical Cyclotron (NMC)production facilities. Two new beamlines wereinstalled for irradiating targets used to produceSingle Photon Emission Computed Tomographyand Positron Emission Tomographyradiopharmaceuticals.

• Provision of ultra-sensitive analysis by theANTARES AMS facility of the long-lived radio-isotopes, carbon-14, beryllium-10, aluminium-26,chIorine-36 and iodine-129 for Australian andinternational researchers. More than a thousandradiocarbon samples were analysed. Highlightsincluded dating Aboriginal rock art from theKimberley region of Western Australia and the'Iron Crown' of Charlemagne, the first Holy RomanEmperor.


Application of nuclear science and technology to theunderstanding of natural processes

• Completion of a project to study atmospheric fineparticles and gases in the Jakarta region. Theresults will be used to guide Indonesianauthorities in assessing the effectiveness ofpollution control programs.

• Development and trial of methods to predictoutbursts of gas and coal dust in undergroundcoalmines using radon detectors.

Treatment and management of man-made and naturallyoccurring radioactive substances

• Successful operation of a pilot plant todemonstrate the process flowsheet for the Kintyreuranium project in Western Australia.

• Development of the synroc concept forimmobilising high-level radioactive waste,including the collaborative program with theJapan Atomic Energy Research Institute, continuedon schedule. Results of joint research providedindependent confirmation of synroc as anadvanced second generation waste-form.

• Continuation of studies with the French AtomicEnergy Commission on waste-form durability andthe application of cold-crucible technology toprocessing synroc, including its use for thesolidification of high level radioactive wastesludges at Hanford in the United States.

• Signing of contracts with the Lawrence LivermoreNational Laboratory in the United States todemonstrate synroc for the immobilisation ofweapons-grade plutonium.

Competitiveness and ecological sustainability of industry

• Completion of a collaborative project to developremedial technologies for the detoxification ofpolluted harbour sediments. Removal ofcontaminant metals to regulatory levels wasachieved for all sediment types tested.

• Successful demonstration of a new solventextraction process for recovering nickel and cobaltfrom solution at the pilot plant scale.

• Demonstration in Montana in the United States ofa process for oxidising and immobilising arsenic inwaste streams from industrial and mining

activities. The resulting solid waste satisfied thestandard US leach test for landfill disposal.

• Completion of a study for the Office of theSupervising Scientist on the extent of acid minedrainage in Australia.

• Development with an international team ofexperts of an overburden management plan forthe Grasberg copper/gold mine in Irian Jaya,Indonesia.

• Irradiation of up to 15 million pupae ofQueensland fruit fly each week for NSWAgriculture in ANSTO's gamma irradiation facility(CATRI).

• Increased sales of radiopharmaceuticals andradioisotopes for medical, industrial and researchuse. Export sales to markets in New Zealand,Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea and Chinaincreased.

• Production of photovoltaic film coated windowmodules to a size of 10 cm by 10 cm. Potentialapplications include installation on high risebuildings where the windows could supplementthe electricity supply.

• Assessment of pressure equipment operatingunder cyclic conditions for Pacific Power usingANSTO's non-destructive testing expertise.

• Confirmation by the National Association ofTesting Authorities (NATA), Australia, of ANSTO'saccreditation as a mechanical testing laboratory.

• Provision of 39 radiation protection courses to346 personnel from 115 organisations in industryand government.

• Provision of occupational health and safetycourses on working in confined spaces, safety inlaboratories and occupational hygiene throughoutAustralia.

• Assessment of reliability and maintainability insupport of designs for light-rail passenger vehiclesfor the Kowloon-Canton Rail Corporation.

Organisational development and support

• ANSTO is continuing to strive to develop its staffand improve the effectiveness and efficiency of itsprocedures. Over the past year senior

C O R E B U S I N E S S A R E A S

management have participated in managementdevelopment programs and a cross-section ofstaff have benefited from teaming andcommunication programs. A new enterpriseagreement lasting till February 2000 was alsoconcluded, providing benefits for both the staffand the organisation.

Other achievements were:

• Savings in warehouse operations achievedthrough increased reliance on just-in-timepurchasing principles.

• Introduction of staff courses tailored to theorganisation's strategic goals in projectmanagement teamwork, leadership and settingobjectives.

• Further implementation of internal quality systemaudits to identify areas for process, product andsafety improvement.

• Installation of a Silicon Graphics multi-processormachine to replace the Fujitsu vector computer.

• Upgrade of the site computer connection to theAustralian Academic Research Network (AARNet),resulting in faster and more reliable services.

• Implementation of a voice mail system that willsupport 500 users.

Major research facilities development

Synchrotron

The Australian Synchrotron Research Program, afunded major national facility, was founded on1 July 1996. ANSTO is the managing agent for thisprogram, which is a partnership between ANSTO,CSIRO, the University of Sydney, Monash University,the University of Melbourne, the University of NewSouth Wales, the University of Queensland, theAustralian National University and, as an associate,the University of Canberra.

Through this program, access to X-ray beams isprovided at state-of-the-art synchrotron facilities inthe United States and Japan for research scientistsand graduate students.

Reactor

been directed at providing data and information tofacilitate Government consideration of the need foran ongoing reactor facility in Australia, themanagement of spent fuel and regulatoryarrangements for nuclear and radiation facilities. Asthis report goes to press, we at ANSTO have beendelighted by the Government's decision to replaceHI FAR with a modern research reactor, to invoke astrategy for spent fuel management and to form anew regulatory authority, the Australian RadiationProtection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA) toregulate nuclear facilities and radiation practices inCommonwealth establishments.

The future

ANSTO's efforts over the forthcoming year will bedirected at completing the required assessmentsunder the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals)

Act 1974 for the replacement reactor facility andspent fuel management, and at developing, inconsultation with the scientific community acrossAustralia, the detailed specifications needed for thereplacement reactor tender documentation.

The Government's decision to replace the reactorwill enable ANSTO to focus on its mission, secure inthe knowledge that it is supported by Government.With renewed vigour and determination, all atANSTO will work to ensure Australia benefits fromthe peaceful uses of nuclear technology, expertiseand understanding in fields as diverse asenvironmental management, industrialdevelopment, medicine, new materials andeducation.

Professor Helen GarnettExecutive Director

A significant amount of effort over the past year has


INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC RELEVANCE OFNUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

ANSTO provides a radiationmonitoring service duringvisits of nuclear-poweredwarships to Australian ports.Seven visits were monitoredduring the year.

Inset: Dr KeithKetheeswaran (left),Managing Director ofQuality Assurance Services,Australia, presenting anAS/NZS ISO 9001certificate to ANSTO'sExecutive Director, Prof.Helen Garnett and QualityAccreditation ProjectManager, Mr Bob Me Aneny.

Driver: Government

OBJECTIVES:

(a) To provide government with quality scientific and technical advice on the nuclearfuel cycle, including reactor operations, reactor safety and safeguarding of nuclearmaterials.

(b) To make significant contributions to national and international research anddevelopment in selected fields associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, particularly reactorand radiation safety and safeguards, and be recognised as a leader in the applicationof knowledge in these fields. These activities will be commensurate with theGovernment's nuclear non-proliferation and other nuclear-related interests.

CORE B U S I N E S S AREAS

OUTCOMES

• As a result of receiving prompt technical adviceon nuclear issues, ANSTO stakeholders in thenational interest area, notably Governmentdepartments, were able to make informedassessments and undertake policy initiatives,particularly in the areas of nuclear safety,radioactive waste management and liability fornuclear damage.

• Significant contributions were made to both theInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) andthe Organisation for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment's (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency(NEA) programs. A total of 60 ANSTO staff wereinvolved with IAEA expert missions or trainingcourses in the Region. Visits by 28 IAEA Fellows toANSTO and other Australian institutions werecoordinated. As well, ANSTO experts participated,by invitation, in seminars, coordinated researchprograms, workshops and expert meetings ofrelevance to Australia.

• ANSTO maintained a prominent role in the IAEARegional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) between17 regional Member States as recognised by itsleadership of projects in radiation protectioninfrastructure, nuclear medicine and industrialapplications of radioisotopes and radiationtechnology. The Director, Government and PublicAffairs, is the Australian RCA National Coordinatorand was invited to take the lead in developingpolicy positions on future RCA managementarrangements. Significant contributions weremade towards enhanced radiation protection inthe region. The Phase 3 RCA program in radiationprotection for 1998-2002 was developed by atask group from the region, chaired by ANSTO'sDirector, Safety, who was elected as chairpersonof the coordination group for implementing theprogram. ANSTO's expertise in radioisotope andradiation technology resulted in the organisationplaying a prominent role in RCA projects onradiation sterilisation and the use of isotopes inindustrial, medical and environmentalapplications.

• ANSTO continued to reinforce the network ofbilateral and multilateral links with its counterpartorganisations in the Asia/Pacific region, thereby

facilitating greater understanding of nuclearsafety, radioactive waste management, researchreactor utilisation and other areas, and theirimpact within the region.

ANSTO hosted a successful workshop in Sydneyon nuclear safety culture under the auspices ofthe International Conference for NuclearCooperation in Asia. This was a new initiative forthe region and was attended by representativesfrom eight countries. It allowed sharing of lessonslearned by countries with developed nuclearprograms and resulted in an increasedunderstanding of practical steps that can be takento enhance safety culture in all facilities.Agreement was reached on the next stage of theprogram, which will focus on research reactors.

ANSTO continued to coordinate Australia'sparticipation in the IAEA's International NuclearInformation System (INIS). During the year ANSTOworked with the INIS Secretariat of the IAEA todevelop more cost effective methods of creatingthe database, thus improving the efficiency ofINIS-based services for the benefit of Australianusers. The database is now available throughANSTO at a fraction of its previous cost. Byparticipating in the Nuclear Information Systemproject, ANSTO also supported regional efforts toestablish intra- and cross-country computernetwork links. These links will enable users in theRCA Member States to contact individuals andinstitutions and access computer-based resourcesfor research collaboration, information exchange,technology transfer, resource-sharing andcommunication.

ANSTO's specialist resources in health physicswere utilised by the Commonwealth Governmentand the State Governments to provide radiationmonitoring assistance and an emergencyresponse capability for visits of nuclear-poweredwarships to seven Australian ports. ANSTO staffparticipated in port validation exercises in Darwin,Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Port Kembla andGladstone. Technical experts were provided forfour meetings of the Visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear)during the year.

Regular inspections demonstrated that ANSTOhad met its national and international safeguards


commitments associated with nuclear materialsheld on the site. ANSTO continued to support theIAEA's nuclear safeguards monitoring program byanalysing environmental samples using its ultra-sensitive Accelerator Mass Spectrometry facility.

• ANSTO scientists made important contributions toan international study of the radiological situationon Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls, which wasinitiated following cessation of French nucleartesting in the South Pacific. Staff participated inthe IAEA sampling program at the atolls, analysedselected samples using accelerator massspectrometry and were involved in assessing theimpact of the underground tests.

• Expert advice provided by ANSTO engineersenabled the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Authorityto solve a technical problem with its 3MW TRIGAresearch reactor.

ACTIVITIES AND OUTPUTS

Services to support customers andstakeholders

ANSTO is Australia's national nuclear researchorganisation and so has a key role in makingavailable its specialised scientific and technicalexpertise to its stakeholders, particularly ingovernment. During the year, extensive informationon topical nuclear issues was provided togovernment bodies, organisations, the media andmembers of the public. Power reactor and fuel cycleprograms in Asian countries, where the most rapidnuclear power developments are taking place,continued to attract interest, as did safety andradioactive waste issues.

A review of developments in overseas nuclearpower and nuclear fuel cycle programs was issuedevery quarter. Briefings were prepared on specificsubjects of interest and for Australia's bilateralnuclear consultations with France, Japan and theRepublic of Korea. Incidents at facilities operated byJapan's government-owned nuclear fuel cyclecompany led to the suspension of operations at twoprototype power reactors and the Tokaireprocessing plant. The investigations into thecauses of these incidents, as well as the impact onthe public acceptance of nuclear power in Japan, arebeing closely monitored.

ANSTO prepared detailed technical advice for theGovernment on issues relating to the future of theHIFAR research reactor, ongoing strategies for themanagement of the research reactor spent fuel, andthe establishment of a national regulatory body forCommonwealth activities involving the use ofradioactive materials and radiation. ANSTOcontinued to locate a liaison officer within theCanberra offices of the Department of Industry,Science and Tourism to assist with the organisation'scontacts with Departments.

A submission was made, and evidence presented, tothe Senate Select Committee on Uranium Miningand Milling. The submission outlined ANSTO'sexpertise and its application in optimising uraniummilling operations and assessing and remediatingthe environmental impacts of mining, and also itsperspective on international nuclear developments.A submission was also made to the Department ofPrimary Industries and Energy in response to itsGreen Paper on Sustainable Energy Policy forAustralia. This highlighted the major positive rolealready played by nuclear power in Australia'senergy and greenhouse gas balances through itsuranium exports for electricity production.

Funds from the Government's Nuclear ExpertiseSteering Group established to sustain Australia'snuclear technology capability were used by ANSTOto provide the IAEA with the services of a safetyexpert. He participated in expert missions, includingsome to former Eastern bloc countries, andcontributed to the development of an incidentreporting system for research reactors. Theexperience gained has significantly assisted ANSTO'sresearch into safety culture. The same source offunding allowed an ANSTO chemical engineer to beattached to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Sellafield, forsix months to gain experience in operating andmodelling complex solvent extraction processes.

ANSTO presented a paper at the Nuclear IssuesSeminar in Fiji, which was organised by the SouthPacific Forum Secretariat in March. One of theobjectives of the seminar was to provideinformation to South Pacific countries on theprocess, which commenced in April, for the reviewof the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in the year2000.


National science initiatives

The Executive Director continued to be a member ofthe Coordination Committee on Science andTechnology and the International Science andTechnology Advisory Committee.

ANSTO made submissions to the Mortimer Reviewof Business Programs for Investment, Innovationand Export, and the Stacker Review ofArrangements for Publicly Funded Science andTechnology in Australia.

Overseas representation

As a key part of its international linkages, ANSTOmaintains specialised representation through threeCounsellor (Nuclear) posts located in the Australiandiplomatic missions in Vienna, London andWashington DC. These posts facilitate technicalcontacts with the IAEA and OECD/NEA and provideessential linkages between ANSTO and thosegeographical regions most active in nuclear scienceand technology. Dr Maurice Ripley replaced Mr PeterDuerden as Counsellor (Nuclear) in Vienna inSeptember.

International cooperative research to enhancesafety of nuclear facilities and safeguards fornuclear materials

Three major strategic research and developmentprojects were initiated to advance Australia'scontribution in this area.

The first project, 'Environmental Indicators ofNuclear Activity', seeks to develop a methodologyfor remotely establishing the type of nuclear activitybeing conducted at nuclear installations and istherefore closely linked with other initiatives on thesafeguarding of nuclear materials. The work willextend ANSTO's capabilities in the accelerator massspectrometry area and relies on an actinidebeamline currently under construction.

The second project, 'Safety Culture', will establishmethods for assessing and improving safety cultureat nuclear installations. A safety culture workshopconducted in Sydney in early 1997 served tocontrast and compare the various approaches tonuclear safety culture in the region. It also served toraise ANSTO's profile in the region and to underlineits safety history. A follow-up workshop on research

reactor safety culture is planned for early 1998.

A third project, Radiological Consequence Model', isfocused on developing a capability to model andpredict the consequence of a postulated, regional,nuclear incident. The model is specifically designedfor the tropical and subtropical regions of South-EastAsia and will address the shortcomings inradiological information within this region. Theproject relies on collaboration with the AustralianBureau of Meteorology.

International Atomic Energy Agencyinvolvement

The International Atomic Energy Agency is the keyinternational agency responsible for developingrecommended international standards in the fieldsof nuclear safety and radioactive wastemanagement, for administering a system ofinternational safeguards designed to measurenational compliance with non-proliferationcommitments, and for making available the benefitsof nuclear science and technology to IAEA MemberStates. ANSTO provides the principal technical basefor Australia's relationship with the IAEA.

ANSTO officers participated in a wide range of IAEAexpert and consultant meetings on management ofresearch reactor spent fuel, radiation protection,radioactive waste management, the implementationof the International Convention on Nuclear Safetyand the development of the Joint Convention onthe Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safetyof Radioactive Waste Management. ANSTO'sDirector, Materials, was appointed to chair theAgency's Radioactive Waste Technology AdvisoryCommittee (WATAC) and its Director, Governmentand Public Affairs, is a member of the Agency'sStanding Advisory Group on Technical Assistanceand Cooperation (SAGTAC).

ANSTO officers provided extensive assistance to theIAEA study of the radiological situation at the Frenchnuclear testing sites at the Mururoa and Fangataufaatolls. These South Pacific atolls were sites foratmospheric and underground nuclear weaponstests by France from 1966 to 1996. The study isbeing conducted under the guidance and directionof an International Advisory Committee ofindependent scientific experts, including scientists

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from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.ANSTO's Executive Director is a member of theInternational Advisory Committee for the study anda senior ANSTO scientist chairs the Task Groupdealing with the long-term environmentalassessment of the atolls.

In July, a marine scientist from ANSTO was amember of the IAEA team which tookenvironmental samples from the Mururoa andFangataufa atolls and nearby environs. ANSTO staffused accelerator mass spectrometry to analyse thelong-lived fission product, iodine-129, in water andbiological samples. ANSTO is one of only a handfulof laboratories in the world that can carry out thesesensitive measurements. Scientific assessmentsbased on the results of the sampling program andmodelling of radionuclide migration are welladvanced. The international study is due to reportits findings in 1998.

ANSTO officers participated in a number of IAEACoordinated Research Programs (CRPs). ANSTOhosted the second Research Coordination Meetingof the CRP on the application of non-destructivetesting and in-service inspection of researchreactors. The meeting was held in Sydney andattended by participants from the IAEA, Austria,Australia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, andthe United Kingdom. The aim of the CRP is toprepare guidance documentation for the in-serviceinspection of research reactors.

ANSTO continued to participate in the CRP onapplied research on air pollution using nuclear-related analytical techniques. The main objectives ofthis program are to support the use of nuclear andnuclear-related analytical techniques for researchand monitoring studies on air pollution; to identifymajor sources of air pollution affecting participatingcountries with particular reference to toxic heavymetals; and to obtain comparative data on pollutionlevels in urban and rural areas for a wide range ofcountries.

The final Australian report to the CRP onradionuclide transfer from air, soil and freshwater tothe food chain of man in tropical and sub-tropicalenvironments was submitted. The ANSTOcontribution identified the limited extent of datacurrently available for tropical regions of Australia,

Papua New Guinea and the South West Pacificislands. Field sampling identified bioconcentration ofradioactive caesium by tropical fruits as a potentialconcern. Experimental studies showed that default,temperate zone factors for strontium and caesium infreshwater fish may be too conservative whendetermining radiological dose from tropical species.

ANSTO began participating in the CRP on thetreatment of liquid effluents from uranium minesand mills during and after operation. ANSTO'scontribution to this program includes research intoimproving the efficiency of water treatmentprocesses, including the use of low-pressuremembrane processes to remove specificcontaminants (radionuclides and heavy metals) fromprocess and treated liquors. An ANSTO scientistattended the first meeting of this topic andpresented a summary paper describing currentpractice in Australia.

ANSTO continued to support the AustralianRadiation Laboratory in the CRP on sitecharacterisation techniques used in environmentalrestoration activities. The main thrust of theAustralian contribution is in characterising thenature of the plutonium contamination at theformer British nuclear weapons test site atMaralinga, South Australia, and assessing the long-term risks, after site remediation, to Aboriginalpeople leading a traditional lifestyle.

ANSTO staff participated in a range of IAEA expertand consultant meetings. These included an IAEAexpert working group drafting a new safety practiceon the provision of operational radiation protectionservices at research reactor facilities; a specialists'meeting on the application of the concepts ofexclusion, exemption and clearance implication forthe management of radioactive materials; and atechnical committee preparing guidelines forradioactive material transport.

IAEA Regional Cooperative Agreement activities

ANSTO continued to be involved in the IAEARegional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for Research,Development and Training Related to NuclearScience and Technology, although Australianfunding limitations restricted involvement intechnical activities. The RCA has evolved torepresent the most significant component of

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Australia's nuclear cooperation with regionalcountries. The 25th anniversary of its establishmentis being celebrated in 1997.

As the RCA National Coordinator, the Director,Government and Public Affairs, represented Australiaat the General Conference Meeting of RCA membersin Vienna in September 1996, and at the 18thAnnual Working Group Meeting held in Myanmar inMarch 1997. At these meetings, Australia proposedarrangements for strengthening regionalmanagement arrangements for the RCA.

ANSTO continued to play an active role in the majorAustralian-sponsored project on 'The Applications ofIsotopes and Radiation Technology to RegionalDevelopment with Special Reference to Industry andNuclear Medicine'. Through the Australian Agencyfor International Development (AusAID), Australiahas provided financial support totalling $1.5 millionto this project, which will be substantially completedat the end of 1997. There are three distinctcomponents in this project, which is responding tomajor needs in the Region. One component isfocused on the training of radiation protection,particularly the achievement of uniform standardsacross the Region, as well as improving theknowledge and expertise of users of radioactivematerials in industry and enhancing the regulatoryframeworks within the RCA Member States for thecontrol of radioactive materials. Twenty fivemodules are being produced for technical personnelin distance learning format.

The second component has an emphasis onfurthering the application of nuclear techniques toindustrial and environmental problems andunderpinning the experience and training achievedin earlier support provided in this field by Australia.National seminars were arranged in 11 RCA MemberStates to provide national organisations. Industryand relevant agencies with information on hownuclear techniques could be applied to specificnational problems and priorities.

The third component of assistance has been in thefield of nuclear medicine and has concentrated onthe training of nuclear medicine technologists, usingopen and distance learning techniques. The aim hasbeen to provide a program of distance education sothat practising technologists in the Region could

achieve a higher standard and uniformity ofeducation in nuclear medicine technology. This hasenabled a more effective use of existing nuclearmedicine technology, promoted furtherdevelopment of techniques in nuclear medicine andenhanced the quality of health care in the Region.Following completion of the project, it is anticipatedthat the nuclear medicine community within RCAMember States will be able to continue their owntraining programs.

ANSTO continued to participate in the major RCAproject on 'The Use of Isotopes and Radiation toStrengthen Technology and Support EnvironmentallySustainable Development', which is part funded bythe United Nations Development Program. Thisproject was substantially completed by the end of1996 and an ANSTO officer participated in theTerminal Project Review meetings held in Myanmarand Jakarta. ANSTO staff attended the NationalCoordinators' Meeting for the sub-project on nuclearanalytical techniques (NAT), which took place inBeijing in September. It was combined with thesecond research co-ordination meeting for theregional Coordinated Research Program on appliedresearch on air pollution in the Asia-Pacific Regionusing nuclear-related analytical techniques. ANSTOofficers attended an RCA Expert Advisory Groupmeeting in Hyderabad, India, on the application ofchemometric and advanced statistical techniques inthe evaluation of data produced by the NAT sub-project and similar environmental monitoring andresearch programs. The meeting overlapped with anIAEA Symposium, also in Hyderabad, on'Harmonisation of Health-related EnvironmentalMeasurements Using Nuclear and IsotopicTechniques'.

ANSTO's Director, Safety, is the RCA NationalCoordinator in Radiation Protection. In February hechaired the Project Formulation Meeting for Phase 3of the RCA program in radiation protection for1998-2002, which was held in Korea.

An RCA Regional workshop on distance learning inradiation protection was held at ANSTO in Marchand attended by participants from 13 MemberStates. The workshop allowed the participants toreview the draft distance learning materials, and toassist in formulating trials of the materials, whichare to be conducted in the Philippines, Thailand,

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Mongolia, New Zealand and Australia in 1998.

ANSTO participated in an IAEA/RCA externaldosimetry intercomparison organised by the JapanAtomic Energy Research Institute. Results of thesecond phase of the intercomparison indicated thatANSTO's personal dosimetry service complies withinternational standards and is among the mostaccurate of the 32 national laboratories in terms ofaccuracy of measured doses.

ANSTO hosted the National Coordinators' Meetingfor the planned RCA project, Radiation Sterilisationof Tissue Grafts'. Milestones, resources andoutcomes for the next project phase weredeveloped by 25 representatives from 16 countries.ANSTO also provided technical support at an RCAnational training course, held in the Philippines, onradiation sterilisation technology.

ANSTO continued to support the activities of theRCA project on developing a nuclear informationsystem, which was initiated to assist the sharing ofinformation resources among RCA Member States.ANSTO provided fellowship training in informationmanagement, supplied libraries of the nuclearresearch institutes in the Asia-Pacific Region withAustralian publications and ANSTO staff gavelectures. An ANSTO representative participated inexpert group meetings to evaluate the outcomesand prepare the final report on the activities andachievements of the project. A new project proposalfor 1997-2001 on sustainable nuclear informationnetworks in RCA Member States was drafted andsubmitted for approval. The new project wouldfocus on establishing a stable and sustainablecommunication and information infrastructure at thelevel of the national nuclear research institutes. Itwould be enhanced by training and co-operativeagreements aimed at ensuring long term andefficient usage of the information infrastructure.

IAEA International Nuclear Information System

ANSTO is the Australian contact point for theInternational Nuclear Information System (INIS).During the year, 685 new Australian nuclear-relatedliterature items were indexed and abstracted forinclusion in the IAEA's INIS database. Since thesystem was launched in 1970, some 26,000documents, authored by Australian scientists or

published in Australia, have been included.

ANSTO staff provided the IAEA with advice andassistance in simplifying guidelines and mechanismsfor INIS input and participated in the first phase of aproject to revise the INIS record structure andcataloguing rules.

ANSTO's INIS liaison officer attended a consultativemeeting of INIS liaison officers in Vienna.Recommendations of this meeting includedredefining the INIS record structure and subjectscope, developing guidelines governing futuredistribution of the INIS CD-ROM, providing full textINIS non-conventional literature such as reports,standards, patents, and pre-prints, and possiblyoffering hybrid CD-ROM/Web access to INIS andmore frequent updates. The copyright and licensingimplications for INIS database production anddistribution were also discussed.

As an INIS member, ANSTO has exclusive rightsover the production, distribution and sale of the INISCD-ROM in Australia. By undertaking the distributionon a cost-recovery basis, ANSTO has made theresource available to a large spectrum of Australianusers at an affordable price.

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency involvement

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has amembership drawn from countries advanced innuclear developments. The NEA facilitatesexchanges of information on nuclear developmentsin addition to promoting research on a range ofnuclear safety and fuel cycle issues. Participation inNEA activities enables ANSTO to keep abreast ofcurrent trends and developments. ANSTO has directaccess to the OECD document database in Paris andcontributed to OECD/NEA programs on nuclearsafety, radiation protection and public health,storage of spent fuel, nuclear science, andradioactive waste management. ANSTO'sCounsellors (Nuclear) in London and Viennaparticipated in several meetings of NEA StandingCommittees and joint IAEA/NEA meetings.

An ANSTO representative attended the secondmeeting of the OECD Megascience Forum NeutronSources Working Group in Interlaken, Switzerland.The Working Group adopted the European Science

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Foundation report Scientific prospects for neutronscattering with present and future sources' as theauthoritative OECD statement on the subject.

Bilateral cooperation

ANSTO is party to a number of bilateral cooperativearrangements including nuclear and scientificinstitutes in Japan, Korea, China, the United States,the United Kingdom, France and Russia.

As part of the Australian-France collaboration innuclear biomedicine there were reciprocal scientificexchanges between experts from ANSTO and theService Hospitalier Frederick Joliot in Orsay, France,to initiate joint research on the development ofradiopharmaceuticals for the study ofneurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson'sdisease. Several meetings were held with the FrenchAtomic Energy Commission within a project fundedby the Department of Industry, Science and Tourismon environmental applications of accelerator massspectrometry, the most recent being in Paris inOctober. The main aim of this collaboration is theapplication of long-lived radioisotopes to studies ofnatural analogues of possible radioactiverepositories, with special reference to synergiesbetween the NEA Analogue Studies in the AlligatorRivers Region project led by ANSTO and the Okloproject, an investigation of a naturally occurringfission reactor that existed in Africa about 1.8 billionyears ago.

ANSTO continued cooperative activities withinstitutes in the United States, Japan, France andChina in research and development activitiesassociated with synroc waste managementtechnology and advanced ceramics.

Collaboration was maintained with the KoreaAtomic Energy Research Institute, particularly in thearea of research reactor utilisation.

ANSTO hosted visits by two senior officers of theIndonesian National Atomic Energy Agency, BATAN,to advance collaboration between ANSTO andBATAN in the areas of waste management, safetyinfrastructure and environmental applications ofnuclear science and technology.

ANSTO is represented on the Australian SteeringCommittee for Cooperation in Science andTechnology between Australia and Indonesia. The

Committee acts as a catalyst for strengtheningscience and technology cooperation betweenAustralia and Indonesia and determines the rolesand goals of a range of collaborative activities,currently in the fields of aerospace, automotive,biotechnology and telecommunications.

ANSTO was successful in its bid as a potentialsubcontractor to General Atomics in the UnitedStates for the design and construction of a multi-million dollar radioisotope production facility as partof a new nuclear research centre to be built for theOffice of Atomic Energy for Peace in Thailand. Thesuccess of this bid provides recognition of ANSTO'sleading position in radioisotope production in theRegion.

International Conference on NuclearCooperation in Asia

Australia continued to support the activities of theInternational Conference on Nuclear Cooperation inAsia (ICNCA), whose membership comprises eightNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Member States inour Region. The Australian delegation to the annualmeeting in Japan in March was led by ANSTO'sDirector, Safety. In January, ANSTO hosted an ICNCANuclear Safety Culture Workshop in Sydney.Overseas participants were from Japan, Republic ofKorea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, thePhilippines and Vietnam. The discussion sessionswere on the lessons being learned from safetyculture programs in the Japanese and Koreannuclear power industries and the IAEA, and howthese might be applied to strengthen safety culturein other nuclear activities. It was recommended thatan ICNCA workshop on safety culture in researchreactor operation be conducted in 1998.

ANSTO was represented in the neutron scatteringcomponent of an ICNCA workshop on researchreactor utilisation held in Jakarta. The ICNCAcooperation in neutron scattering is to continue,making use of facilities in China, Malaysia andKorea, as well as those at Serpong in Indonesia asin the past. ANSTO staff also participated in ICNCAspecialist workshops in the fields of public affairsand communications, and radioactive wastemanagement.

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Tokyo Nuclear Safety Conference

An ANSTO technical expert participated in theAustralian delegation, led by the Department ofForeign Affairs and Trade, to the Tokyo Conferenceon Nuclear Safety in Asia in November. TheConference, convened as an initiative of theJapanese Prime Minister, provided a useful forum forthe continuing development of regional cooperationon nuclear safety issues. Its themes were the safetyof nuclear power plants and management ofradioactive waste and liability in the case of nuclearaccidents. The second such conference, to be held inSeoul, is planned for October 1997.

Emergency planning

ANSTO responded to a Yellow Alert in Novemberwhen the National Emergency Plan for Satellite Re-entry (Complan-Spred) was activated by EmergencyManagement Australia (EMA) as a result of an out-of-control Russian satellite falling to earth.Subsequently ANSTO officers participated in an EMAmeeting to revise the Complan-Spred and assisted informulating clearer definitions of the roles of thevarious participating Government and Defenceagencies.

ANSTO officers also provided, assisted with andtested monitoring equipment mounted inDepartment of Defence aircraft to assess and refineAustralia's capability to detect radioactivedebris/ground deposition. This work took place atDepartment of Defence facilities in South Australia.

An ANSTO officer attended an EMA-sponsoredmeeting on National Disaster Mitigation Strategy. InApril and May an ANSTO officer participated in aNational Working Group to redraft the NationalHealth and Medical Research Council Code ofPractice on intervention in emergency situationsinvolving radiation exposure.

Radioactive waste management

ANSTO provided technical advice to GovernmentDepartments and participated in meetings todevelop an International Joint Convention on theSafety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safetyof Radioactive Waste Management. This has beendrafted to achieve and maintain a high level ofsafety worldwide in spent fuel and radioactive waste

management through the enhancement of nationalmeasures and international co-operation. It willensure that effective defences against potentialhazards to individuals, society and the environmentare taken into account during all stages of spentfuel and radioactive waste management. Adoptionof the Convention will be considered at a diplomaticconference in September 1997.

ANSTO officers continued to participate on theCommonwealth/State Consultative Committee onthe Management of Radioactive Wastes. ANSTOprovided technical advice to the Commonwealthregarding the selection of one region for detailedinvestigation from the eight regions identified aspossible sites for a national low level and short-livedintermediate level radioactive waste repository. Thestudy is being undertaken by the National Resourceand Information Centre. ANSTO is on record asstrongly supporting the early establishment of sucha repository.

Nuclear-powered warship visits

ANSTO provides a radiation monitoring serviceduring visits of nuclear-powered warships (NPW) toAustralian ports. A portable Early Warning System(EWS) was built in the early 1980s and while itcontinues to be highly reliable, it lacks theflexibility, data storage and communication abilitiesnow required. ANSTO was commissioned to buildand assemble new, fixed early warning systems fornuclear-powered warship monitoring. The newearly warning equipment will be commissionednext financial year. A field trip to HMAS StirlingNaval Base was undertaken in October to identifyany specific requirements related to installing newEWS instrumentation.

Seven NPW visits were serviced by ANSTO and fourVisiting Ships Panel (Nuclear) meetings attended.The VSP(N) Working Group made port validationvisits to Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, PortKembla and Gladstone. Emergency exercises wereconducted in all ports visited by NPWs this year.ANSTO officers actively participated in a major portevacuation exercise held at Fisherman Islands, Portof Brisbane, in September.

The NPW biennial meeting of Commonwealth andState Organisations was held at Mount Macedon,

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Victoria, in November. ANSTO officers participated inthe preparation and presentation of this workshopand an ANSTO officer chaired the scientific sessions.

Epidemiological study

ANSTO is participating in an international projectaimed at understanding the effects of exposure tolow levels of radiation. A project progress report onthe International Collaborative Study of Cancer Riskamong Radiation Workers in the Nuclear Industrywas presented to a study group of the InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer, in Lyons, France, inMarch. Medical and personnel dosimetry data inputfor ANSTO and CSIRO personnel was completed inMay.

Safeguards

The Australian Safeguards Office (ASO) conductedmonthly inspections and audits of ANSTO'S nuclearmaterials and facilities. IAEA safeguards inspectorsconducted four routine, quarterly inspections andtwo monthly inspections to verify ANSTO's nuclearmaterials. As a result of the size of ANSTO's currentinventory of HIFAR fuel elements, IAEA inspectorsincreased the frequency of inspections to a monthlybasis, commencing in April, in accordance with theIAEA's safeguards criteria for this class of nuclearmaterial. All inspections were consideredsatisfactory.

ANSTO continued to provide its in-ground spent fuelstorage facility for a trial of remote monitoringequipment as a contribution to the enhancement ofinternational safeguards. The trial is a cooperativeproject between ANSTO, the ASO and SandiaNational Laboratories in the United States,(representing the US Department of Energy).Monitoring equipment developed in Australia hasbeen added to the trial. The trial is expected tocontinue and include the IAEA Department ofSafeguards in the next phase.

ANSTO is involved in IAEA programs, supported bythe ASO, to develop new methods forenvironmental monitoring for nuclear safeguards.These procedures require the detection of long-livedfission products and actinide isotopes inenvironmental samples. Accelerator massspectrometry techniques are used to detect iodine-129 and actinide isotopes in the environment.

lodine-129 was measured for a round-robin inter-laboratory comparison exercise organised by theLawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Thelong-lived radionuclide iodine-129, a potentialsignature for reactor or reprocessing operations, wasmeasured in samples of biota, waters and sedimentsto develop reliable analytical methods forenvironmental monitoring in nuclear safeguards.The ANSTO measurements agreed with the averagevalues obtained by other laboratories.

An official from Uzbekistan spent a week at ANSTOin its Nuclear Safeguards Office. The visit was afollow-up to a two-week lecture and workshopcourse on nuclear material accountancy and controlin the Republic of Uzbekistan, which had been giventhe previous year as part of the AustralianSafeguards Assistance Program to the NewIndependent States of the former Soviet Union.

ANSTO was invited to contribute to a workshop onThe Status of Measurement Techniques for theIdentification of Nuclear Signatures' organised at theEuropean Joint Research Centre of Geel, Belgium, byESARDA, the European Union safeguardsorganisation. The ANSTO program on the use ofiodine-129 for environmental monitoring in nuclearsafeguards was presented at the workshop.

Ministerial and other VIP visitors

During the year, visitors to ANSTO included the HonTim Fischer MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministerfor Trade; the Hon Peter McGauran MP, Minister forScience and Technology; Senator Dr Bob Woods andSenator Christopher Ellison, ParliamentarySecretaries to the Minister for Health and FamilyServices; Mrs Danna Vale, Federal Member forHughes; Ms Marie Ficarra MLA, State Member forGeorges River; and Dr Francesco Catania, ConsulGeneral of Italy.

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CORE NUCLEAR FACILITIES OPERATIONAND DEVELOPMENT

RKMIM

Right Technician KevinThorpe works on ANSTO'siandem accelerator.

Inset: ANSTO's tandemaccelerator assisted in thedating of prehistoric rockpaintings in the Kimberleyregion of Western Australia.One of the paintings, in theBradshaw style, was found tobe at least 17,000 years old.

Drivers: Government, universities (through the Australian Institute ofNuclear Science and Engineering), other external customers andANSTO.

OBJECTIVES

To operate core nuclear facilities in Australia and overseas for the benefit of the

Australian research and development community and industry; and to enhance and

improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these core facilities in order to yield high

quality research, products and services. These facilities include the research reactor

HIFAR, the National Medical Cyclotron (NMC), the Australian National Tandem

Accelerator for Applied Research (ANTARES), the Australian National Beamline

Facility on the Photon Factory in Japan and the beamline facilities at the Advanced

Photon Source at the Argonne National Laboratory in the United States.

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OUTCOMES

• The major national nuclear research facility, theHIFAR research reactor, was available for 94% ofits scheduled available time to provide neutronbeams for research, produce radioisotopes formedicine and industry and irradiate materials forresearchers and industrial customers.

• HIFAR's quality management system was certifiedby an independent accreditation body ascomplying with the NZS/AS-ISO 9001international standard.

• HIFAR's irradiation service for mineral ore samplesand silicon produced an income of $2 million.

• ANSTO developed collaborative agreements withAustralian and overseas institutions to promotethe national and international recognition of theANTARES Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)facility. ANSTO played a key role in Quaternaryresearch and global climate science in Australia byproviding accelerator mass spectrometry analysisof radiocarbon and other long-lived radionuclidesto universities and other research institutions.

• The upgrade of the ANTARES tandem acceleratorto higher energy and more reliable operatingconditions broadened the range of research appli-cations and expanded the base of possible users.

• ANSTO was the leading proponent on thesuccessful Major National Research Facilitiesprogram proposal, which led to the establishmentof the Australian Synchrotron Research Program(ASRP). This was incorporated as an association inDecember, with ANSTO as the managing agent.The ASRP now provides a comprehensive rangeof synchrotron X-ray research capabilities forAustralian science in the fields of physics,chemistry, materials science, structural biology,polymer research, environmental science andgeophysics. The other members of the ASRP arethe Australian National University, the Universityof Sydney, the University of Canberra, theUniversity of NSW, the University of Melbourne,Monash University, the University of Queensland,and the CSIRO.

• Major upgrades were made to ANSTO's NationalMedical Cyclotron with the design and installationof two new beam lines, one for Single Photon

Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and theother for Positron Emission Tomography (PET)radioisotope production. The new beam lines arescheduled to begin operating in late 1997. Twonew SPECT hot cells were also installed. Theseenhancements will further improve the reliabilityof supply, allow easier maintenance and minimiseradiation exposure to staff.


HIFAR research reactor

Operation and utilisation

During the year the reactor operated forapproximately 7,250 hours at an average power of10.04 MW. Excluding the 13 scheduled shutdownsfor fuel changes (totalling 51 days), the reactor wasavailable for 94% of the scheduled operating time.

More than 8000 targets were irradiated in thereactor facilities for research and to produce medicaland industrial radioisotopes. The reactor was alsoused to irradiate over 820 batches of silicon targetsand over 20,000 mineral samples for commercialcustomers. The silicon targets are used in themanufacture of a wide range of products for theelectrical and electronics industries.

University projects funded by the Australian Instituteof Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) utilised383 instrument days, and internal ANSTO researchutilised 215 instrument days. ANSTO researchinvolving collaboration with university groups andtraining of PhD students utilised a further 161instrument days.

Maintenance and support

The development of the HIFAR quality system wascompleted during the year. The external accred-itation body, Quality Assurance Services Pty Ltd (thecommercial arm of Standards Australia), undertooka full systems audit in March and concluded that theHIFAR quality system met all requirements forcompliance with the NZS/AS-ISO 9001 InternationalStandard. ANSTO received formal certification of thequality system in May. In addition to satisfying therequirements for the HIFAR Authorisation, thecertification to the international standard has beenwell received by suppliers of silicon for irradiation inHIFAR.

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A project was initiated to upgrade the level of fireprotection. A number of fire fighting equipmentpoints were established throughout the reactorbuilding, cable penetrations between floor levelswere filled with fire resistant pillows to limit thespread of fires and a contract was placed for a veryearly smoke detection system for the control room.

As part of the HIFAR coarse control arm lifeextension program, fatigue and radiation damageissues were reviewed. The review included anassessment of the loads and vibration frequencieswhich the arms will experience over their proposedlife. It concluded that because the loads were solow, fatigue would not be of concern under normaloperating conditions.

Twelve new bearings for the control arms weremanufactured. The certification process requiredverification of raw materials used in themanufacture, in-process inspection of hardness, anddimensional and non-destructive testing of thebearing components.

A feasibility study for a major upgrade to HIFAR'spolar crane recommended modernisation of thecontrol system, replacement of the crane drives andrewelding of the crane track. Tenders were called forthe design and implementation of these proposals.A new welding procedure, developed and trialed byANSTO, was used by a contractor on the cranetrack, and this part of the crane upgrade wascompleted. The crane now operates more smoothly.

Reactor analysis

The consequences of loss of coolant flow accidentson HIFAR were reassessed. The results confirmedthe previous conclusion that, in the extremelyunlikely event of a failure to shutdown, there wouldbe no release of fission products from the fuel.

A flow visualisation system was installed on theANSTO water tunnel test rig. This will enablequantitative measurements of the flow field inmodels simulating HIFAR fuel elements andirradiation rigs. This facility will also provide ameans of validating computational fluid dynamics(CFD) simulations and provide results in complexgeometry not amenable to CFD.

The computer software used for simulating neutrontransport was upgraded by installing the latest

version of the Monte Carlo Neutral Particle code.This version also accesses the most recentinternational nuclear data. The graphical display ofresults from ANSTO's deterministic neutronicscomputations was enhanced by adding a plottingcapability with a graphical user interface.

Probabilistic Safety Assessment and RemainingLife Study

One of the main recommendations of the ResearchReactor Review in 1993 was to perform aProbabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) and RemainingLife Study (RLS) of HIFAR. A Technical ReferenceCommittee was set up by the Department ofIndustry, Science and Tourism to manage thesestudies. ANSTO's Director, Safety, is a member. Thework was awarded to PLG, a US-based companywith extensive experience in such studies. ANSTOstaff from different disciplines worked together toprovide the committee with the information neededby PLG.

The PSA/RLS performed on HIFAR is one of themost comprehensive studies ever performed on aresearch reactor. It covers potential equipmentfailures and includes the determination of relevantsafety criteria, as well as consideration of seismicand human factor issues. It is due for completion inlate 1997.

Neutron scattering

The neutron scattering group provided beam timeon five instruments to holders of 21 AINSE Researchand Training grants and four AINSE postgraduatestudents and assisted with data processing andinterpretation (544 instrument days in total).Collaborative research in areas of mutual interestcontinued with university groups. The majority ofAINSE work involves fundamental studies ofinteresting materials, such as high temperaturesuperconductors, giant magneto resistance materialsand catalytically active metal oxides. Some of thework, for example measurement of residual stress oranalysis of Portland cement, will benefit industry.

A neutron scattering workshop was organised byAINSE in October and attracted more than 50participants. This included a forum on the future ofneutron scattering, including neutron sources andinstrumentation.

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The upgraded 2TanA diffractometer became fullyoperational. Data from it were used in acollaborative project with Sydney University to solvea crystal structure which had previously defiedsolution using X-ray or neutron data. Data werecollected on the same material at a low temperature(60°K), using the newly commissioned cryogenicattachment of this instrument. It is expected that thedifferences between the two structures will revealrelationships between hydrogen bonding andthermal vibrations.

Work began on upgrading the Long WavelengthPolarisation Instrument (LONGPOL). The installationof new hardware and software and a digital signalprocessor was completed. The first supermirrorpolariser for the LONCPOL instrument made toANSTO's design at the Hahn-Meitner Institut, Berlin,and supported by Australian Research Councilinfrastructure funds, was received and tested. Apolarisation of 96% was achieved (previouspolarisation was -40%), and the reflectivity wasonly slightly below the predicted value. Theseimproved characteristics increase the quality andquantity of data available from this instrument,which has special applications in the areas ofmagnetic order, fluid dynamics in high temperaturesuperconductors and crystal field studies.

ANSTO, in collaboration with Australian universities,is in the process of adding the Small Angle NeutronScattering instrument (AUSANS) to the suite ofexperimental facilities available on HIFAR. The areadetector for AUSANS passed all preliminary testsand was filled with gas to design pressure. Theacquisition of the first two-dimensional test patternon the AUSANS area detector was a majorachievement for a multi-disciplinary team ofscientists, engineers, technicians and computerprogrammers. While the integration of the detectorinto the instrument hardware is in progress, variousaspects of the science made possible by the SANStechnique are being explored. An additional set ofmultilayers for the instrument was manufactured,using thin metal film technology, at BrookhavenNational Laboratory in the United States.

In collaboration with Newcastle University, andfollowing a suggestion from CSIRO, neutrondiffraction patterns were recorded from a number of

tetragonal zirconias fabricated by researchers fromthe Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Thework has led to a recognition of the structuralsystematics in tetragonal zirconias, and anunderstanding of the chemical forces determiningthe stability and structures of these industriallyimportant ceramics.

Commercial facilities for neutron transmutationdoping of silicon

ANSTO irradiates single crystals of silicon in HIFARfor overseas customers to enhance the electricalproperties of the silicon. Several modifications weremade to the existing facilities used for neutrontransmutation doping of silicon in HIFAR to enhancereliability and improve product quality. Thesechanges resulted not only in higher quality material,but also in safer, easier and more efficient operationof the facilities, and a further reduction of thealready low radiation doses to operating personnel.Two new facilities were commissioned, and acceptedby our customers, for routine operation.

As part of the silicon irradiation program, a largenumber of silicon wafers were annealed and theirelectrical resistivity checked as a quality assurancemeasure. A new, more compact and efficientmeasurement system was constructed to allowautomation of resistivity measurement.

All customers reported that irradiations were ofconsistently high quality and that lead times forreturn of shipments had been significantly reduced.

Radiation protection

The Nuclear Safety Bureau carried out an audit ofhealth physics at HIFAR and concluded that'radiation protection at HIFAR was observed to begenerally satisfactory'.

Health physics staff made significant progress inestablishing the angular response and neutrondetection capability of the ANSTOthermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) used tomeasure radiation doses to workers. This has led tomore accurate estimates of doses to HIFAR staff.

MOATA

The low power Moata research reactor was shutdown in 1995 and fuel and cooling water were

20


removed in 1996. During the year it was decidedthat Moata should be permanently decommissionedand a project management team was formed toplan and carry out this task. Three stages of decom-missioning are envisaged: post operational carewith fuel removed (current status), partial dismant-ling with continuing care, and complete dismantling.Work began on preparing a schedule for the plan.

ANSTO engineers have been looking at thefeasibility of including Moata fuel in a proposedHIFAR fuel shipment to the United States in 1998.Preliminary work showed that it would be possibleto include the Moata fuel with the shipment ofHIFAR fuel.

The National Medical Cyclotron

The National Medical Cyclotron (NMC) operated byANSTO, is a major national facility, providingisotopes for research, clinical evaluations androutine nuclear medicine procedures. It is located onthe site of Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,which it supplies with very short-lived isotopes suchas F18-fluorodeoxyglucose.

The NMCs two major commercial products, gallium-67, and thaIHum-201 are sold under the AustralianRadioisotopes (ARI) trademark to public and privatenuclear medicine centres throughout Australia andoverseas.

During the year, major upgrades were made to theCyclotron production facilities. ANSTO staffdesigned, built and installed two new beam lines forthe irradiation of Single Photon Emission ComputedTomography (SPECT) and Positron EmissionTomography (PET) targets. The new beamlines arescheduled to begin operating in the second part of1997. Two new SPECT hot cells were also installed.These enhancements will provide the capacity tomeet expected growth in demand, further improvethe reliability of supply, allow easier maintenanceand minimise radiation exposure to staff.

All PET cell door hinges were tested, using themagnetic particle test. This is a preventive measureagainst cell door failure and improves operationalreliability. Routine inspection of Faraday cupcomponents, copper targets and the water coolingsystem manifold was carried out.

Two additional SPECT laboratory cells wereinspected for conformance with specifications.Dimensional inspection of PET beam linecomponents and the solid target transfer duct werecompleted.

Research projects undertaken during the yearincluded the development of a methodology torecover copper-64 from the production processstreams. This was successfully trialed and smallquantities of the copper-64 isotope were producedfor use in research activities. Work also began on aproject to produce indium-111, which has diagnosticand therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine.

The NMC continued to develop quality systems foraccreditation under the Australia/New Zealand ISO9000 series. It already complies with the qualityassurance guidelines of the Therapeutical GoodsAdministration and the Codes of GoodManufacturing Practice.

Accelerators for scientific and industrialresearch

ANTARES tandem accelerator

Several major elements of the accelerator structurewere upgraded during the year to improve both theenergy stability and the focal properties of theparticle beam. The most significant upgrades werethe installation of new accelerator tubes and arecirculating gas stripping system. As aconsequence, operation at terminal voltages of eightmillion volts is now possible. Modern componentshave replaced outdated technology in all key areas,increasing reliability and reducing downtime.Additional computer interfacing, improved beamdiagnostics and expanded safety systems simplifiedoperation and enhanced safety. Work began oninstalling a new Alphatross ion source, which willproduce high-intensity beams such as alphaparticles, not available with the existing sputtersource. The source is expected to be operationalnext year. The new Pelletron charging system,expected to be installed in late 1997, will enhancethe terminal voltage stability, which is of vitalimportance to the heavy ion microprobe and theAMS actinide beamline.

21


Accelerator mass spectrometry

The ANTARES Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)facility performs ultrasensitive analysis of the long-lived radioisotopes carbon-14, beryllium-10,aluminium-26, chlorine-36 and iodine-129.Radiocarbon analysis is the most frequently usedcapability. During the year, ANSTO usedAMS/carbon-14 dating to measure the ages of adiverse range of specimens from Italianarchaeologists including ancient human bones,charcoal and ancient artefacts. It established acollaboration with the Japanese National Institutefor Resources and Environment (NIRE) to measurethe radiocarbon content of ocean waters andsediment traps. ANSTO continued to collaboratewith the Australian National University to measurethe age of commercially important fish stocksthrough the radiocarbon content of fish otoliths and,in collaboration with the University of Sydney,measured about a hundred consecutive, single treering samples from a 12,000-year-old TasmanianHuon pine. A highlight was the radiocarbon datingof the Iron Crown of Charlemagne, the first HolyRoman Emperor.

The ANSTO AMS Centre for Quaternary Science isused by AINSE-sponsored researchers from over 30Australian universities. For the fourth year, fundingfor AMS analysis in Quaternary science projectscame from the Australian Research Council (ARC)Research Infrastructure Equipment and FacilitiesProgram. University researchers use AMSpredominantly for radiocarbon measurements, Theadvantages of the facility are that it provides ultra-high sensitivity, allows the use of small samplemass, and requires short measurement time. Morethan 1,000 radiocarbon samples were analysed foruniversity projects funded by AINSE and ARC.

Work continued on improving quality andthroughput in measuring carbon-14 and other long-lived radionuclides. A new method for isolatingfossil pollen from lake sediment was establishedand procedures were developed for the preparationof bone samples. A new procedure for processingbeeswax was developed and used for datingAboriginal rock art from the Kimberley region ofWestern Australia. Collaborations continued withresearchers at James Cook and Queensland

Universities and at the Texas A&M University in theUnited States to develop techniques to prepare thevery small samples associated with Aboriginal rockart.

An experiment to characterise preparationprocedures for AMS radiocarbon targets was carriedout and the results presented at the 16thInternational Radiocarbon Conference at Groningen,Holland. Work began on establishing a newchemistry laboratory to process samples for AMSanalysis of cosmogenic radionuclides such asberyllium-10, chlorine-36 and aluminium-26.

New and improved beamline components werecommissioned. A Wien filter, which uses acombination of electric and magnetic fields to selections of a unique velocity, was commissioned for theanalysis of carbon-14. An electrostatic analyser,which uses an electric field to select ions on thebasis of their mass and charge, was commissionedto analyse iodine-129. The isotope bouncing system,which permits quasi-simultaneous measurements ofisotopic ratio, is now routinely used with allradioisotopes commonly measured at the ANTARESAMS facility. This is a pulsed voltage techniquewhereby isotopes can pass through the injectionmagnet and into the accelerator without themagnetic field being changed.

The design of an AMS beamline for the detection ofactinides was completed and its construction begun.High resolution electrostatic/magnetic analyserswere purchased. Construction of a new cleanlaboratory dedicated to the preparation of actinidesamples neared completion.

Ion beam analysis

ANSTO's accelerator capabilities include a range ofion beam analysis techniques such as time-of-flightmethods using the high energy, heavy ion beamsproduced by the tandem accelerator. This researchinvolved five PhD and several MSc students as wellas numerous honours and undergraduate students.The wide range of research topics included highenergy neutron and fission physics; materials,surface and interface studies; radiation damage;atmospheric pollution; archaeometry andsemiconductor research.

A heavy ion microprobe is being installed on the

22


ANTARES accelerator. This new facility will generatemicron-sized beams of high energy, heavy ions suchas iodine and chlorine for materials analysis, surfacecharacterisation and interface profiling. A beamlineis being assembled to house triplet focussingmagnets. Beam brightness measurements wereperformed to provide essential input data for beamtransport calculations. Work also commenced onthe design of a versatile target chamber formounting and manipulating samples to be analysed.This facility is scheduled for completion in 1997/98and, after commissioning, will be available formicroanalytical characterisations of a variety of solidmaterials. The heavy ions microprobe willcomplement ANSTO's other microanalytical facilities,which include secondary ion mass spectrometry(SIMS), scanning and transmission electronmicroscopes, and the synchrotron X-ray microprobe.

The combined number of operational days providedfor ion beam analysis to university researchers (forboth the 3 MV Van de Graaff and the Tandemaccelerators) in 1996 was over 200, and spanned 27projects. This represents an increase in usage ofabout 25 per cent over the previous year. Demandfor these facilities from external users andresearchers remains strong, with 32 AINSE projectsbeing approved for 1997. These projects cover topicsranging from high technology materials toenvironmental and biological research, andradiation dosimetry. In most instances, theinteractions have produced successful outputs in theform of joint published journal and conferencepapers.

Both the 1996 and the 1997 AINSE Gold Medals forresearch were awarded to PhD students using 'time-of-flight' methods on the ANTARES tandemaccelerator.

During 1996 and 1997 the ANSTO accelerators andtheir associated analytical techniques were part ofundergraduate teaching programs at MacquarieUniversity and the University of NSW. Students cameto ANSTO as part of their course work to learnabout the physics of accelerators and theirapplications to everyday problem solving. Thisproved a most popular and worthwhile course,giving students firsthand experience in a researchenvironment.

Australian Synchrotron Research Program

The Australian Synchrotron Research Program(ASRP) provides Australian researchers with accessto state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation researchcapabilities at overseas synchrotron light sourcefacilities. These are the Australian National BeamlineFacility (ANBF) at the Photon Factory, TsukubaScience City, Japan, and the Advanced PhotonSource (APS), recently completed at the ArgonneNational Laboratory near Chicago in the UnitedStates. The ASRP is funded for five years under theMajor National Research Facilities program,beginning 1 July 1996.

The ASRP maintains two staff to operate the ANBFat the Photon Factory and will appoint three staff tobe based at the APS from the beginning of the nextfinancial year. The ASRP staff are ANSTOemployees. In addition, Australian researchers usingthe facilities receive ASRP funding for travel andsubsistence. Access is via a peer reviewed process.

The ASRP is managed by ANSTO under the directionof a Policy and Review Board supported by anExecutive Committee and a number of specialistcommittees. Membership of the Policy and ReviewBoard is drawn from the member institutions of theASRP which currently comprise ANSTO, CSIRO, theAustralian National University, the University ofNSW, the University of Sydney, the University ofMelbourne, the University of Queensland, andMonash University. The University of Canberra is anassociate member.

Australian National Beamline Facility

The ANBF operated for only eight weeks during theyear, due to an extended shutdown of the PhotonFactory for a major performance upgrade. ThePhoton Factory is scheduled to re-start operations inNovember 1998, with the brightness of thesynchrotron X-ray beams increased by a factor offive. The ANBF hosted 15 user groups during theshort operations period, including two fromANSTO's Materials Division, and three collaborationsinvolving its Physics Division staff.

Development of the ANBF experimental facilitiescontinued. A range of sample environment cellswere commissioned and used. These included

23


heating stages, a tensiometer, anelectrochemical cell and a computercontrolled multiple sample stage.

The Advanced Photon SourceArgonne National Laboratory

The APS provides beams both at muchhigher energies, and at a brightnessthousands of times higher than thatavailable at the ANBF. The ASRP hasprovided funding towards theconstruction costs incurred by the threeconsortia building beamlines at the APS,in return for a share of the operationand use of the facilities. The consortiaare the Biological Consortium forAdvanced Radiation Sources (BioCARS),which specialises in proteincrystallography; the Chemistry andMaterials Science Consortium forAdvanced Radiation Sources(ChemMatCARS), which provides X-rayscattering and diffraction facilities forchemistry and materials scienceresearch; and the Synchrotron RadiationInstrumentation Collaborative AccessTeam (SRI-CAT), which will provide awide range of capabilities for physics,chemistry, geophysics andenvironmental science research.

The SRI-CAT facilities becameoperational and proposals for the use ofthese facilities have been accepted fromAustralian researchers. The BioCARSfacilities will be operational from early1998, and the ChemMatCARS beamlineswill be fully operational in 1999.

Nuclear science is being used to wage acampaign to contain one of Australia's mostdestructive horticultural pests, the Queenslandfruit fly. For State agriculture authorities, ANSTOuses a gamma radiation source to irradiate fruitfly pupae in an effort to flood wild fruit flypopulations with sterile males. Staff membersGavin Gant and Victor Mestre are pictured atANSTO's GATRI (Gamma Technology ResearchIrradiator) facility, used to irradiate the pupaewhen they are exactly eight days old.

24


APPLICATION OFNUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL PROCESSES

,1

ANSTO continued itsinvolvement in an internationalprogram monitoring long-termtrends in concentrations ofpollutants in the atmosphere.ANSTO's David Garton ispictured at Cape Grim,Tasmania, with a high sensitivitydetector developed by ANSTOfor the program.

Drivers: Government, other science organisations such as the AustralianAntarctic Division, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian GeologicalSurvey Organisation, the Commonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation (CSIRO), universities and industry.

OBJECTIVES

To apply nuclear-based techniques to research projects in support of national and

international programs, such as investigations of global climate change and

environmental pathway analysis, and to applied studies driven by industry and

government


OUTCOMES

• ANSTO's research contributed to revision of theAustralian and New Zealand EnvironmentConservation Council water quality guidelines.This is the first time that ANSTO's expertise anddata in metal speciation and bioavailability hasbeen recognised in setting international waterquality objectives. This expertise was furtheracknowledged by appointment of a staff memberto the national technical committee overseeingthe revision process.

• ANSTO's unique capabilities for accelerator massspectrometry and ion beam analysis continued tocontribute to international knowledge of globalclimate change and environmental science. Astudy of particulate air pollution in the Jakartaregion was completed. This project, incollaboration with CSIRO, studied thecomposition of fine particles smaller than 10micrometers in diameter which are thesource of Jakarta's ubiquitous haze.

• An independent review of the ANSTO-managedAlligator Rivers natural analogue studies wascarried out by the US Nuclear RegulatoryCommission. This found that the project 'would beuseful for others evaluating the potential foruranium migration in sub-surface environmentsand the associated risks at sites being consideredfor radioactive waste disposal anddecommissioning". Firm expressions of interest bythe German Institute of Nuclear Safety (GRS) andthe Czech Nuclear Research Institute to join theproject are further recognition of its value.

• Five new strategic research projects were initiated,using nuclear science and technology tounderstand environmental dynamics and globalclimate change. These projects will strengthenlinks and collaborations with a number ofpartners.

• Use of ANSTO's Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer(SIMS) by Australian university researchersincreased by 50 per cent. It was used to analysemineral surfaces, biological systems (especiallyarchival records of metal contamination), semi-conductors, and coatings and ceramics.

• ANSTO, in collaboration with the AustralianInstitute of Nuclear Science and Engineering(AINSE), hosted a national workshop on the useand application of SIMS for the surface analysis ofmaterials. The workshop provided a forum fordefining the direction of SIMS research inAustralia and how it may complement othersurface analysis techniques to provide a betterunderstanding of surfaces.

• A high precision gamma transmission gauge wasdesigned and constructed to measure sedimentloadings at depths of up to 100 metres with aprecision of 0.3 per cent, together with a range ofother parameters. It is being used to supportANSTO's research using nuclear science andtechnology to understand offshore processes. Oneof the gauges, manufactured in association withAmdel Ltd and Minekin Australia, was supplied toMorocco through the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA).


Grant support from the Australian Institute ofNuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) was 12%more than in 1996, when the amount included aone-off AINSE/Australian Research Council infra-structure equipment grant of $130 000 for the SIMSfacility.

Environmental dynamics - application of nuclear

techniques

Strategic research based on modelling of two-phase,turbulent flow and subsequent model validationusing radiotracer measurements and technologyaims to understand sediment and contaminanttransport in the coastal zone. An enhancedunderstanding of anthropogenic inputs to the seathrough man-made and natural systems obtainedby such research aims to contribute to sustainabledevelopment of the coastal zone. Collaborators onthe project include the CSIRO, the University ofNSW, Sydney Water and the NSW EnvironmentProtection Authority.

Global climate change - application of nuclear

techniques

Three strategic research projects in this field wereinitiated to contribute to the knowledge of climate

26


change over the past 500 000 years. The projectsfocus separately on gathering and interpretingarchival information from sediments and fromAntarctic ice cores, and on interpreting the surfaceexposure history of rocks. They involvecollaboration with CSIRO, the Antarctic Division anda number of universities. A fourth project, which ison global baseline air pollution, will help scientiststo predict future climate change, validate globaltransport models, and evaluate the effects of fineparticles and aerosols on global temperatures.Project collaborators include the CSIRO and theBureau of Meteorology, with ANSTO contributingwith its pioneering work in radon studies and itsunique capabilities in accelerator-based ion beamanalyses.

Atmospheric fine particle aerosol research

ANSTO continued to provide, with the CSIRO,consultancy services to the CSS Joint Venture Group(CMPS&F, Sinclair Knight Men and SagricInternational) in the study of fine atmosphericparticles and gases in the Jakarta region. The CSSJoint Venture Group is implementing the IndonesianEnvironmental Protection Agency (BAPEDAL) andEast Java Pollution Control Implementation Projectin Indonesia for AusAID.

The objectives of the current study are to determinethe major sources of atmospheric particles and thecontributions of different natural and anthropogenicsources to the fine paniculate burden in the Jakartaregion. The results will be used to guide Indonesianauthorities in assessing the health andenvironmental effects of local and regional aircontaminants and in evaluating the effectiveness ofcontrol programs.

ANSTO operated five sampling units at four selectedsites in and around Jakarta city and appliedaccelerator-based ion beam analysis techniques tocharacterise the atmospheric aerosol in two differentsize fractions. CSIRO is studying the effects ofatmospheric gases (SOX and NOX) and the lightscattering and visibility effects of the atmosphericparticulate loading.

ANSTO, in conjunction with CSIRO Division ofAtmospheric Research, is currently conducting apilot study of atmospheric fine particles in Australia.This study, funded by Environment Australia, is

determining the range of fine particle chemical andphysical properties in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra. Sample collection inthe first three locations was completed this yearwith the latter three scheduled for completion in1997. ANSTO's expertise is being used in the sitingof air sampling equipment and in multi-elementalion beam analytical facilities for the characterisationof aerosol filtered particles.

The ANSTO Aerosol Sampling Program (ASP)currently operates 10 fine particle sampling units forlocal councils, State environment protectionauthorities and industry groups. ASP units areoperating in Wollongong, Sydney, Newcastle, theHunter Valley and the Brisbane metropolitan area.

ANSTO ASP units continued to operate in Singapore(three units), California and New Zealand.

Neutron scattering measurements

Small angle neutron scattering data were recordedfrom a number of activated charcoals to define thepore size distribution in these materials and therebyunderstand their function in removing taste andodour molecules from water. The measurementswere made in collaboration with the CooperativeResearch Centre in Water Quality and Treatment inAdelaide, initially using the NG3 small-angle neutronscattering instrument at the National Institute ofStandards and Technology at Gaithersburg in theUnited States. Later measurements used thepowerful D22 small-angle diffractometer at theInstitut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble.

Use of radiotracer techniques to evaluate sewageoutfall

ANSTO was retained to undertake two furtherinvestigations of sewage dispersion in waters offHong Kong in association with the Water ResearchLaboratories (WRL) of the University of NSW. Thisand related client-commissioned work is beingsupported by a strategic research project onEnvironmental Dynamics. Particular attention hasbeen paid to the complex processes which occurclose to the diffuser heads through which thesewage is released to the ocean. An essentialelement of the collaborative program with the WRLis the extension of the near field modellingcapabilities and the use of radiotracer techniques to

27


validate the models.

In a related investigation, modelling capabilitieshave been extended to include the impact of stormson the movement of sand. It is proposed to verifythe models by measuring the transport of sand atdepth over a one-year period using iridium-192,which has a half life 74 days. Monitoring will occurafter major storms.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) facility

The SIMS facility is used to study surfaceinteractions of pollutants with biological, geologicaland man-made materials. During the year, SIMScapabilities were used to support the AnalogueStudies in the Alligator Rivers Region naturalanalogue project, which is evaluating the migrationof uranium in the vicinity of ore bodies as naturalanalogues of the geological strata hostingradioactive waste facilities. SIMS evidencecontributed to the demonstration of an importantmechanism for retaining uranium in iron nodulesdispersed in the weathered zone of the Koongarradeposit in the Northern Territory. This work,instigated by the Japan Atomic Energy ResearchInstitute, was greatly extended by collaboration withthe Ion Microprobe Group of the Australian NationalUniversity. The Sensitive High Resolution IonMicroprobe at the Australian National University iscapable of measuring very low levels of keyradionuclides. This was the first time thesemeasurements had been done with iron andassociated clay and quartz minerals and thetechnique may well find wider application.

ANSTO completed a hardware and softwareupgrade of its SIMS facility. ANSTO used the facilityto study fluid pathways in materials representingnatural analogues of waste repositories, bio-indicators of water quality and water quality record,and the leaching characteristics of synroc. This workis reported under the individual projects. During the1996 calendar year ANSTO managed an AustralianResearch Council infrastructure grant on behalf ofAINSE, which provided resources to supportuniversity measurements on the SIMS facility. Thegrant resulted in an increase from 11 to 16university SIMS projects with ANSTO.

In April, ANSTO, in collaboration with AINSE, ran atwo-day workshop on SIMS applications. It attracted

68 specialists in surface analysis techniques andapplications, and included two overseas speakers.Reports were presented on the use of SIMS for thesurface analysis of minerals, biological systems(especially archival records of metal contamination),semi-conductors, coatings and ceramics.

Radon research

Research focused on the transport of the naturallyoccurring radioactive gas, radon, and radon decayproducts in the atmosphere and porous media.

ANSTO continued to participate in an internationalprogram monitoring long-term trends inconcentrations of anthropogenic pollutants in theatmosphere. ANSTO-developed high sensitivityradon detectors operated at Cape Grim, Tasmania,Macquarie Island and, in cooperation with the USClimate Monitoring and Diagnostic Laboratory, atMauna Loa Observatory on the island of Hawaii. Anew detector, capable of continuous monitoring ofradon-222 and radon-220 decay products in air,successfully completed its first year of operation atthe Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station.

ANSTO continued to participate in the firstCharacterisation Experiment (ACE-1) of theInternational Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project.The aim of the project is to record the chemical,physical and radiative properties, and to determinethe controlling processes, in the remote marineatmosphere. Staff assisted with the second phase ofthe project, which was devoted to data processingand interpretation and construction of a project-related database.

The research project sponsored by Australian CoalResearch Ltd, aimed at the development of a newmethod of predicting outbursts of gas, coal dust andsmall coal fragments in underground coal mines,continued with a deployment underground of a pairof radon detectors. The first results have alreadyvalidated assumptions made in the planning phaseof the project concerning expected absolute andincremental radon levels in underground air.

Use of long-lived radionuclides to understandnatural processes

ANSTO continued to work on a collaborative projectwith the CSIRO Division of Marine Research todevelop the necessary chemistry procedures to use

28


AMS to analyse carbon-14 in seawaters. ANSTO willutilise these procedures in the World OceanCirculation Experiment. This program dependsprimarily on the measurement of the physical andchemical properties (such as the carbon-14concentration) of the water column byoceanographers from many countries. The final goalis to understand the influence of ocean circulationon the world's climate.

In collaboration with European Union partners,carbon was extracted from uranium ore samples tomeasure the so-called heavy radioactivity: theemission of carbon-14 clusters from nuclei in thetrans-lead region.

ANSTO is collaborating with French and Italiangroups involved in studies of the Oklo naturalreactor sites in Gabon, Africa, with a view toapplying AMS to trace the migration ofradionuclides in natural analogue systems, lodine-129 and chlorine-36 are presently being analysed inwater samples from Oklo.

ANSTO, together with AINSE and the AustralianMuseum, organised the 6th AustralasianArchaeometry Conference. It focused on issuesrelated to the first human colonisation of theAustralian continent. The application of nuclearscience and technology in archaeology andpalaeoecology was also discussed.

Isotope analysis of metabolic rates in endangeredspecies

Measurements of the oxygen-18 enrichment levelsin biological tracers are now routinely carried outusing nuclear reaction analysis on the 3MV Van deGraaff accelerator. This work, done in collaborationwith the Department of Zoology at the University ofWestern Australia, underpins the research carriedout into the metabolic rates of a wide range ofendangered native fauna. The specialised habitatsfor these endangered species are shrinking rapidly,and an understanding of the caloric requirments,essential for the survival of these species, forms partof a State conservation program.

ANSTO experts arecollaborating with researchersfrom other national andinternational organisations inreconstructing past globalclimate. From left, Dr HenkHeinjis, ANSTO researchscientist, and Robert Chisari,ANSTO professional officer, withDr Maureen Longmore, aresearch scientist from theUniversity of Adelaide, arepictured collecting a sedimentcore from Fraser Island inQueensland.

If I l l" MM" Illlllllllllll JIIJs s s s s x s a Mipijpiyiiwiiiiiijjiyin mi M |̂ j ^ . _ i _ _ . -

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29


SKI ! "̂ .^ .1 ^ ^ "" -A

Above: Dr Laurie Aldridge, left, andKevan Harder with the equipment formixing cement grout used to makesimulated, fullscale stabilisedradioactive waste forms. Thedurability of these simulated wasteforms is then tested at ANSTO.

Right: ANSTO technician BruceHudson operates equipment used inthe conversion of uranium andthorium into a stable form.

30


TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENTOF MAN-MADE AND NATURALLY

;g*r^ OCCURRING RADIOACT'VE SUBSTANCES

. A - ' - ,

.. •.:. . . . ••

: •

! " •

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performance of a uraniumthickener during the operationof a pilot plant to demonstratethe process flowsheet for theKintyre uranium project inWestern Australia.

Right: A new racking system forstoring low level radioactivewaste until it can be transferredto a national low level wasterepository was commissionedat ANSTO during the year.David Maher, wastemanagement operator, forkliftsa 200 litre drum into storage.

•is

Drivers: Government, ANSTO and industry

OBJECTIVES

(a) To provide government with expert scientific and technical advice on nuclear waste

management, including environmental impacts of uranium mining.

(b) To refine or develop new technological approaches for immobilisation and disposal

of radioactive waste and minimisation of environmental contamination from the

nuclear and mining industries.

(cj To provide environmentally sensitive and cost-effective waste management in

accordance with relevant standards and appropriate risk management strategies.

31


OUTCOMES

• ANSTO's world class expertise in radioactivewaste immobilisation was demonstrated by theUS Department of Energy's decision to short listsynroc as an option for the immobilisation ofexcess weapons-grade plutonium. Followingpublication in the United States of theProgrammatic Environmental Impact Statement'in December and the subsequent 'Record ofDecision' in January, two contracts, worthSUS18O 000, were awarded to ANSTO to providedemonstrations of its proprietary technology. Theresults of these demonstrations, which includedsending two hot isostatically pressed cans ofsynroc to the United States, are to be used asinput in the waste-form selection process. Thefinal decision on the selected waste-form isexpected in the second half of 1997.

• ANSTO scientists, working with the NSWDepartment of Land and Water Conservation,provided advice to the CommonwealthDepartment of Primary Industries and Energy onthe role of the biological crust that covers the soilsurface at the former nuclear test site atMaralinga. The Department was advised that thecrust plays an important ecological role in thedesert environment, decreasing dust generation,providing nutrients to the soil and enabling largerplants to re-establish themselves in areas wherecontaminated soil has been removed and buried.

• The process flowsheet for the Kintyre uraniumproject in Western Australia was demonstrated ina pilot plant at the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre. Laboratory-scale studies werealso undertaken to obtain data for use in thepreparation of the Environmental ImpactStatement for the project.

• Metallurgical studies provided data that will beused in designing process circuits for theexpansion of the treatment plant at the Rangeruranium mine in the Northern Territory.

• Work programmed for this financial year onANSTO's five-year Waste Management ActionPlan, was completed on schedule. The Plan,initiated in the previous financial year, will ensurethat, by the year 2000, ANSTO fully conforms to

new waste management standards beingdeveloped by the International Atomic EnergyAgency.

• Management of radioactive waste on site wasenhanced through the introduction of newmonitoring and storage facilities. A facility formeasuring the radioactivity of ANSTO's solidwastes was commissioned. Over 1,000 drumswere scanned and the information stored in acomputerised database. On-site facilities forstorage of drums of low level radioactive wastewere upgraded.

• A plant was commissioned to stabilise finely-divided uranium and thorium metallic scrap bycontrolled oxidation in a rotary calciner. The planthas operated routinely for six months and abouttwo tonnes of uranium metal have beenstabilised.

• A process was developed to solidify the inter-mediate-level liquid waste from production ofradioisotopes for medical use. The process wastested successfully using simulated non-radioactive waste solutions.


Synroc

Work continued on developing the synroc processfor immobilising high-level radioactive waste.ANSTO maintained links with key organisationsinvolved in high-level radioactive wastemanagement in all countries pursuing commercialreprocessing of spent fuel. Such links provide thebasis for cooperation in potential commercial wasteremediation and provide ANSTO with access toresearch facilities unavailable in Australia, inparticular for accelerated testing of the resistance ofsynroc to radiation damage from alpha-decay oflong-lived radionuclides. The results of joint researchcontinue to provide independent confirmation ofsynroc as an advanced second generation waste-form.

ANSTO continued to participate in the United States'assessment of the immobilisation of surplusweapons-grade plutonium by collaborating with theLawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Thelaboratory was assigned the lead role by the USDepartment of Energy for assessing and developing

32


immobilisation technologies. ANSTO has providedspecific data and demonstrations of synroc undercontract to LLNL to provide inputs into aProgrammatic Environmental Impact Statement(PEIS) on Long-Term Storage and Disposition ofWeapons-Usable Fissile Materials.

Experience gained at the non-radioactive synrocdemonstration plant at ANSTO and the resultingconceptual radioactive plant designs by ANSTOwere used by the LLNL to develop flow-sheets forceramic immobilisation of plutonium for the PEIS.The collaboration with LLNL on surplus plutoniumimmobilisation has been reported in recent ANSTOAnnual Reports.

The final PEIS was published by the US Departmentof Energy in December. On 14 January, US EnergySecretary O'Leary made a Record of Decision callingfor a dual approach to the disposition of surplusweapons-usable plutonium, namely immobilisationof surplus plutonium in glass or ceramic, andburning of some of the surplus plutonium as mixed-oxide fuel in existing reactors.

The PEIS process and the Record of Decision reflecta thorough examination of the options for near-term implementation of surplus plutoniumdisposition. The initial technical assessments, whichcovered technology maturity as well as quality ofthe waste-form, dealt with more than 40 candidates.

Following this Record of Decision, ANSTO obtainedtwo further contracts from LLNL One contract is forANSTO to demonstrate its technology to producesynroc in cans by hot isostatic pressing and theability of the technology to be scaled up for prod-uction. The other is to demonstrate the flexibility ofsynroc formulations to immobilise impurities thatare expected to be present in the plutonium.

Cans of high-quality synroc containing non-radioactive simulants of plutonium have beendelivered to the LLNL. The results of these recentcontracts will have an important influence on the USGovernment's decision, expected in the second halfof 1997, on whether to choose synroc or glass forplutonium immobilisation.

Contacts were maintained with the consortia ofnuclear engineering companies actively involved inthe remediation of tank wastes from past defence

projects at Hanford in the United States. The currentfocus is on the use of synroc to immobiliseseparated technetium and caesium waste streams.These radionuclides are volatile during vitrification,which requires an oxidising environment. Experi-ments were concluded at ANSTO to demonstratenear-complete (better than 99.9%) retention ofcaesium and technetium during synroc processing.

Negotiations were initiated for a CooperativeResearch and Development Agreement (CRADA)with the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in theUnited States to demonstrate the use of a hotisostatic press to produce high-level radioactivewaste-forms in a hot-cell environment. Under theCRADA, ANSTO would demonstrate its proprietarycan technology for use with ANL wastes and, inreturn, ANL would demonstrate the production ofsynroc in a hot cell facility. The formal agreement isexpected to be finalised in the second half of 1997.

The joint program of research into the synrocprocess, carried out under a collaborativeagreement with the Japan Atomic Energy ResearchInstitute, continued on schedule. The programcontinued to focus on radiation damage and itsimpact on leach rates.

ANSTO continued to collaborate with the FrenchAtomic Energy Commission on basic studies ofwaste-form durability and on the application of cold-crucible technology to processing synroc for wastesfrom advanced reprocessing. The collaboration wasextended to cold-crucible melting of a synroc/glasscomposite waste-form developed at ANSTO for thesolidification of high level radioactive waste sludgesat Hanford in the United States.

ANSTO also continued to cooperate with SIA Radon,in Moscow, under a letter of intent signed with theRussian Ministry of Atomic Energy, Minatom, on theevaluation of synroc waste-forms designed forRussian waste immobilisation using their cold-crucible technology. A scientist from Radon visitedANSTO for joint experiments, reciprocating anearlier visit by ANSTO staff to Russia.

ANSTO hosted a visit by scientists from the ChineseInstitute of Atomic Energy. Joint experiments wereconducted on synroc containing simulated Chinesewaste. This cooperation occurred under a

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Memorandum of Understanding between ANSTOand the China National Nuclear Corporation.

Access to unique major international researchfacilities has provided ANSTO researchers with newinsights into aspects of chemical design andradiation damage of synroc. The Australian NationalBeamline Facility at the synchrotron in Tsukuba,Japan, was used to obtain high-resolution X-raydiffraction data from synroc phases. Co-operativeresearch on the Stanford synchrotron facilities in theUnited States provided new results about the solid-state chemical speciation of actinides, includingPlutonium, in synroc. The combined transmissionelectron microscope/ion irradiation facility at theArgonne National Laboratory permitted study of theprogressive changes in synroc phases caused byradiation damage, important information to contri-bute to regulatory acceptance of any waste form.

Cement waste-forms

Cement-based waste-forms are widely used toencapsulate low- and intermediate-level radioactivewastes. Within ANSTO's waste management plan,cement is intended for the encapsulation of somehistorical wastes, including those from theproduction of medical isotopes. Work began on astudy to investigate the durability and resistance ofcement waste-forms to leaching by groundwater todevelop predictive models of their behaviour overperiods of about 300 years, by which time all theshorter-lived radionuclides would have decayed tosafe levels.

The investigation is mainly focused on domesticcementitious materials and additives such as blast-furnace slag, pulverised fuel ash, silica fume andsuperpiasticisers that are used to tailor and enhancedesired properties of cements for different wastestreams. Cement products vary from country tocountry as a consequence of variations in rawmaterials and thus a study of Australiancementitious materials is essential. Innovative small-angle neutron scattering experiments wereperformed at overseas neutron facilities to study thecement microstructure, which has an important rolein the durability of cement. The appropriate neutronscattering facilities are not available at ANSTO, andthe research has been facilitated by support from

the Department of Industry, Science and Tourismunder the International Research Collaborationgrant scheme.

A study of caesium retention in both French andAustralian cement formulations was undertakenunder a co-operative research agreement withElectricite de France (EdF). Under the agreement, EdFsponsored a French post-doctoral student to work atANSTO for 10 months.

Uranium ore processing

A pilot plant to demonstrate the process flowsheetfor the Kintyre uranium project in Western Australiawas built and successfully operated. Thedemonstration involved leaching of high-grade ore,selective removal of impurities and precipitation ofuranium using hydrogen peroxide. About 12 tonnesof ore was processed in seven campaigns, eachinvolving continuous operation for five to six days.Uranium recovery was high and the process wasshown to be robust. Valuable data were obtainedfor the design of a commercial plant. Laboratory-scale studies were also undertaken to providetechnical information on the environmental impactof the process and the characteristics of the wastes.This information will be used in the preparation ofthe Environmental Impact Statement for the project.

A number of metallurgical studies were carried outfor Ranger Uranium Mines. These included researchon recovery of uranium from highly weathered orewhich is difficult to process. Laboratory-scale studieswere also carried out to determine uraniumrecovery from the Ranger No. 3 orebody. Thestudies involved hydrometallurgical testing of 30different ore types from various sections of themine. Data from the studies are being used in thedesign of process circuits for mill expansion.

Strategic research was undertaken to better under-stand the factors controlling the dissolution of ura-nium and other minerals in commercial leachingcircuits. The study aims to develop a mathematicalmodel to describe the leaching kinetics of uraniumminerals, which can then be applied to determinethe optimum processing conditions for a given oretype.

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Maralinga

ANSTO participated in an industry-fundedassessment of the wasteform produced by the in situvitrification process being trialed in the areapreviously used for weapons testing at Maralinga,South Australia. ANSTO's investigations havefocused on the durability of the resultingglass/ceramic wasteform and its ability toimmobilise plutonium.

HI FAR spent fuel

Following the successful shipment last year of 114spent fuel elements to the Dounreay facility of theUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, theelements were reprocessed. To complete therequirements attached to the environmentalapproval of the shipment, a final monitoring reportcovering all phases of the shipment andreprocessing was prepared and submitted by ANSTOto Environment Australia. The report demonstratedthat all commitments given in the PublicEnvironment Report (PER) for the shipment weremet and that all assumptions in that reportregarding potential radiation exposures andpotential environmental impact were modelled witha large degree of conservatism: actual measuredimpacts were considerably below even those lowimpacts estimated in the PER.

ANSTO completed a submission to the AustralianMaritime Safety Authority and the AustralianRadiation Laboratory to have its purpose-built spentfuel transport flask re-certified. A criticality safetyassessment was completed to allow the flask to beused to ship all design variants of HIFAR fuelelements with 150g or less Uranium 235 content.When the submission is approved, it will beforwarded to US authorities for review and approval.

ANSTO continued to keep Government informed onthe situation regarding the inventory of spent fuelstored at Lucas Heights, on the options available forthe disposition of this spent fuel and on the need forearly action to address these options.

Currently available options are to ship the spent fuelelements back to their country of origin forreprocessing or disposal, or to establish a domesticcapability to process spent fuel elements and

manage the resulting wastes. As aluminium cladspent fuel inevitably degrades over time, it is anunsuitable form for long-term storage or ultimatedisposal and must eventually be processed to placethe wastes into a stable wasteform.

As at 30 June 1997 Australia is holding some 1630spent HIFAR fuel elements. The original source ofthe enriched uranium was approximately 60:40 UKorigin to US Government origin. Governmentdecisions on the above options for the futuredisposition of the spent fuel are pending.

Monitoring of spent fuel storage facilities

ANSTO has an in-ground spent fuel storage facilitywith a capacity for 1100 spent HIFAR fuel elementsinside 50 sealed stainless steel tubes. During theyear, an improved method for monitoring the gasspace in the tubes was developed. Systematicmonitoring of the humidity and composition of thegas indicated that most of the elements were storedin a dry condition. However, in some tubes, the highrelative humidity suggested that water could bepresent. Further investigations confirmed theindications of water in a few tubes.

The spent fuel in the tube with the largest quantityof water was removed and inspected. The onset ofcorrosion of the aluminium cladding was apparentin some elements. Examination of the stainless steeltube showed it to be in good condition and fullysealed. The source of the water was identified asrainwater that had entered the top of the tube dueto a degraded gasket seal. New gaskets have sincebeen fitted on all 50 tubes.

The conclusion from these investigations,subsequently reported to the Safety ReviewCommittee and the Nuclear Safety Bureau, was that,despite the presence of water, the facility performedits designed purpose of isolating the spent fuel fromthe environment and the spent fuel continues to bestored in a safe and secure manner. Further andmore comprehensive monitoring of the fuel storagefacility is planned in the coming year.

Waste management action plan

The Waste Management Action Plan was initiated toimplement ANSTO's waste management policy. Bythe year 2000 ANSTO aims to be in full conformity

35


with new waste management standards beingdeveloped by the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA). The first phase of the Plan,completed in 1996, was a technical review ofANSTO's waste management operations andpractices. That review made 24 recommendationsfor implementation over a five-year period.

The Waste Management Action Plan is an inter-Divisional activity outside ANSTO's routine wastemanagement activities. The plan is updatedregularly in accordance with priorities and needs.Currently, it consists of 17 tasks coveringmanagement of ANSTO's solid and liquid wastes,spent fuel and effluents.

Solid waste management

ANSTO's facilities for storage of drums containinglow-level radioactive wastes were upgraded. Thedrums are now stored on racks to improve safetyand ease of access. The new racking system hascapacity for 5,700 standard drums and 1,000oversized drums.

A state-of-the-art radiation scanning facility wascommissioned to carry out a complete inventory ofANSTO's solid wastes. Standard 200 litre drums areplaced inside a shielded cabinet and rotated whileradioactivity is measured by three gamma-raydetectors. Another system with one detector is usedfor items that are of non-standard size or have ahigher level of radioactivity. To date, over 1000 ofANSTO's inventory of about 5,000 drums have beenscanned. The activity of all identified radioisotopesis stored in a computerised database.

Some four tonnes of uranium and thorium metallicscrap have accumulated over the past 35 yearsfrom the melting, casting and machining of uraniumand thorium. The metals are pyrophoric and havebeen stored under kerosene to prevent spontaneouscombustion. A plant was commissioned to stabilisethese waste materials by controlled oxidation in arotary calciner. It has operated routinely for sixmonths and more than two tonnes of uraniumscrap have been converted to a stable oxide.Conversion of the remaining scrap is scheduled forcompletion by the end of 1997.

Liquid waste management

ANSTO has about 6,000 litres of intermediate-levelliquid waste from the production of radioisotopesfor medical use. These wastes are stored in ashielded facility containing eight tanks, five of whichcontain liquid waste. During the year, inspection ofthe facility indicated that some valves needed to bereplaced. A new valving manifold system wasdesigned and will be installed in the near future. Inaddition, a new system to improve monitoring ofthe tanks was designed and is being installed.

A process was developed to solidify the inter-mediate-level waste. It involves evaporation, treat-ment to remove ammonium ions and to reduce theacidity of the solution and then crystallisation as anuranium salt. The process was tested successfullyusing simulated non-radioactive waste solutions.Treatment of the actual radioactive solution will becarried out in a hot cell. Design and installation ofequipment for the hot-cell is in progress.

The solid waste will be suitable for interim storage,although immobilisation in a non-leachable form isa longer-term goal. Two waste forms have beenconsidered, synroc and cement. Laboratory-scalequantities of synroc and cement have beenprepared containing simulated waste. The chemicaldurability of zirconolite-rich synroc containing up to20% uranium was found to be particularly good andcomparable with standard synroc. In contrast, theinitial cement batches were relatively easily leachedand further work with different formulations is beingundertaken in order to improve cement quality.

Organisational issues

The Waste Management Action Plan is beingimplemented under a Quality Management regimebased on the International Standard Organisationstandard, ISO 9001. A quality plan was prepared,giving details of the responsibilities, authorities andprocedures to be followed.

A waste minimisation working party was formedwith the goal of reducing the quantities ofradioactive waste through a number of measures,including volume reduction, segregation at sourceand adoption of cleaner production technologies. Anumber of opportunities for waste minimisationwere identified for more detailed examination.

36


COMPETITIVENESS AND ECOLOGICALSUSTAINABILITY OF INDUSTRY

J° '' -",•''".' *' J':'' ^ "

Team members of the ManagingMine Wastes Project installingenvironmental equipment at theMt Lyell site in Tasmania.

Inset: High precision rocket cans,manufactured by ANSTOworkshop staff, are used in theHI FAR research reactor in theproduction of the fission productmolybdenum-99. This product isused in generators that yield areliable supply of technetium-99mfor diagnostic purposes.

Drivers: Government and industry

OBJECTIVES

(a) To contribute to the development of critical technologies aimed at enhancing the

competitiveness and ecological sustainabiiity of selected industry sectors by applying

nuclear science and technology and ANSTO's unique mix of technical capabilities.

(b) To provide scientific and technical advice and services to government and industry,

based on radiation and other relevant standards, radiation safety, radiation

sterilisation, and plant assessment technologies.

(cj To supply internationally competitive radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticalsfor

medical, industrial and environmental use in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

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OUTCOMES

Environmental management

• A process for oxidising and immobilising arsenicwas successfully demonstrated in Montana in theUnited States. The waste satisfies the standard USleach test for landfill disposal.

• A study was completed for the Office of theSupervising Scientist on the extent of acid minedrainage in Australia. The study found that thecost of managing potentially acid-generatingwaste at operating Australian mines sites is about$60 million a year and drew attention to theimportance of adopting control measures at theoutset of the mining projects.

• ANSTO scientists participated in a project for theCo-operative Research Centre for WasteManagement and Pollution Control aimed atimproving the design of landfills for municipalwaste. A 7000 tonne test cell was operated at theLucas Heights, Sydney, landfill. By operating thetest cell with recycle of leachate, a markedincrease in waste degradation was observed.

• ANSTO completed a collaborative project todevelop remedial technologies to detoxifypolluted harbour sediments. The suite of chemical,biological and mineral processing technologiesdeveloped successfully removed contaminantmetals to regulatory levels. The technologies areapplicable generically to metal-contaminatedsediments, soils and wastes.

• An ecological risk assessment of copper inMacquarie Harbour, Tasmania, highlighted theshortcomings in current Australian water qualityguidelines and existing assessment methodologiesas well as the inconsistencies between laboratorybased ecotoxicological data and more realisticfield-acquired information. The experience gainedis being used to develop a relevant Australianecological risk assessment model for freshwatersystems affected by mining.

• ANSTO field-validated a Korean mathematicalmodel for describing stack emissions ofradioactive and other gases. The methodologywas based on the ANSTO-developed technique ofusing perfluorocarbons as inert gas tracers.

ANSTO's field data on air quality in the JenolanCaves showed that the presence of tourists wasnot affecting air quality. The data will be used toassist the Jenolan Caves Trust in developing thecaves as a tourist attraction.

ANSTO made further improvements to itsgeochemical computer codes and coupled themwith an international hydrology and masstransport code. ANSTO has applied these codes ascomputational tools for modelling the release ofsurplus water from the Ranger uranium mine sitein the Northern Territory. ANSTO, in associationwith the University of Technology, Sydney, held afive day training course on the use of these codesfor the environmental industry.

A project to characterise the environmentalimpact of the primary and supergene wastematerials from the Ernest Henry mining project inQueensland was completed. The information willbe used by the company in its design of a postmining rehabilitation program.

ANSTO designed, installed and commissioned aset of discrete level depth samplers in the floodirrigation area of the Ranger uranium mine. Thesamplers will provide the company with thenecessary environmental monitoring data tounderstand the geochemical processes in groundwaters and flood irrigation conditions.

ANSTO demonstrated a concept developed byEarth Systems Pty Ltd for sealing porous media byinduced mineral precipitation. The concept haspotential application in the control and preventionof contaminant release.

In a world-wide intercomparison exerciseorganised by the National Research Council ofCanada for the US National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA), involving 40laboratories, ANSTO's environmental analyticalchemistry facility was accorded 'SuperiorLaboratory' status for the analysis of major andminor chemical elements in soil, sediments andbiological samples. Only 15 laboratories wereawarded this status.

ANSTO scientists developed a technique forenvironmental analysis of individual metal speciesin waters and waste streams.

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• ANSTO scientists determined that the maximumlevel of radioactive caesium in Australian honey is0.01 times the radiological safeguard limit and isgenerally at the limit of detection. The resultsreflect the lower radiological levels of radioactivecaesium in the southern hemisphere compared tothe northern hemisphere.

• Some 15 million pupae of Queensland fruit fly perweek were irradiated for NSW Agriculture inANSTO's gamma irradiation facility (CATRI).

Mineral processing

• A pilot plant was successfully operated todemonstrate a new solvent extraction process forrecovering nickel and cobalt from solution. Theproject is now proceeding to the full design andconstruction stage.

• The use of membranes to separate organic andaqueous phases in solvent extraction was shownto be a viable concept and was demonstrated byextracting and recovering cerium, a rare earth,using laboratory-scale equipment containing twomembranes.

Industry

• ANSTO's gamma irradiation facilities processedhealth care materials, tissue grafts, biologicalmaterial and polymers for 38 clients comprisinghealth care facilities, importers, researchers andindustrial scale manufacturers at a range oftemperatures and dose rates.

• ANSTO provided calibration, supply andmeasurement services for 16 industrial dosimetryclients and blood irradiation facilities.

• Window modules up to 10 cm xiO cm coated withnano-titania photovoltaic films were produced onschedule and delivered for testing under theEnergy Research and Development Corporationfunded project with Sustainable TechnologiesAustralia Ltd, Monash University and theAustralian National University. Potentialapplications include installation on high risebuildings where the windows would supplementthe electricity supply. ANSTO's contribution wasthe development of the titania nanopowder andfilm deposition technology, which was based ontechnology developed for the synroc project.

• A prototype hermetically-sealed ceramic housingfor implantable medical devices was produced inconjunction with Cochlear Ltd under a three-yearIndustry Research and Development grant fromthe Department of Industry, Science and Tourism.

• ANSTO's technology, developed for the PlasmaImmersion Ion Implantation process, receivedinternational recognition with the sale of a high-voltage pulser to the Research Centre for SurfaceEngineering at the University of Hull in the UnitedKingdom. ANSTO's technology was chosen overthat of competitors as it was perceived to beclosest to commercial application and had themost sophisticated instrumentation and controlsystem.

Safety services

• By disseminating Australian standards ofradioactivity measurement, ANSTO enabledradiopharmaceutical producers and nuclearmedicine departments and clinics to routinelymake measurements and ensure the accuracy ofpatient doses.

• ANSTO safety specialists identified the lowest riskoption for transport of radioactive slurry by theRhone-Poulenc company in Western Australia.This resulted in approval being given for theoperation and significant savings accruing to thecompany.

• Advice was provided by ANSTO on a major newmining development to ensure that radiologicalsafety aspects were acceptable. As a result, therelevant regulatory authorities were satisfied withthe proposed radiological aspects, and the miningoperation is to commence in the 1997/98financial year.

ANSTO's pioneering work on Digital CoincidenceCounting led to the establishment of acollaborative research agreement with theNational Physical Laboratory (NPL) in London.

Radiopharmaceuticals and industrialisotopes

• Research led to the development of a matchingpair of radiopharmaceuticals with potential toevaluate and treat advanced breast cancer. Thediagnostic version, which consists of a compound

39


labelled with technetium-99m, will be evaluated ina clinical trial to commence in late 1997. In thetherapeutic version, technetium-99m is replacedby rhenium-188, which emits radiation that candestroy cancer cells. This will be evaluated aftercompletion of the trial of the diagnostic agent.

• ANSTO scientists developed a process to produceindium-111 in the National Medical Cyclotron(NMC). Production at the NMC would eliminatethe need to import indium-111, which is used forlabelling radiopharmaceuticals used to diagnosegastro-intestinal and other cancers. It is also usedto radiolabel white blood cells for use inmonitoring infection.

• Revenue from radiopharmaceuticals andradioisotopes for medical, industrial and researchuse rose by 1.6% to $12.3 million.


Environmental management

Arsenic treatment

The presence of arsenic in groundwater is a seriousproblem in many countries. It can result fromnatural processes or from industrial activities such asthe mining of arsenic-bearing ores.

A research group at ANSTO, funded by theCooperative Research Centre (CRC) for WasteManagement and Pollution Control Ltd, hasdeveloped a process to oxidise arsenic and convertit into an environmentally-stable solid. The patentfor the photo-oxidation process has been granted bythe Australian Patent Office and the WorldIntellectual Patent Organisation. It is pending inEurope and North America.

This oxidation-immobilisation process wasdemonstrated in Montana in the United States aspart of a project funded by the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency. Three ANSTO officers, incollaboration with staff from a US Department ofEnergy contractor, MSE Incorporated, performed apilot-scale demonstration project to treat smelterflue dust and acid mine drainage water from anabandoned gold, silver and lead mine near the townof Helena. The arsenic from the waste streams wassuccessfully photo-oxidised and immobilised intosolid wastes. Testing of the waste showed that it

satisfied the standard United States leach test forlandfill disposal.

Acid mine drainage

Control of pollutants in effluent from sulfidic minewastes continues to be a problem facing regulatorsand mine operators both in Australia and overseas.A goal in managing sulfidic mine wastes is toquantify the load and concentration of pollutants ineffluent at different times after deposition of thewastes. ANSTO continues to make significantadvances in the field of acid mine drainage, basedon its growing understanding of physical andgeochemical transport processes in theenvironment.

ANSTO worked as part of an international team ofexperts to assist PT Freeport Indonesia indeveloping an overburden management plan forthe Grasberg copper/gold mine in Irian Jaya,Indonesia. Through the deployment of fieldmeasurement techniques, ANSTO quantified rates ofsulfidic oxidation and identified the principal rate-controlling mechanisms.

Instrumentation has been installed in two sulfidicwaste rock dumps at the Mt Lyell copper mine inTasmania to assess the effectiveness of measureswhich have been put in place to control thegeneration of acid mine drainage. The work hasbeen funded by Copper Mines of Tasmania Pty Ltdand Environment Tasmania.

ANSTO undertook a scientific review of documentsfor the United States Department of EnvironmentalQuality concerning environmental research andproposed work at Golden Sunlight Mines inMontana in the United States. Special attention waspaid to the generation and control of acid minedrainage.

Improved landfill design and operation

The difficulty of obtaining acceptable landfill sitesfor disposing of municipal wastes is a majorproblem confronting local and State governments.ANSTO is a partner in a project funded by the CRCfor Waste Management and Pollution Control Ltd todevelop technology for the rapid degradation andstabilisation of the bioreactive component ofmunicipal solid waste. The project is managed bythe Waste Service NSW and utilises the Lucas

40


Heights, Sydney, landfill to demonstrate the CRCtechnology. A key component of this technology isthe recycling of leachate to promote rapiddecomposition of the waste.

The first test cell was constructed at the LucasHeights landfill site in August 1995 and filled with7000 tonnes of waste, roughly the amount ofgarbage produced by an average Sydney suburb inone year. ANSTO is responsible for operating andmonitoring the leachate recycle system, and forinterpreting the results. The methane composition ofthe biogas reached the optimal 60% within ninemonths. Core samples taken from the test cell aftertwo years showed accelerated physical degradationof the waste compared with that obtained in aconventional landfill after 10 years.

Remediation of dredged estuarine sediments

The generic technical problem of how to effectivelydetoxify sediments and soils co-contaminated withheavy metals and toxic organic chemicals isreceiving much attention world-wide. The disposalof contaminated harbour sediments after dredgingconstitutes a difficult environmental problem,particularly in Australia, where landfill sites able toreceive large volumes of contaminated material arenon-existent.

A project aimed at developing remedialtechnologies to treat co-contaminated sedimentswas completed. Harbour and estuarine sedimentsfrom Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta andCook's Rivers were used as a model system. ANSTOcollaborated on the project with CRA AdvancedTechnical Development (ATD), Sydney Water, andPatterson Britton and Partners Pty Ltd. The workwas partly funded by the Department of Industry,Science and Tourism through the provision of aGeneric Industrial Research and Development grantof $412,400.

The project involved a multidisciplinary approachthat started with the undisturbed sediment bed andfinished with the disposal of waste streams. Majorcomponents of the research program included (i)selection of target sediments based on chemicalanalysis of sediments sampled from 21 sites inSydney Harbour and Parramatta and Cooks Rivers;(ii) physical, chemical and ecotoxicologicalcharacterisation of harbour/river sediments from

five sites; (iii) development of mineral processingtechniques to reduce the volume of material to betreated and increase the efficacy of treatment; (iv)development of both biological and chemicalprocesses to remove heavy metals from thesediments to required residual levels; (v) assessmentof the efficacy of bioremediation of polynucleararomatic hydrocarbons in the sediments; and (vi)ecotoxicological evaluation of process liquid andsolid waste steams.

Process flow sheet development and preliminarycosting of full scale plant construction and operationwas finalised. A successful bench-scale trial of thetechnology was conducted on sediment from alarge scale industrial contaminated-sediment dump.

Plume tracing

ANSTO has developed the use of the inertperfluorocarbon gases as tracers for tracking gasplumes and for defining local meteorologicalconditions. The technique attracted overseas interestand during the year a collaborative program withSeoul National University and the KoreanMeteorological Research Institute was completed.The program provided the experimental datanecessary to validate a Korean mathematical model.The model is to be used to provide air pollutionimpact assessments from a proposed nuclear powerstation in Korea. The work was presented atconferences in Australia, Korea and China.Collaboration with the Korean MeteorologicalResearch Institute is continuing. The techniqueswere also used to complete 70 industrialconsultancies on the nature, quality and quantity ofgaseous emissions. An undergraduate honoursresearch project employing the technique to studythe air quality in Jenolan Caves was completed.

Environmental geochemistry

ANSTO carried out theoretical geochemical studieson disposing of surplus water by spray irrigation atthe Ranger uranium mine, Northern Territory. Thestudies involved identification, quantification andvalidation of factors controlling the movement ofthe water; conversion of these factors into a modelrepresenting the transport; and calculation of thetransport rates with identification of possible releasemodes such as evaporation, spring water, andoverland flow. This particular site required a realistic

41


description of the oscillation of the water table withthe wet and dry season, a task not previouslyattempted. The work was reported at an openworkshop organised by Energy Resources ofAustralia/Ranger Uranium Mines. The theoreticalmodelling is being validated by the collection offield data from the site using a set of ANSTO-designed discrete level water samplers. This phaseof the project has a further year to run. A further setof discrete level water samplers has been installedon the flood irrigation site on the slopes ofCoonjimba Creek.

The work has allowed continued development ofchemical codes and the coupling of these codeswith hydrological and mass transport codes. Theseform a new generation of coupled codes forenvironmental impact assessment of pollutanttransport. This work is being undertaken incollaboration with Professor Zheng of the Universityof Alabama, author of the mass transport code,MT3D. ANSTO, in collaboration with the NationalGroundwater Centre, University of Technology,Sydney, organised a five-day workshop and courseon the application of these codes to predict theextent of pollutant transport from a site.

ANSTO continued a series of geochemical studiesusing column tests on behalf of the Ernest Henrymining project, Queensland. The studies provide thegeochemical data required to develop a soundenvironmental plan for the project and forms part ofongoing environmental studies for the project.

ANSTO, in collaboration with the World GeoscienceCorporation, completed an analysis and report onthe airborne gamma ray capability of the ENMOSairborne monitoring system. The analysis used thefacilities of the ANSTO remote monitoringlaboratory.

ANSTO demonstrated a concept proposed by EarthSystems Pty Ltd for sealing porous media byinduced mineral precipitation. The technique hasconsiderable potential for preventing contaminantrelease from mine and industrial sites and for thecontrolled channelling of pollutant plumes totreatment areas. ANSTO, in collaboration with EarthSystems, is actively pursuing further development ofthe concept.

Hydrology of waste rock dumps

A significant environmental problem in the miningindustry is the transfer of pollutants from sourcessuch as waste rock dumps into the surroundingecosystem. As water is usually the main carrier ofthe pollutants, an integral part of being able tocontrol and limit environmental pollution problemsof this nature is an understanding of how watermoves through media such as waste rock dumps.ANSTO, in collaboration with ERA EnvironmentalServices, carried out field experiments at thesouthern waste rock dump at ERA'S Ranger minesite to investigate water flow patterns in the dump.The experiments and subsequent analysis showedcurrent models and understanding to be inadequate,and further research to be necessary.

These findings are also of importance to the field ofacid rock drainage, a major pollution problem atmany mine sites in Australia and other countries, aswell as to the process of heap-leaching, a method ofextracting metals from low-grade ores by irrigation.

Analytical chemistry

ANSTO participated in the USA National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration program for theanalysis of major and minor chemical elements insoil, sediments and biological samples and in theAustralian National Association of TestingAuthorities Waters Proficiency testing programs forwaters. These programs are undertaken to allowparticipating laboratories to gauge and improvetheir analytical precision and accuracy. The ANSTOlaboratory gained 'Superior Laboratory"accreditation.

ANSTO scientists researching the separation andanalysis of chemical species presented the firstreported analyses of individual arsenic species inwaters and waste streams at an internationalconference organised by the Royal AustralianChemical Institute, the Australian Society ofEcotoxicology and the Society of EnvironmentalToxicology and Chemistry. The technique and resultsgenerated considerable interest from industry,instrument manufacturers and universities, andthere is an active program pursuing furtherdevelopment of the concept, both with instrumentmanufacturers and with university analytical

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chemistry departments.

Radioanalytical chemistry

ANSTO completed an analysis program on the levelof radioactive caesium in Australian honey in orderto provide a comparison for results obtained byEuropean researchers. The level was found to begenerally at the limit of detection and the maximumconcentration found was 100 times less than theradiological safeguard concentration. These resultsare a reflection of the lower radiological levels inthe southern hemisphere compared to those in thenorthern hemisphere, where caesium levels inhoney can exceed the radiological safeguard limit.

As part of a continuing program of qualitymanagement, the environmental radiochemistrylaboratories have been refurbished to bring them toISO 9000 standard. The laboratory instructions andprotocols are being rewritten in the ANSTOProcedures Manual format and a laboratoryinformation management system has beencommissioned to permit full sample tracking duringanalysis.

ANSTO co-supervised two undergraduate honoursprojects on contaminant chronologies and sedimentmovement in local waterways.

Mineral and downstream processing

Processing of materials containing tracequantities of radioactive Isotopes

Quantitative measurements of the level of naturally-occurring radioactivity (uranium and thorium) inproducts derived from mineral sands continued tobe provided as a service to industry. Themeasurements are necessary to allow mineral sandproducts to be exported to countries and customersthat place limits on radioactivity content. Industry-funded work also continued on the removal ofnaturally-occurring radioactive contaminants fromlocal mineral products to increase theircompetitiveness in world markets.

Processing of anode slimes

In the electro-refining of copper, anode slimescontaining high levels of precious metals areproduced. Western Mining Corporation (WMC)operates an anode slimes processing circuit at their

Olympic Dam plant in South Australia. This processcomprises a series of hydrometallurgical andpyrometallurgical steps, to remove variousimpurities such as lead, copper, selenium, telluriumand polonium, which are necessary to produce highquality refined gold and silver.

The expansion in production at Olympic Dam willrequire a new anode slimes processing circuit. WMCcommissioned ANSTO to re-examine the presentflowsheet with the aim of reducing operating andchemical costs. The first part of the project has beencompleted and various options have been identifiedfor further investigation.

Solvent extraction of metals

Solvent extraction is a key technology, developedfor the nuclear industry, which is finding widerapplication in the recovery of metals such as copper,nickel, cobalt, rare earths and gold.

ANSTO's strategic research on solvent extractionfocussed on the use of membranes to separateorganic and aqueous phases. This technique reducesthe volume of solvent and eliminates the emulsionsand crud that sometimes form when phases aredispersed. Using two membranes, extraction andrecovery of cerium was successfully demonstrated.Further research and development on this techniquewill be carried out to develop a modular systemwith higher throughputs.

ANSTO undertook research and development forResolute Ltd on a process to recover nickel andcobalt from solutions derived from the Bulong nickeldeposit in Western Australia. This work culminatedin the operation of a pilot plant at ANSTO involving20 stages of solvent extraction, followed byelectrowinning of nickel. The project was run jointlyby ANSTO and Resolute Ltd. Other participatingorganisations included Mintek (South Africa) andBateman Kinhill Kilborn. The pilot plant campaignwas very successful and the project is nowproceeding to the final design and constructionstage.

Radiation technology

Gamma irradiation facilities were audited and foundto comply with licensing requirements of theTherapeutic Goods Administration and the

43


Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services.Materials processed for quarantine purposesincluded biological material requiring storage andirradiation under frozen conditions.

Several modifications and a refurbishment werecompleted on ANSTO's CATRI facility and workcommenced on three other gamma irradiationfacilities. The modifications will provide a greaterchoice of facilities for processing quarantined,biological and health care materials and for theanticipated expansion of the sterile insect projectfrom 1997.

Some 15 million Queensland fruit fly pupae wereirradiated each week as part of the sterile insectprogram for NSW Agriculture as part of the Tri-StateFruit Fly Strategy. The Fruit Fly factory, a facilityrecently commissioned by NSW Agriculture, iscapable of producing 25 million such pupae perweekly production cycle.

Industry

Nuclear instruments and methods for polymercharacterisation

ANSTO and the Cooperative Research Centre forPolymers jointly organised a workshop to exploreways in which ANSTO capabilities could be appliedto solve problems in polymer research and to assistAustralian industry. ANSTO staff gave presentationson a range of nuclear and accelerator techniquessuch as neutron scattering, ion beam analysis andsynchrotron radiation, which can be applied to thecharacterisation of polymer structure. The workshopinvolved members of the polymer researchcommunity from CSIRO, Monash University, the CRCfor Polymers and some representatives fromAustralian industry.

Advanced ceramics

The functional ceramics work at ANSTO is basedlargely on sol-gel science and technology developedoriginally to provide improved routes for theproduction of synroc precursor. Work continued onadapting sol-gel technology to a range of non-nuclear applications, including the production ofthick and thin films for protective coatings, dielectric,piezoelectric, photovoltaic, photochromic and sensorapplications, and controlled porosity structures forfilters and burners.

A new multidisciplinary research project began onthe engineering and chemical functionalising ofsurfaces for designer materials. The project isfocusing initially on optimising the interface for low-temperature ceramic/ceramic and metal/ceramicjoining.

Ceramic microspheres, with controlled porosity, arealso being developed for the delivery ofradioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals.

In a collaborative program with the French AtomicEnergy Commission, the ultrastructure of sols usedin synroc and sol-gel processing was investigatedusing the advanced small angle X-ray and neutronscattering facilities at Saclay, France.

Materials assessment

ANSTO maintains a strong capability for structuralintegrity assessment of materials and componentsto ensure the continued safe operation of ANSTO'snuclear plant and equipment. This expertise and theassociated facilities are the basis for ANSTO's co-operation with industry. The main activities duringthe past year were:

A major three-year project with Pacific Power wascompleted. The outcomes of this project were thedevelopment of creep-fatigue based methodologiesto assess pressure equipment operating under cyclicconditions. Specific algorithms were developed forone particular superheater header in a NSW powerstation. The project resulted in the development atANSTO of a unique facility for performing stress-relaxation tests on miniature samples taken fromoperating pressure equipment.

Commercial work included creep tests on materialsfrom the Australasian power and petrochemicalindustries. The results are used to assess theremaining life of components which operate at hightemperatures and pressures. Other commercial workincluded ultrasonic and fatigue tests on spot-weldconfigurations for a major Australian manufacturerto underpin its bid for substantial export contracts tothe United States; mechanical testing of coppersamples from large electric motors; and the assess-ment of the metallurgical condition of a number ofprocess vessels for a chemical company. A largetesting and evaluation program continued with amajor Australian non-ferrous metal manufacturer.

44


ANSTO continued to participate in a number ofprojects as a core partner in the CooperativeResearch Centre (CRC) for Materials Welding andJoining, using capabilities required to maintainnuclear plant. Two projects were completed and afurther four commenced.

The two completed projects were on cold-crackingin the heat-affected zone of welds, which involveddetailed finite element modelling (with BHP FlatProducts Division), and on welding of thermallymodified structures, which was aimed at quantifyingthe effects of repair welding in aged pressureequipment (with the University of Wollongong, theCSIRO and BHP Flat Products Division).

Of the four new projects, two involve the criticalassessment of girth welds in thin-walled gaspipelines as part of a major research program withBHP Flat Products Division, the Welding TechnologyInstitute of Australia and support from the oil andgas pipeline industry. Other projects are on the assetmanagement of rail bridges subjected to fatigue(with the Universities of Wollongong and Adelaide)and the life estimation of welded pressureequipment operating at elevated temperature (withthe University of Wollongong, BHP Flat PlateDivision and the support of several Australian andinternational organisations in the power industry).

Progress was made in developing an algorithm forreconstructing ultrasonic data to improve thecharacterisation of defects in structures and welds. Aprototype array transducer was constructed, andtests demonstrated the superiority of the newalgorithm's image-enhancing capability over moreconventional techniques. Further optimisation of thealgorithm and the array transducer are planned. Theultimate aim is to enhance existing capabilities inthe area of reactor component inspection.

Surface engineering

The Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PI3)process for improving wear resistance and service-life of tool materials and components continued toattract international interest. A number of industry,university and government research organisationshave been assessing variants of the process.Negotiations were advanced with an Australianorganisation which submitted a proposal andbusiness plan for a licence to manufacture and

market the technology to the scientific and industrialresearch community. An agreement is close to beingfinalised.

Evaluation of the PI3 technique as a surfacetreatment for cutting-blades in the food-processingindustry commenced. Initial results proved encour-aging, with treated blades lasting three to four timeslonger and exhibiting superior cutting performance .

Collaboration with the Technical University ofClausthal, Germany, continued on a study of theresponse of a range of stainless steels to variationsof the PI3 process.

A strategic study of the mechanisms of nitriding inlow-pressure plasmas was completed. This wascarried out in collaboration with the University ofNew England with the support of an AustralianResearch Council grant. The results of the studyprovide guidance for optimising the use of suchplasmas to treat materials and components whichcannot be nitrided by conventional techniques. Acustom-designed, hot-walled vacuum furnace wasconstructed by an Australian manufacturer to allowthe process to be trialed in a near-industrialenvironment.

Interface phenomena

The Japanese-funded international joint (NEDO)program, in which ANSTO collaborated, wascompleted. The project involved an investigation ofthe surface properties of zirconia. A general modelof gas/solid processes for an oxygen/zirconiasystem was formulated, the effect of aliovalent ionson surface reactivity of zirconia with oxygen wasdetermined and the kinetics of incorporating somespecific ions into zirconia were studied.

Research with a commercial partner, Ceramic FuelCells Ltd, on the defect chemistry and chemicaldiffusion in electrode materials was also completed.

Quality Assurance

ANSTO's Engineering Division was audited by theStandards Australia's Quality Assurance Services inJune for continued compliance with the interlnter-national Quality Standard AS/NZS/ISO 9001. Thiswas a re-certification audit which is carried outevery three years. No non-conformances wererecorded.

45


The National Association of Testing Authorities(NATA), Australia, conducted an audit to reassessANSTO's mechanical testing capabilities. The auditcovered procedures and testing methods used in thelaboratory. ANSTO maintained its accreditation andwas accredited to carry out additional tests.

Twenty four commercial customers used ANSTO'sQuality Control Section for their testing needs,following recommendation by Standards Australiaand the National Association of Testing Authorities,Australia. Type testing of cross-linked polyethyleneand polypropylene pipes and fittings were done toAS2492, draft standard DR 94094 and draftstandard DR 94095. The tests help commercialcustomers to obtain Standards Australia marking fortheir products. They also help customers who wishto sell quality overseas products in Australia.

Commercial leasing of ANSTO property

The Business and Technology Park at Lucas Heightsremains an integral part of ANSTO's technologytransfer strategy. Office and laboratory space isleased to industrial tenants who benefit from accessto ANSTO's unique capabilities. The Park has shownsteady growth with the expansion of leased areas.

ANSTO became a member of the AustralianAssociation of Science and Technology Parks.Membership of the Association, which aims toencourage commercialisation of research anddevelopment, has enabled ANSTO to work withother parks to promote increased interaction withindustry.

Safety services

Radiation standards

ANSTO maintains Australian standards forradioactivity measurement according to itsdelegation under the National Measurements Act1960. The focus is on supporting the nuclearmedicine community, particularly throughcalibration programs, to ensure the accuracy andlegal traceability of activity measurements made byANSTO's Radiopharmaceuticals Division.

ANSTO is collaborating with the National PhysicalLaboratory (NPL) in the United Kingdom to developa new approach to radioactivity measurementknown as Digital Coincidence Counting (DCC). This

method, which uses the latest in high-speedelectronics and computer technology, promises tobe more reliable, flexible and cost-effective thanexisting methods and will extend the range ofstandards which can be produced. ANSTO staffvisited NPL, where a prototype system wasestablished. The application of this technology toother areas is also being investigated.

The Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory(SSDL) facility will be re-established by early 1998.The facility will provide a full calibration service fordosimetry equipment used by hospitals'radiotherapy departments. This will allowmeasurements made on this equipment to be tracedto the Australian primary standard for dose fromexposure to ionising radioactive substances. TheLaboratory will meet criteria set by the OrganisationInternationale de Metrology Legale D 21 for cobalt-60 quality radiation. The ANSTO SSDL willparticipate in annual rounds of the IAEA dosimetryintercomparisons.

ANSTO began negotiating with the AustralianRadiation Laboratory to collaborate on standardcalibration.

Radiation protection training

ANSTO's radiation protection training staffcontinued to provide courses across Australia.During the year, 39 radiation protection courseswere run, 21 of which were provided to externalorganisations in industry and government. A total of346 personnel from 115 organisations were trainedin the basics of radiation protection. A summary ofthese courses is provided below.

Radiation protection consultancies

ANSTO's safety staff provided radiological adviceand health physics coverage for a number ofexternal organisations. Remediation of a SouthAustralian disposal site containing rocket partsmade with a thorium alloy was completed inOctober as part of a larger scale project forAustralian Defence Industries. The site wascompletely excavated and all material containingradioactive material was isolated and stored inappropriate containers. A radiological investigationof a military disposal area in Victoria was completed

46


Radiation Protection Training

Course

Advanced Radiation Safety Officer (10 day)

General Radiation Safety Officer (3 day)

Industrial Radiation Safety Officer (2 or 3-day)

Safe Use of Nuclear Type Soil Moisture

and Density Gauges (1 day)

Radiation Safety for Laboratory Workers (1 day)

Safe Use of X-ray Equipment (1 day)

Safe Use of Industrial Radiation Gauges (1 day)

Radiation Safety Awareness (1 day)

Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials (1 day)

Safe Use of Borehole Logging Equipment (1 day)

Number

1

1

4

15

5

6

4

2

1

1

Participants

10

12

31

136

55

56

24

10

7

5

40 346

in July, with the area intensively surveyed and noradioactive material detected. In April work wascompleted for the Defence Science and TechnologyOrganisation on the investigation, classification,drumming and transport of material in a radioactivestore due for decommissioning. All material wasidentified and placed in containers in compliancewith the Commonwealth Code of Practice for theSafe Transport of Radioactive Substances, 1990.Radiological advice was also provided, on aconsultancy basis, for organisations such as theOffice of the Supervising Scientist.

Ongoing radiation protection consultancies includea major radiological review for a large Australianmining company and radiological advice on aremediation project in Malaysia. The radiologicalreview for the mining company involves a detailedanalysis of all the implications of processing orecontaining trace amounts of uranium, including theeffects on occupational and public exposure.

Occupational health and safety

ANSTO staff undertook consultancies relating tonoise, dust, solvents and gases for eight clients. Onefive-day occupational hygiene course and two two-day confined space training courses were run duringthe year for both ANSTO and external participants

from organisations around Australia. Five three-daycourses on safety in laboratories were run in centresacross Australia.

Risk and reliability services

Industry made increased use of ANSTO's risk andreliability services. Consultancies were provided fora preliminary hazard analysis update for SydneyWater's Cronulla Sewage Treatment Plant; a hazardand operability study, fire safety, and constructionsafety study and compilation of a SafetyManagement System for Croda Coatings Pty Ltd; acomputer hazard and operability study for aproposed Supervisory Control and Data Acquisitionsystem for Sydney Water's Bondi Sewage TreatmentPlant; and a review, in association with PacificPower, of fire, explosion and flood protection ofcritical pumping equipment at North Head SewageTreatment Plant.

A comparative risk study was conducted for Rhone-Poulenc on transport of gangue residue (containingradioactive thorium and uranium) for a rare earthsextraction venture in Western Australia. This studywas presented both as a report and at a series ofmeetings with interested members of the public andgovernment. The assessment evaluated thecomparative risks for transport by road and rail.

47


Specialist engineers from ANSTO provided Goninan,an Australian-based company, with a reliability andmaintainability assessment in support of designs forlight-rail passenger vehicles for the Kowloon CantonRail Corporation's Tuen Mun project. The risk andreliability analysis services provided by ANSTOreduced the company's commercial exposure toreliability penalty clauses in contracts for theseprojects.

An assessment of risk reduction options for chlorinestorage and handling was carried out for SydneyWater at West Hornsby Sewage Treatment Plant.

Radiopharmaceuticals

ANSTO continued to support the health careindustry and medical research by developingradiopharmaceuticals and radionuclides, principallyfor diagnosing and treating cancer and diagnosingneurological disease. The radionuclides areproduced in the research reactor HI FAR or at theNational Medical Cyclotron.

Research concentrated on the development ofchemical and biological compounds which, whenlabelled with suitable radionuclides, can be used forimaging or therapeutically irradiating selecteddisease sites. Other work included improvingmethods of producing radionuclides that can beused as radiolabels for ANSTO-developed andimported Pharmaceuticals.

The development of new radiopharmaceuticalsincludes radiolabelling, pre-clinical pharmacologicalevaluation, radiation dose determination,development of quality control procedures anddevelopment of methods for routine manufacture.This includes design and manufacture of automatedproduction equipment for in-cell use. New ANSTO-developed radiopharmaceuticals are evaluated inclinical trials in collaboration with specialistphysicians. These are conducted in accordance withthe requirements of the Therapeutic GoodsAdministration of the Commonwealth Departmentof Health and Family Services.

ANSTO continued to support university researchthrough the Australian Institute of Nuclear Scienceand Engineering. Two students supported by AINSEPost Graduate Fellowships worked onradiopharmaceutical research projects and one PhD

thesis was completed. Two Year-in-lndustry studentsfrom the University of Technology, Sydney, workedon Radiopharmaceuticals Division projects and twostaff members worked towards PhD degrees.

Eighteen refereed journal papers were published byRadiopharmaceuticals Research and Developmentstaff and a number of papers were presented atinternational and Australian conferences. Staffparticipated in an IAEA Research CoordinationMeeting on therapeutic radiopharmaceuticalproduction and quality control and in a consultants'meeting on molybdenum-99 production.

Molecular radiopharmaceuticals

Positron emission tomography (PET) and singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT) areadvanced techniques for imaging disease sites forimproved diagnosis or for monitoring the progressof a disease or its response to therapy.

ANSTO is developing new PET and SPECTradiopharmaceuticals based on organic moleculeslabelled with cyclotron produced radionuclides suchas iodine-123 and fluorine-18. Several clinical trialsfor evaluation of new radiopharmaceuticals werebegun or have been approved for commencementin the near future.

Research during the year included the synthesis,radiolabelling and biological evaluation of severalperipheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands aspotential radiopharmaceuticals for investigatingneuronal and glial damage and possibly certaintumours in which these receptors are involved. Twoiodine-123 labelled compounds, iodozolpidem and acommercial compound, GBLD-952, showed promiseand will be investigated further. Iodine-123 labelledN-Methyl dexetimide was investigated as a means ofevaluating receptor changes in the heart associatedwith diabetes. Work commenced on a strategicresearch project to develop possible SPECTradiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis ofmovement disorders such as epilepsy andParkinson's disease.

Radionuclide development and dosimetry

There is considerable potential for the use ofradiolabelled biological carrier molecules for cancertherapy, provided that suitable high specific activityradionuclides can be produced. Current research is

48


focussed on separating high specific activityradiolanthanides, including holmium-166, lutetium-177 and terbium-161, from their radioactive parentnuclides. The decay properties of these nuclidescover a range of therapeutic possibilities. Holmium-166 and lutetium-177 labelled peptides havepotential for therapy of solid tumours.

An automated system for lanthanide separationswas successfully evaluated for separation ofholmium-166 from dysprosium-166. The highspecific activity holmium-166 produced has beenused to label biological molecules to be evaluatedas possible therapeutic radiopharmaceuticais.

Work began on several projects to improveprocesses used at ANSTO for commercialradiopharmaceutical production.

A new ion-exchange process for separatingmolybdenum-99 from irradiated uranium targets toproduce technetium-99m generators wasdemonstrated on a laboratory scale. It increasedproduct yields by 20 per cent. Experiments on asemi-production scale were begun. A successfuloutcome will result in considerable cost savings.

Chromium-51 chromate, used for blood celllabelling, is currently imported by ANSTO fordispensing and resale. The possibility of in-houseproduction was investigated and a potentialproduction method successfully developed. Anydecision to change over to in-house manufacturewill be based on commercial considerations.

Work continued on the extraction of useful by-product radionuclides from targets irradiated at theNational Medical Cyclotron for commercialproduction of nuclides such as gallium-67. The mostimportant of these by-products is copper-64, whichis being used to study genetic defects as part of acollaboration with Melbourne University.Commercially viable yields at a specific activityhigher than previously published internationally arenow being obtained. This work was reported at The7th International Workshop on Targetry and TargetChemistry held in Heidelberg, Germany.

Bioradiopharmaceuticals

Many biological molecules, including monoclonalantibodies and peptides, have a strong affinity withspecific disease sites. Research at ANSTO is directed

towards developing methods to radiolabelappropriate molecules to provide newradiopharmaceuticais for diagnosis or therapy.

Whole antibodies were labelled with copper-64using diamino hydroxyl ethylene tetra acetic acid(DAHA-EDTA) as a linking compound, and evaluatedin tumour-bearing mice. The observed rapidclearance of the compound from the remainder ofthe body indicates its potential for PET imaging ofuptake within six hours of administration. This resultindicates that if DAHA-EDTA is used to radiolabelproteins such as streptavidin/avidin, the morespecific tumour targeting would result in improvedimaging or radioimmunotherapy. A US patent forthe use of the DAHA-EDTA ligand for radiolabellingbio-molecules was granted.

Commercial production ofradiopharmaceuticais and radioisotopes

ANSTO continued to supply radiopharmaceuticais topublic and private nuclear medicine centresthroughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia.Production relies on the complementary facilities ofthe HIFAR research reactor and the National MedicalCyclotron.

Sales of radiopharmaceuticais and radioisotopes formedical, industrial and research use rose to $12.3million. Sales of iodine-131 and technetium-99mgenerators increased, while sales of otherradiopharmaceutical products remained at levelsclose to previous years.

Export sales to markets in New Zealand, Taiwan, thePhilippines, Korea and China continue to expand.

Negotiations were carried out with leadinginternational radiopharmaceutical organisations forANSTO to significantly increase its role as a supplierof reactor- and cyclotron-produced isotopes to theAustralian and South East Asian nuclear medicinecommunities. Negotiations are nearing completionon a complementary Technical CooperationAgreement.

Operating efficiency and staff safety were improvedthrough automation of some processes in theassembly of technetium-99m generators and thedispensing of thallium-201 and gallium-67 products.An automated conveyor transfer system for thedispatch of products, commenced last July, reached

49


the pre-commissioning trial phase. Implementationis expected within three months.

The quality of the installation of a new cell face forthe Iodine 131 production cell was ensured bydimensional and non-destructive testing. Certificatesof construction were issued for various types ofradioactive packages.

Quality Control laboratories were refurbished andthe equipment updated. This upgrade has enabledstaff to report results faster and with greateraccuracy.

ANSTO has contracted to manufacture specialisedtherapeutic pharmaceutical products for two publichospitals, St. George Hospital and Royal North ShoreHospital. The Pharmaceuticals are made to thecontracting hospital's formulation.

ANSTO's technetium-99m generators are used inmany nuclear medicine centres throughout Australiaand are a principal product of theradiopharmaceuticals production section. A projectto improve the design of the technetium-99mgenerator commenced.

An inspection of ANSTO's radiopharmaceuticalsproduction facilities for quality assuranceaccreditation under the Australian/New Zealand ISO9000 series is due in the last quarter of 1997.Procedures and work instructions have been writtenin accordance with requirements. ANSTO alreadymeets Therapeutic Goods Administrationrequirements as a licensed pharmaceuticalmanufacturer. Accreditation to the Australian/NewZealand ISO 9000 quality standard series willenhance this compliance.

Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals

ANSTO has been licensed by Dow Chemical USA tomanufacture and sell in Australia and in certainSouth East Asian countries the therapeuticradiopharmaceutica! Samarium-153 EDTMP, knownas Quadramet™. It is administered to reduce thepain associated with bone metastases, which canarise from a variety of primary cancers.

Due to limitations associated with the HIFAR reactor,the Australian product is slightly different from theoverseas version. To study the effects, if any, of this

difference, a clinical trial of 19 patients wasconducted between September 1995 and August1996. The results showed there was no differencebetween the bioequivalence of the Australian andoverseas products. Since this time small quantities ofthe drug have been supplied to various Australianhospitals under the Special Access Scheme of theTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

In October 1996, a request to market Quadramet™generally in Australia was lodged with the TGA, withthe results of the clinical trial forming an importantpart of the submission. Approval of the submissionand subsequent significant sales of Quadramet™are expected in the second half of 1997.

Dr Suzanne Smithconducting radiolabellingexperiments at levels ofhigh activity usingmanipulators attached tohot cells.

50


ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAND SUPPORT

or* £*&*%&>

• «C."'J-V. \. *- V -

ANSTO's high qualitygrounds and gardens,often remarked upon byvisitors, contribute sub-stantially to the standardof work conditions enjoyedby staff. Col Tarrantsupervises both in-houseand contract staff in T

maintaining ANSTO'S / 0 Pmvide best practice corporate support, safety management, information and°""n'""" human resource management for ANSTOS eight hundred staff.

= ANSTO and government

surrounds.

51


OUTCOMES

• Consistent and effective budget and financialmanagement services were delivered to allbusiness units and executive management, thebudget being restructured to reflect corebusinesses and output categories.

• The financial information delivery platform wasenhanced by the development of an informationretrieval system.

• More comprehensive labour cost information wasproduced by upgrading the existing timesheetrecording system.

• Savings in warehouse operations were achievedthrough increased reliance on just-in-timepurchasing.

• The staffing profile was adjusted to enhanceresourcing of science activities and provide morecost effective and flexible support services.

• New staff courses tailored to the organisation'sstrategic goals and structure were introduced.Topics included project management, teamwork,leadership, and setting objectives.

• A set of management competency standards wasdeveloped and used to assess the competenciesof 36 senior managers.

• A relatively stable industrial relations environmentwas maintained. Lost time due to industrial actionwas limited to an issue directly related to thenegotiation of a new Enterprise Agreement.

• A new Enterprise Agreement covering all staff wassuccessfully negotiated with representativeemployee organisations on behalf of staff.

• New International Atomic Energy Agencyrecommendations for the physical protection ofthe HIFAR research reactor, nuclear materials andfacilities were implemented.

• A government review of the Australian ProtectiveService (APS) service identified physical protectionat ANSTO as core work. This means that the APSwill continue to carry out this task.

• ANSTO enhanced its ability to meet national,international and organisational objectivesthrough continued development of its

management systems, using the InternationalStandards Organisation's ISO 9000 series as abenchmark.

• The organisation's quality and safety culture wasfurther improved by using quality tools toenhance the efficiency and effectiveness ofANSTO's processes and products.

• ANSTO's information management division wasreorganised to better meet its commitments toprovide information services and computerresources to the Organisation.


Finance and supply services

Strategic advice and support services were providedacross a wide range of finance and supply functionsincluding treasury, taxation, management andfinancial reporting, financial systems administration,accounting services, major and minor procurement,and warehouse management.

The project costing module within the Prophecyfinancial information management system wasreviewed. As a consequence, the ANSTO timesheetrecording system was completely redesigned andcomprehensive changes made to its time allocationstructure for capturing and reporting salary andsuperannuation costs against projects. The newtimesheet recording and cost allocation system wasimplemented on schedule and without sacrifice tosystem stability. Extensive training was provided tousers.

Development of a Financial Information RetrievalSystem was completed. This is part of an ongoingproject to enhance the delivery of financialinformation to users. The system is a valuabledecision support tool with sufficient flexibility toalign reporting with core business and business planactivities.

As part of a continuous improvement program,policies, systems and procedures were reviewed toensure integrity and fitness for their intendedpurposes. New policy and procedures for theadministration of foreign currency transactions weredeveloped and approved by the Board AuditCommittee. Other procedures were amended to takeaccount of specific requirements, technology

52


development and operational initiatives that addvalue to the business.

To justify the published value of its real property,ANSTO obtains an independent valuation on itsland, buildings, electrical and site services at three-yearly intervals. The Australian Valuation Officeundertook a new valuation during the year, basedon existing use. This valuation forms the basis forthe published values of land, buildings and siteservices disclosed in the Financial Statementsappended to this report.

Under the auspices of the Government's MajorNational Research Facility Program, ANSTOmanages the Australian Synchrotron ResearchProgram. The Prophecy Financial InformationManagement System is used to manage its financialtransactions. A new reporting entity separate fromANSTO was established for the purpose.

Courses on accrual accounting principles andANSTO processes were conducted during the yearfor administrative staff to ensure that theirdevelopment matched the Organisation's needs.

Warehouse operations were revised andrationalised. The principle of just-in-time purchasingwas implemented. As a result, the number ofinventory-controlled items kept in the warehousewas reduced from around 2500 to 500. Stock heldis now limited to items of a hazardous or bulkynature, accountable printed forms and otheressential items that cannot be obtained on a just-in-time basis.

Budget

ANSTO is a budget-dependent organisation, relyingon Government appropriation to carry out itsactivities. The principles associated with ANSTO'sbudget allocation are identified in a frameworkTriennium Funding Agreement between the Ministerfor Finance, the Minister for Science and Technologyand ANSTO. The 1996-97 financial year was thefinal year of the third triennium funding period.Government savings measures impacting upon theANSTO budget for 1996-97 totalled $6.35 millionand comprised efficiency dividends/savingsmeasures of $1.35 million and a one-off reduction of$5 million.

A parliamentary appropriation of $63,651 millionwas received in 1996-97 (1995-96, $65,602 million)and included an amount of $3.86 million borrowedforward from the 1997-98 appropriation to fund thecost of transporting a quantity of HI FAR spent fuelelements to Scotland and their reprocessing there.After taking this borrowing into account, the 1996-97 appropriation amount was 8.8% less than theamount appropriated the previous year.

Revenue

Total operating revenue from independent sourcestotalled $27.254m (1995-96, $27.558m). Externalearning generated by research and services totalled$23.42m (1995-96 $23.71 m), which represented25.77% of total income and exceeded the externalrevenue target of 20% of total annual income set byGovernment.

External earnings included $12.283m from the saleof radiopharmaceuticals, $2.043m from siliconirradiation services and $1.93 6m from grants.

Figure 1 External Income

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

,ppropriation

1993-941994-95 1995-96

Unrelated1996-97 revenue

Expenditure

A significant development in the 1996-97 budgetprocess was the introduction of Topic DrivenResearch Projects, which are undertaken by multi-disciplinary project teams of staff from a number ofDivisions.

53


Expenditure was in line with budget provisions

against core business activities and special

expenditure categories. Figure 2 provides an

expenditure profile based on core business

activities.

Direct costs associated with the establishment and

operation of the new strategic research projects

accounted for 2.45% of total expenditure.

Salaries and payments in the nature of salaries is

the single largest component of running cost,

representing 53.56% of total operating expenses.

Some $14,478 million was spent during the year to

maintain and upgrade the capital stock of the

organisation. A breakdown of this expenditure is

given in the table below.

Insurance

Insurance is a central element of ANSTO's risk

management policy. The organisation has policies

covering risk in relation to professional indemnity,

public and product liability, and industrial special

risk for a property used substantially for commercial

purposes. In addition, directors' and officers'

insurance was acquired. This policy extends to all

Board members and officers of ANSTO.

This insurance strategy is based on the

Commonwealth's insurance principles, which require

claims or losses derived from insurable risk

associated with commercial activities to be covered

by commercial insurance, with other claims and

losses subject to consideration for acceptance by

the Commonwealth on a case by case basis.

Building development and facilities improvement $M

Building maintenance, refurbishment and development

Radiopharmaceutical production facilities

Waste Management Facility

Electrical system upgrade

Water reticulation and effluent systems upgrade

Cyclotron PET facility

4.453

1.099

0.335

0.462

0.292

0.233

Research

Total

Sub total

facility and equipment for research and scientific services

6.964

7.514

14.478

Figure 2 Expenditure Profile

Organisational Development a Support 15.4%Radiopharmaceutical Production 8.3%

International Strategic Relevance of Nuclear Science & Technology 7.3%

Core Nuclear Facilities Operationa Development 34.0%

Application of Nuclear Science & Technologyto Understanding of Natural Processes 7.2%

Treatment of Radioactive Substances 10.1 %

Competitiveness & Ecological Sustainability of Industry 18.7%

54


Other significant expenditure during the year wasfor:

• supply of fresh fuel stock for the HIFAR reactor:$2.098m

• transport and reprocessing of HIFAR spent fuel:$1.803m

• progression of operations against an approvedwaste management action plan: $1.579m

Quality assurance

All Divisions continued to develop and implementtheir management systems to meet quality systemrequirements. One unit, HIFAR, achieved third partycertification of its management system and asecond began working towards it. Engineering hashad this certification for three years. Other unitshave been working to gain third party accreditationfor the test and/or inspection services they provide.Third party certification of management systemsand accreditation of processes help ANSTO meet itsstatutory and customer requirements for processesundertaken and products provided.

Staff received further training in qualitymanagement and its objectives through the ANSTOQuality Management course, an internal qualitysystem audit course and other short courses.Awareness of the relationship between quality ofproducts, processes and improved safety andcustomer and stakeholder satisfaction is increasing.

Use of internal quality system audits increased.These system audits are used to verify the currentstatus of processes and to identify areas for process,product and safety improvement.

Site services

A broad range of site services were maintained tosupport research and other business activities.ANSTO's cleaning service was outsourced.Management of the cafeteria and the adjacent LucasHeights Motel continued to be outsourced, with anew contract executed which delivers a financialreturn to ANSTO.

Significant savings were achieved as a result of thereview and rationalisation of in-house transportservices. A small in-house transport functionremains. This service was also considered for

outsourcing, but retained because of its importanceto the marketing and distribution ofradiopharmaceuticals. The staff transport service toand from the Lucas Heights site is now providedexclusively on a contract basis.

ANSTO's gardens continued to be maintained by in-house staff. All other grounds maintenance,including lawn mowing services, are provided undercompetitive contracts. Recycling and daily wasteremoval services continued to be provided in-house,after taking account of the specialised nature ofsome wastes.

Human resource management

An internal review and redirection of researchactivities, combined with a need to achieve morecost effective operational support resulted inchanges to ANSTO's staffing profile. This processinvolved interviews and placement of some staff inalternative jobs within the Organisation. A numberof staff elected to leave in accordance withvoluntary redundancy arrangements.

Advice and support was provided to staff andmanagement on payroll, rehabilitation,compensation, performance appraisals and theassociated appeals process, overseas travel,recruitment advertising, immigration matters andANSTO's Common Law and other legal issues.

Staff carried out a detailed analysis of the payrollservice to confirm its integrity and effectiveness. Itsintegrity was also confirmed through anindependent audit.

Staff were provided with advice in relation to thePrivacy Act, the Safety Rehabilitation andCompensation Act 1988, Equal EmploymentOpportunity policy and the Career AdvancementSystem.

Work experience for young Australians

A work experience program placed 80 applicantsduring the year. In addition, 20 undergraduatestudents received 10 weeks of industrial trainingduring the university summer vacation.

ANSTO continued its support of the AustralianQuality Council's E Teams program. Two teams ofsenior secondary students from neighbouring

55


schools were sponsored to work on actual businessprojects. The first, from Heathcote High School,examined the conducted tours of the site offered bythe organisation, while the second, from LucasHeights Community School, considered how ANSTOcould better provide information relevant to schoolstudents. Both groups produced highly practicalsuggestions which are being implemented.

Human resource development

A set of ANSTO management competencies wasdeveloped. Thirty-six senior managers participatedin a Development Centre to assess them againstthese competencies as the basis for a continuingprogram of development

The process for continuing development andapplication of ANSTO's competencies was includedin the 1997 Enterprise Agreement. Work

Training carried out during 1996-97

commenced on defining generic competencieswithin the three broad categories of science andengineering, craft and technical and administrativeservices. A focus group approach is being used toallow staff to use experience from their careerstreams to help identify and develop competencyrequirements and standards for ANSTO.

Senior managerial staff attended a course toexamine and improve practices in managingchange, teamwork and team planning processes.

Administrative staff attended a two-day residentialcourse on team work and leadership practices. Thecourse will assist staff in implementing inter-divisional work arrangements.

Following a decision to set a common date for allstaff assessments and objective setting, to coincidewith the organisation's business planning cycle,

Categories

Computing courses

Engineering courses, seminars

and conferences (other than

HlFAR-specific training)

Health and safety courses

HIFAR-specific training courses

Management and general

administration courses

Quality assurance courses

Science courses, seminars

and conferences

No. ofcourses

78

41

49

9

132

12

130

Attendanceby Males

88

70

277

76

444

68

150

Attendanceby Females

38

2

73

6

196

35

26

Trainingdays involved

225

190

235

510

1000

125

445

Scholarships valued at $323,000 were paid to universities for undergraduate,postgraduate and year-in-industry student training.

Total number of days spent by staff on training or attending seminars, conferences or symposia 2,730

Average number of courses attended by males 1.9

Average number of courses attended by females 2.2

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff participating in training programs 2

56


workshops were run for ANSTO supervisors andmanagers on setting objectives and relating them tobusiness plans.

A program of self-paced learning using a CD-ROMnuclear series from the United Kingdom wasintroduced. This proved beneficial to bothengineering and nuclear technology staff.

Employee and industrial relations

The introduction of the Workplace Relations Act1996, in December was supported by aninformation program to ensure that all staff knew ofthe legislation and understood its impact onemployment arrangements at ANSTO.

There were extensive negotiations betweenmanagement and representative unions to developand agree on a new Enterprise Agreement. Theprevious Agreement expired on 29 October 1996.Negotiations were protracted and at one stageunions called a one-day strike to support theirclaims. Despite that action, agreement on the finalpackage was reached without recourse to theIndustrial Relations Commission. ANSTO's EnterpriseAgreement was the first public sector agreement tobe certified under the new legislation. The 30-monthagreement provides for moderate salary increases inreturn for greater productivity through simplificationof employment arrangements and the introductionof human resources based reforms.

The industrial relations environment remainedstable despite the climate of change created by thenew Workplace Relations Act. This stability resultedfrom the strong consultative framework that existsbetween management, staff and unions. Monitoringof current trends in employment and industrialrelations has helped ANSTO maintain contemporaryindustrial relations standards.

Business development

Work began on revising ANSTO's manual on doingbusiness with external agencies, Commercialisation ofResearch. It will be reissued as Business Guidelines. A

system for project management was initiated andtrialed for its use in research projects. Itsimplementation will be integrated with the BusinessGuidelines.

Business collaboration staff helped Divisions to

develop contracts for 25 projects.

The promotion of ANSTO to industry continued withthe development of a corporate brochure promotingANSTO's capabilities.

Upgrading of electrical supply

The program of review and improvement of the siteelectrical distribution system continued with thereplacement or refurbishment of buildingswitchboards and the completion of the low voltageswitchboard works in the site substations. Since thefour-year upgrade of major capital works began in1993, some 600 site switchboards and associatedcables have been assessed and replaced ormodified. This should ensure that the site is reliablyserved by its local distribution system for the next10 to 20 years. Power factor correction equipmenthas also been installed. As well as correcting thepower factor, this equipment allows monitoring andstorage of many of the electrical operatingcharacteristics of the supply system and will allowmore accurate and effective planning of additionsand changes to the system.

General site maintenance

A number of laboratories were refurbished to cleanroom standard. Ventilation systems and fumecupboards were also upgraded.

A water reticulation system upgrade was completed.Most buildings and laboratories now have separatesupplies of potable and non-potable water. Firesafety equipment continued to be upgraded. Thisinvolved installing additional hydrants and hosereels and replacing some of the older fire alarmsystems.

ANSTO's Works Unit was restructured with anincreased focus on outsourcing most of themaintenance and building infrastructuredevelopment work. Key in-house-staff were retainedto ensure quality of work and safety are notcompromised and specialist skills not lost.

A data base on lifting equipment was maintained.Lifting gear continued to be inspected to ensurecompliance with ANSTO's safety requirements.

Pressure testing and temperature calibratingcapabilities were upgraded. All on site pressurevessels that were due for inspection were inspected

57


and relevant certificates issued. The site pressurevessels were classified in accordance with therequirements of AS3901:1993. The informationgained was utilised in ANSTO's submission toComcare to obtain licence to operate the pressurevessels on site.

Information management

ANSTO's information management services were re-organised to reflect the changing needs of theorganisation, and the rapidly evolving technologicalframework in which those services are delivered.Four main teams were formed: Information Delivery(encompassing Library and Records), Applications,Operational and Technical Support, and Scientificand Strategic Computing. The Division is advised bya cross Divisional Information Management andTechnology Consultative Group, which reviewscurrent work, refines and endorses proposedstandards for personal computer purchases, anddiscusses proposals for changes in operatingregimes and the deployment of new technology. Italso recommends on change management ofcomputing facilities across the organisation.

Library activities using the skills of library, recordsand computer specialists include organising andevaluating information sources, building specialiseddatabases, such as INIS, creating and customisingWeb front-ends such as that in the Online LibraryCatalogue (Voyager) or the Structured InformationManager (SIM), and advising and training users onhow to efficiently access, search and retrieveinformation to meet their needs.

Further refinements were made to theANSTO/CSIRO Voyager library system with the aimof improving user response times, and refining theuser interface. Desktop access is now available to allstaff via Windows or Web interfaces. Workcontinued on converting the existing Library cardcatalogue to an electronic form. This should becomplete early in the next financial year. It willimprove desktop access to a significant portion ofthe library collection and allow further efficiencies inthe management of Library resources.

A new service was launched to provide staff withInternet access to new publications via acommercial vendor. Titles requested by staff can beautomatically e-mailed to the Library, and purchase

can take place electronically.

Desktop access to bibliographic information,abstracts, keywords and table of contentsinformation for scientific papers in over 7000research journals via SIM was successfullyimplemented. SIM is an information retrieval systemaccessible to ANSTO scientists via the CSIROLibraries network.

An ANSTO Library World Wide Web Home Page waslaunched. For the public it provides informationabout the Library, access to the ANSTO/CSIROOnline Catalogue and links to useful Internetresources. For staff, it provides additional desktopaccess to subscribed databases, electronic journals,forms and quick reference guides. Staff can also usethe system to request a new records file.

Draft documentation for an updated informationsecurity policy was prepared to reflect the 'whole ofgovernment' view that security consists of fourelements: people, information, resources andproperty. The documents will form one section ofANSTO's upgraded Security Handbook.

ANSTO completed a review of the current resourcesused to provide and support information technologywithin the organisation. The review, initiated by theOffice of Government Information Technology,covered areas of mainframe, mid-range and desktopcomputing, but specifically excluded applicationdevelopment. It was estimated that the supportcosts for ANSTO's desktop computing systems wereabout $130 a month per desktop personal computerand about $70 per person per month for Unixcomputing. A system was implemented to moreaccurately capture information technology supportcosts, which will enable the organisation todetermine the cost effectiveness of possibleoutsourcing in the future.

An extensive upgrade of the site computer networkconnections was carried out. In addition, ANSTO, inpartnership with CSIRO, upgraded its AustralianAcademic Research Network (AARNet) connectionfrom a 56Kbps to a 2Mbps link, resulting in fasterand more reliable services. Use of the 2Mbps linkhad reached 40% of its capacity by June. The wholeAARNet service contract was renegotiated withOptus by AARNet to provide increased capacity atreduced cost from the beginning of the new

58


financial year.

The Fujitsu vector computer was replaced with aSilicon Graphics multi-processor machine, which hasproved a remarkably efficient and cost effectivecentral computing facility for ANSTO. A scientific andstrategic computing team assisted the variousscientific topic teams in planning their work andprovided scientific computing and visualisation insupport of research and topic projects. The groupalso developed a strong collaborative arrangementwith Fujitsu Laboratories in Japan, resulting in a fullyfunded project from Fujitsu on the continuingdevelopment of visualisation techniques.

A voice-mail system to support up to 500 users wasimplemented, and users across the site are beingadded in manageable increments. A video-conferencing facility was installed and has providedsignificant savings on the cost of interviewingoverseas applicants for ANSTO positions. It has alsobeen used for scientific collaboration with overseascounterparts.

Hardware replacements for the existing NovellCorporate Server system were evaluated anddelivered, resulting in more disk storage space forclients, improved speed and performance, andgreater system resilience and disaster recovery. Newdelivery mechanisms were put in place to providenetworked access to CD-ROM products from thedesktop. Response times to Help Desk requests werereduced and a pilot scheme to improve servicedelivery by using a desktop management systemwas completed.

The use of e-mail by ANSTO staff has continued toincrease over the past year, with over one gigabyteper month now being sent. More importantly, theuse of e-mail as a means of group and site-widecommunication within ANSTO is becomingcommonplace, with the creation of a number ofspecial mailing lists, including one for all ANSTOstaff members, and separate divisional and affinitygrouping lists.

The first successful download of electronic data foremployee contributions to ComSuper wasundertaken during the year. They have continuedon a pay-by-pay basis. An Employer SuperannuationInterim Costing Capture computer system wasimplemented from the first pay for the financial

year. Historical costing information is now held inthe Financial Information Management System(FIMS), ready for attribution to specific projects orDivisional cost centres when staff timesheets areprocessed.

Procedures for approving and recording ANSTO'sscientific publications through the ProCite databasewere revised. ProCite is a database managementprogram which organises references and formatsbibliographies automatically. A ProCite Webinterface, accessible via the ANSTO Home Page, wasdesigned to facilitate data capture from across thesite.

Security

A new physical protection system for the HI FARresearch reactor and nuclear material storagefacilities was implemented to meet InternationalAtomic Energy Agency guidelines. Additionalelectronic access control systems were introduced tofurther enhance security on the remainder of thesite.

The role of the Australian Protective Service (APS) inguarding ANSTO was included in a governmentreview which focused on the APS's role, functions,structure and funding. The review identifiedANSTO's guarding requirements as core work, withthe result that the Service will continue to provideprotective security guarding and take responsibilityfor the counter terrorism first response role at theLucas Heights Science and Technology Centre.

Communications

ANSTO completed a comprehensive communityattitudes survey, which sought the specific ANSTOissues important to the public together with thepublic's attitudes towards the organisation .Conducted with the assistance of stakeholders fromthe Sutherland Shire Council, Sutherland ShireEnvironment Centre and a representative appointedby the community, it surveyed more than 900people in Sutherland Shire, Bankstown-Liverpool,and Woilongong and Sydney, and a small controlgroup in Melbourne. The survey's results, whichwere made public, are being used to refine elementsof ANSTO's communications strategy and willprovide the benchmark for future attitudes andopinions measurements.

59


ANSTO and representatives of its community havecontinued to meet every two months with anindependent facilitator who is managing theprocess. As well as providing a forum at whichgeneral information exchanges could take place,talks on specific items, such as synroc, werearranged. Work continued on the development of aCommunity Right to Know code, a document thatwould set out the ways in which ANSTO and thecommunity would deal with each other in regard toinformation about the Organisation's activities.

A speakers program built around providing ANSTOstaff to talk to community groups about theOrganisation's activities was relaunched in January.Almost 50 bookings were held at the end of thefinancial year, with a strong word of mouth factordriving inquiries. The majority of talks were toSutherland Shire groups. The speakers program isbeing expanded to address the information needs ofschool students.

The range of information on ANSTO's InternetHome Page continued to be expanded. On average,2200 inquiries a week were made of the page, withheaviest demand usually following media publicityabout the organisation. Development has begun ofANSTO's first fully electronic publication, itseducational resource A Nuclear Source, which will beavailable on the Home Page. It will replace thepreviously paper-based version and will be availablein the first half of the next financial year.Information from ANSTO's corporate brochure isforming the basis of a continuously expandingelectronic library of the organisation's capabilitieson the Home Page.

Interaction with the news media continued on analmost daily basis. A number of journalists fromnational and local media outlets madefamiliarisation visits to ANSTO. Advertorialscovering both general ANSTO activities and a seriesof What I Do at ANSTO' profiles of staff werepublished in local newspapers.

Guided tours of ANSTO remained popular, withsome 5000 visitors to the site. It was noticeablethat more commercial tour operators are addingANSTO to their schedules. Discussions arecontinuing with local tourism authorities about

promoting linkages with other popular visitordestinations in the Sutherland Shire.

In taking information about its activities to abroader audience, ANSTO participated in exhibitsranging from the community to the national level.The latter included events such as the AustralianScience Festival and the Conference of theAustralian Science Teachers' Association, CONASTA.

There was a continuing high level of demand forANSTO's graphic design services, with work doneranging from the ANSTO Strategic Plan, a corporatebrochure and the weekly staff newsletter, to posters,displays and conference papers.

Photography services were also in high demand,with some 300 assignments completed in the year.The work of ANSTO's photographer, Tim Tapsell,was recognised by his peers by his being acceptedinto the Australian Institute of Medical andBiological Illustration.

Land management issues

Following a NSW Government endorsed mediationprocess between the Waste Service NSW and theSutherland Shire Council, the Waste Service isproposing to extend operations at the Lucas HeightsWaste Management Centre (WMC) while providingfunding and work in kind to develop a majorsporting and recreational complex at the nearbyclosed Lucas Heights No.1 disposal site.

The current operation at the WMC and theproposed operations extension are mainly locatedon land within the 1.6 km radius buffer zone aroundthe HI FAR research reactor. It is leased by the WasteService from ANSTO. The proposal includesovertopping filled waste disposal areas, establishingwaste processing facilities and green wastecomposting areas, and an electricity generationplant that will utilise landfill gas collected from thewaste fill areas.

The Waste Service also proposes to rehabilitate thewaste fill areas to a form that will allow the ANSTOlease area, as well as its own land, to be madeavailable in due course for possible recreationalactivities not catered for at the proposed LucasHeights No 1 sporting complex. Any recreationalactivity proposed for the ANSTO lease area will be

60


subject to approval by ANSTO and must meet safetycriteria that take State emergency responserequirements into account. The Waste Service ispreparing an Environmental Impact Statement andassociated environmental management plan as partof the requirements of the NSW environmentalassessment process. This process anddocumentation is expected to also satisfy therequirements of the Commonwealth EnvironmentProtection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974, which wouldbe applicable to that part of the proposal on ANSTOland.

A revised lease agreement is being negotiatedbetween ANSTO and the Waste Service inanticipation of development consent for the

proposal being granted by the NSW authorities.

Patents

ANSTO had 120 patents and patent applications atthe close of the financial year.

Ecologically sustainable development

The goals, core objectives and guiding principles ofthe national strategy on Ecologically SustainableDevelopment were recognised and implemented inANSTO's activities during the year.

The Australian Protective Service (APS) plays amajor role in ensuring the security of the ANSTOsite. In a recent review of the APS it was decidedthat guarding ANSTO was core work for the APSand that it should continue to provide this service.

61

P E R F O R M A N C E

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR INFORMATION

The 1994 Triennium Funding Agreement for theperiod 1994-95 to 1996-97 between CSIRO, ANSTOand the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)and the (then) Ministers for Finance and for Industry,Science and Technology contains an agreed set of10 performance indicators for ANSTO. Theseindicators are used as part of the process ofmonitoring the performance of ANSTO's functionsand achievements of its objectives.

Reporting against Performance Indicators 1 and 2 and4 to 10 is provided below. Reporting againstPerformance Indicator 3, the adoption by users ofpractices, instruments and processes developed byANSTO, is covered in the general reporting under corebusinesses.

Performance Indicator 1 ANSTO Contracts 1995-96 and 1996-97 ($ value over $1,000)

Total contracts 1996-97:260

Total contracts 1995-96:290

Source: ANSTO Governmentand Public Affairs Division

LEGEND

Core business areas

ISRNS: InternationalStrategic Relevance ofNuclear Science andTechnology

CNFOD: Core nuclearFacilities Operation andDevelopment

ANST: Application ofNuclear Science andTechnology to theUnderstanding of NaturalProcesses

TMRS: Treatment andManagement of Man-madeand Naturally OccuringRadioactive Substances

CESI: Competitiveness andEcological Sustainability ofIndustry

ODS: OrganisationalDevelopment and Support

o

o

"I3

T3

Q.

O

o

ax)TO

J l

ISRNS CNFOD ANST TMRS CESI ODS

Core business areas (see legend)

250

No.

EU 1996-97

I 1995-96

% completed

D 1996-97

1995-96

ISRNS CNFOD ANST TMRS CESI ODS


62


Performance Indicator 2 ANSTO allocation of resources into agreed priority areas1995-96 and 1996-97

ooo

•a0)Q.XLU

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

• 1996-97

• 1995-96

ISRNS CNFOD ANST TMRS CESI RP* ODS

Core business areas (see legend) Expenditure ($'000)

1996-97 - $88,979

1995-96-$88,856

*Radioisotope production

Performance Indicator 4

oop

C

I

ANSTO science and technology-based gross revenue1995-96 and 1996-97

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

ni niISRNS CNFOD ANST TMRS CESI RP' ODS


• 1996-97

• 1995-96

Science- andtechnology-based grossrevenue ($000)

1996-97-$23,885

1995-96 - $23,710

*Radioisotope production

Source: ANSTO Corporate Services Division

63


Performance Indicator 5 ANSTO pubiications by type 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97

350

300

250

200

150

100

50 •

1—|

P_!

[I[

;!

i

!

i!i

i

—1

• 5 . "'>

- f-'ri

j, {

S3

i

• - ,

:

ii

• 1996-97

i-U 1995-96

i_J 1994-95

Journal articles Conference Commercial a Books/papers/abstracts technical chapters

Publishedmonographs

Other

Source: ANSTO Government and Public Affairs Division

Performance Indicators 6 & 10 Cooperation with industry, research organisations and theuniversity sector

300

270

240

210

180

150

120

90

60

30

0 1

1

| 1

U 1996-97

[ 1 1995-96

Number of visitingscientists who

undertook research atANSTO during the

year

Total number ofpostgraduate studentsusing ANSTO facilities

Number ofpostgraduate students

fully or partiallysponsored by ANSTO Source: ANSTO Government

and Public Affairs Division

64


Performance Indicator 7 Provision of advice to Government

59% 40%

Total person years 20.13

(1995-96 20.63 person years)

Core business areas

ISRNS

CNFOD

• ODS

Source: ANSTO Business Plans


17%

Contribution to international networksand to international policy developments

72%

Total person years 22.5

(1995-96 18.75 person years)

Core business areas

e ISRNS

• CNFOD

• ANST

E3 TMRS

• CESI

• ODS

Source: ANSTO Business Plans


Major Facilities

HIFAR Research Reactor

Tandem Accelerator

National Medical Cyclotron

Degree of usage of maintained facilities by external users 1996-97

AlNSE-funded projects outside the organisation utilised 383 instrumentdays. ANSTO research involving collaboration with university groupsand training of Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) students utilised 161instrument days. (1995-96: 337 instrument days for external users)

External users accounted for 50% of operational time (1995-96 = 40%)

Production of isotopes for scientific purposes accounted for 12.5% ofbeam time (1995-96 = 10.8%)

Production of isotopes for sale accounted for 87.5% of beam time(1995-96 = 89.2%)

65

SITE SAFETY

SITE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS

ANSTO is committed to ensuring a safe andhealthy environment at the Lucas HeightsScience and Technology Centre for employees,visitors and contractors.

OBJECTIVES

Promote best practice in health and safety and involve

staff in ownership of their own health and safety.

Provide and maintain safety systems and assessment

procedures.

Ensure that risks to staff and the public associated with

ANSTO's operations are kept as low as is reasonably

achievable.

OUTCOMES

• Implementation of the safety policy on siteresulted in a safe working environment foremployees, visitors and contractors.

• Safety staff ensured that ANSTO's safety systemsand policies conformed to international bestpractice and complied with statutory requirementsin occupational health and safety. A healthpromotion program was implemented.

• All staff working with radioactive materials hadtheir radiation exposure monitored to ensure thatradiation doses complied with internationallyagreed limits for both Lucas Heights staff and thepublic. No member of staff was exposed to a dosegreater than 15 millisieverts (mSv), compared tothe internationally agreed limit of 20 mSv.Controls, monitoring and assessment ensured thatoff-site exposures from airborne emissions fromANSTO were less than 1 % of the public dose limit.

• Effluent discharged into the Sydney Water sewersystem met all limits for radioactive pollutants inaccord with the Trade Waste Agreement withSydney Water. This agreement requirescompliance at the Cronulla Sewage TreatmentPlant with World Health Organisation drinkingwater standards for radioactivity.

• The effectiveness of the ANSTO emergencymanagement plans was demonstrated in exerciseswith emergency services organisations.


Occupational Health and Safety Policy

In compliance with requirements of theOccupational Health and Safety (CommonwealthEmployment) Act 1991, the ANSTO OccupationalHealth and Safety Policy was published in full in the1992/93 ANSTO Annual Report. It has not beennecessary to make any changes to the policy.ANSTO continued to implement all parts of thepolicy, which is widely distributed throughoutANSTO as Safety Directive 1.2 'Occupational Healthand Safety Policy', reissued on 27 September 1996.

The report of Comcare Australia's audit of ANSTO'scompliance with the Occupational Health and Safety(Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991, was receivedin August. The report indicated that ANSTO'sperformance was 'exceptionally good' and that'ANSTO has achieved a remarkable result in allareas of this planned investigation'. The report alsonoted that there was a high level of managementcommitment to improving health and safetyperformance at Lucas Heights and that ANSTO wasone of the few organisations in NSW currentlycomplying with the new regulation on manualhandling. Only three recommendations were made.These related to more frequent workplaceinspections, developing a health promotion programand rationalising quantities of hazardous materials.All were followed up.

Accidents and incidents

Staff continued to be encouraged to report allincidents and accidents so that investigations couldbe made and any trends identified. They includedthose occurring during sporting activities and whiletravelling to and from work.

In addition to the ANSTO internal reporting andinvestigation system, certain types of accident mustbe reported to the government agency, Comcare,under the provisions of Section 68 of theOccupational Health and Safety (CommonwealthEmployment) Act.

In the past year, 23 accidents were notified andsubsequently reported under this Act. Four incidentswere classified as serious personal injury, 14 as

66

S I T E S A F E T Y

extended absences and three as dangerousoccurrences, using the categories defined byComcare. None of these accidents or incidentsinvolved radiation. Two further notifications weremade, allegedly due to unsubstantiated radiation-related incidents five and six years ago. One claimhas been denied by Comcare and the other ispending but not supported by ANSTO.

Half of the incidents were related to manualhandling. ANSTO is continuing to pursue strategiesaimed at reducing manual handling incidents. Thedangerous occurrences were a tree branch falling ona vehicle, a contractor cutting through a live cableand a runaway fork lift truck.

Of those classified as serious personal injury, themost serious was a contractor who electrocutedhimself but survived. The others were a laceration ina workshop, a minor acid splash and an elderlyvisitor who fell boarding a tour bus.

Radiation protection

As part of the assurance of safety at work for allstaff, the ANSTO Personal Dosimetry Servicemonitored the external radiation exposure of 754persons working at the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre and at the National MedicalCyclotron, located at the Royal Prince AlfredHospital, Sydney.

The highest effective dose for the year to anyindividual was 15.0 mSv, which is well below theannual dose limit of 20 mSv (averaged over 5years).

Table 1 shows the maximum, average and collectiveeffective doses for the past four financial years.

The effective doses reported last year included aninterim correction factor. Further investigation duringthe year following the results of an internationalintercomparison of personal dosimetermeasurements has required slight modification ofthe correction factor. This has been incorporated inthe above table. The results of the intercomparisonindicated that ANSTO was one of the most accurateof the 32 participating laboratories.

The radioisotope dispatch area is undergoingmodification and automation in order to improveefficiency and keep doses to workers to a minimum.The period of modification has caused difficult workconditions for a few personnel and this, togetherwith the increases in radioisotope production, hasresulted in higher effective doses for them.Completion of the modifications will greatly improveworking conditions and reduce doses to dispatchworkers.

Table 2 shows the distribution of effective (wholebody) doses for the past four financial years.

Table 1: Effective dose

1993-94

Maximum effective dose mSv 10.7

Average effective dose mSv 0.8

Collective effective dose Person mSv 667

1994-95

11.5

0.8

625

1995-96

14.8

0.9

701

1996-97

15.0

1.0

730

Table 2: Distribution of effective doses (mSv)

Doses <2

>2to5

> 5 to 10

> 10 to 15

> 15 to 20

>20

1993-94

689

77

24

2

0

0

1994-95

684

63

19

3

0

0

1995-96

671

87

17

5

0

0

1996-97

657

66

28

3

0

0

67

S I T E S A F E T Y

Seventy-two per cent of workers monitored receivedless than 1 mSv and no worker received more than15 mSv. The three highest doses were received bydispatch workers in ANSTO's radioisotopes dispatcharea, and 23 of the 28 workers with doses between5 and 10 mSv are involved withradiopharmaceutical production at the Lucas Heightssite or the National Medical Cyclotron. A comparisonof the maximum and average effective doses for thepast three years is shown in Figure 1.

The ANSTO Personal Dosimetry Service alsomeasures shallow doses of all monitored workers.The highest shallow dose for the year to anyindividual was 16 mSv, which is well below thenational and international annual dose limit of 500mSv.

Doses to extremities, hands and fingers, are alsomonitored for those workers handling radioisotopesand likely to receive a dose to their extremitiessignificantly different from the dose to their body.The highest extremity dose to any individual for theyear was 167 mSv, considerably less than theannual dose limit of 500 mSv.

In addition to monitoring external exposures,ANSTO also monitors internal exposures, bothroutinely for staff who have the potential forinternal exposure, and in response to incidents.Methods used include bioassay (tritium in urine) andwhole body and thyroid counting. Any significantdoses are added to those from external radiationand are included in the effective doses.

ANSTO is committed to maintaining a safe workingenvironment and keeping radiation doses As LowAs Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). A new policy forperforming ALARA assessments was producedduring the year and agreed to by the Nuclear SafetyBureau.

Environmental discharges

Airborne emissions

In the course of their normal operations, somefacilities produce small quantities of gaseousemissions. Emissions are minimised by treatmentand filtration prior to discharge and all areconstantly monitored. The effect on the surroundingenvironment is too small to directly monitor, so an

atmospheric dispersal model is used to estimate thedoses to the surrounding region and the public.

The results of discharge monitoring and doseassessments showed that radiation doses to staffand the public due to the discharges were wellwithin annual limits recommended by the NationalHealth & Medical Research Council and less than thedose constraints adopted by ANSTO.

The maximum annual exposure for 1996/97resulting from these discharges was 0.015 mSv onthe Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centresite and 0.009 mSv on the boundary of the 1.6 kmbuffer zone.

These doses are well below the average dose of 2.4mSv per year received from natural backgroundradiation, and off-site exposure is less than the doseof 0.01 mSv that would be received during a returnflight from Sydney to Melbourne.

The Australian Radiation Laboratory and the SafetyReview Committee continued to provideindependent monitoring of ANSTO's airbornedischarges. This role will be transferred to the newAustralian Radiation Protection and Nuclear SafetyAgency, planned to be in place by July 1998. InMay, the Nuclear Safety Bureau, with assistancefrom the Australian Radiation Laboratory and theOffice of the Supervising Scientist, conducted anaudit of all discharge monitoring from HIFAR. Thisconfirmed that the very low doses were an accuraterecord of public exposures.

Revised discharge authorisations, more accuratelyreflecting the operational patterns at ANSTO, wereagreed upon with the Nuclear Safety Bureau. Theserelate the authorisation directly to the off-site dose.

Liquid effluent discharges

Effluent discharged from ANSTO into the SydneyWater sewer met all limits for radioactive dischargesin accordance with the Trade Waste Agreement withSydney Water. These limits ensure compliance at theCronulla Sewage Treatment Plant with World HealthOrganisation drinking water standards forradioactivity.

For non-radioactive materials, all discharges were incompliance with the Trade Waste Agreement.

68

SITE S A F E T Y

Environmental survey

ANSTO regularly surveys levels of radioactivitywithin and external to the Lucas Heights Scienceand Technology Centre, using samples of soil, creekwater, stormwater, seawater, vegetation and air.Results are published annually and are publiclyavailable in local libraries. These results confirmcompliance by ANSTO with all relevant regulatorylimits.

Safety assessment

All facilities, experiments and processes on theLucas Heights Science and Technology Centre withpotential hazards are assessed and approved bysafety committees. In addition to this internalapproval system, there are external independentgovernment approval and review bodies establishedto report on ANSTO's activities. These are theindependent Nuclear Safety Bureau for all issues todo with nuclear plant, and the Safety ReviewCommittee for all other issues. The Reactors SafetyCommittee also provides advice to ANSTO'sExecutive Director.

Safety Assessment Committee

For all potentially hazardous activities not directlyinvolving the HI FAR reactor, approval is given bythe Safety Assessment Committee, which consists ofrepresentatives from a range of ANSTO Divisionsand an external independent expert. During theyear, it reviewed some 180 submissions. Allsubmissions are examined by assessors beforebeing presented to the Committee and arerenewable annually. Conditions on the proposedoperations are followed up to ensure they areimplemented.

During the year, a revised assessment procedurewas introduced. It strengthens the risk assessmentprocess and emphasises the need to minimise andsegregate radioactive waste.

Reactors Safety Committee

The terms of reference of the Reactors SafetyCommittee (RSC) are:

• to provide advice as requested by the ExecutiveDirector on matters relevant to the safety ofnuclear plant operated by ANSTO

• to review and advise the Executive Director onproposals for experiments, changes in operations,or modifications to nuclear plant operated byANSTO which involve significant safety issues

• periodically to review the operation of ANSTO'snuclear plant for evidence of an appropriatesafety culture, adequate safety management, andcompliance with Operating Authorisations andother procedures.

• The committee has a Chairman external toANSTO. It met four times during the reportingperiod.

• The RSCs objectives are to ensure the existenceof an adequate safety system that is based onappropriate standards. With these aims in view,the Committee paid particular attention toreviewing:

- reports on abnormal occurrences, theirsafety significance and corrective actionstaken

- safety audit procedures for thedecommissioning of the Moata reactor

- site liquid and airborne emissions andoffsite doses

- the Nuclear Safety Bureau's regularreports on the safety of ANSTO's nuclearplant

- reports on major safety activitiesincluding the probabilistic safetyassessment of HIFAR, updating of theHIFAR Safety Document, and safety culturestudies.

Emergency response

Emergency arrangements

A 24-hour emergency response capability isprovided at the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre. Additionally, emergencyarrangements are maintained and exercised inconjunction with State agencies.

Emergency planning at the Lucas Heights Scienceand Technology Centre is conducted under theprovisions of the NSW State Emergency and RescueManagement Act 1989. This Act requires that a

69

S I T E S A F E T Y

range of plans, generally known as DISPLANs, are inplace for potential emergencies. The purpose ofthese plans is to allow for emergencies to becontrolled at the lowest appropriate level. Thearrangements make provision for assistance to beprovided should the incident escalate. Thisassistance is a staged process and provides forescalation of emergency control from local to districtto State level. For the arrangements to be effective,all involved agencies are required to have in placeappropriate internal instructions and/or standingoperating procedures and to make resourcesavailable when required. Plans that have a directbearing on activities at the Lucas Heights Scienceand Technology Centre are explained below.

Response to accidents, incidents or emergencies arecovered by two plans. The Lucas Heights Scienceand Technology Centre Emergency Plan describesthe on-site emergency arrangements for situationswhich can be handled by ANSTO personnel. TheANSTO Emergency Plan (DISPLAN) provides for theon-site emergency arrangements which requireassistance and control from the NSW combatagencies. ANSTO personnel provide full technicalsupport to this plan.

Accidents, incidents or emergencies with off-siteconsequences are covered by escalatingarrangements consisting of the Sutherland ShireLocal Disaster Plan (DISPLAN), the St George -Sutherland District Disaster Plan (DISPLAN) and theNSW State Disaster Plan (DISPLAN).

The ANSTO Local Liaison Working Party (LLWP) isresponsible for preparing the ANSTO EmergencyPlan (DISPLAN). ANSTO's Safety Division and theLLWP prepare the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre Emergency Plan. Membership ofthe LLWP consists of representatives of ANSTO,NSW emergency services organisations and localgovernment. The Nuclear Safety Bureau is anobserver. The LLWP met on four occasions duringthe year with a very high level of participation bythe NSW emergency services organisations. Revisedsite emergency response plans were endorsed on27 November and published as a single document:Lucas Heights Science & Technology Centre -Emergency Planning Arrangements'. This wasdistributed to emergency services organisations,

local government, and associated organisations,including libraries and local federal and Statemembers of parliament.

During the year numerous new ProcedureDocuments were produced for ANSTO personnelinvolved in the emergency plans. The emergencyresponse plan for the National Medical Cyclotronwas endorsed and circulated. A "Safety andEmergency Procedures Manual" was developed tofinal draft stage.

Emergency exercises

Emergency exercises are held to test theeffectiveness of all, or selected aspects, of theemergency arrangements.

All actions resulting from the site emergencyexercise in June 1996 were implemented. Ongoingtraining, radiation awareness training and sitefamiliarisation is being provided for the NSW FireBrigade.

An emergency tabletop exercise, 'Exercise Bush/was held in February. A tabletop exercise is onewhere a series of scenarios are presented to theplayers. A facilitator then extracts from each playerhow they or their organisation would respond toeach stage of the scenario. This scenario was a bushfire that threatened the site, igniting materialsaround Building 23A and eventually causing a fire,inside the building, which released a toxic plume.

About half of those attending, including acommunity representative, came from externalorganisations. It is believed this is the first time atabletop exercise of this type has been conducted atANSTO.

The objectives were to test components of thearrangements in the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre Emergency Plan and the ANSTOEmergency Plan (DISPLAN) together with thesupporting Standing Operating Procedures. Theobjectives were achieved and resulted in minorimprovements to emergency arrangements.

At the National Medical Cyclotron a buildingevacuation exercise was conducted and a tabletopexercise is being planned.

70

Atmospheric dispersion

High quality meteorological data have beencollected at Lucas Heights since the 1960s. Anadditional three meteorological stations wereinstalled in 1993 to study the influence of complexterrain on atmospheric transport and dispersionpatterns. Data collected between 1975 and 1996were summarised as a climatological report.

ANSTO staff began work on a major study toinvestigate and validate atmospheric dispersionmodels used for emergency response planning. This v

involves comparing a number of internationallyrecognised models with atmospheric tracer datacollected in the Lucas Heights area. Tracer studieswere undertaken at intervals during the year tostudy a range of meteorological conditions.

Other safety services

A full range of health physics, occupational healthand safety, medical, nuclear safety and risk andreliability services were provided to ANSTOfacilities, including HIFAR and the NationalMedical Cyclotron. Of particular importance werethe development of safety cases for many of themajor facilities at ANSTO and the NMC.

.- »,,- • * . • u--

. . • . - •

ANSTO conducts extensive,year-round sampling of itsenvironment to ensure itmaintains its record ofoperating well withininternational, national andState standards foremissions from its site.Emmy Hoffman is picturedtaking a sample from a creeknear ANSTO.

71

B U S I N E S S O P E R A T I O N S

TRACERCO AUSTRALASIA

Tracerco Australasia is a partnership betweenANSTO and ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd. It is acommercial operation whose business is applyingradioisotope technology to solve problems inindustrial process plants.

The company is based at the Lucas Heights Scienceand Technology Centre in premises rented fromANSTO. It carries out projects on clients' work sitesthroughout Australia, New Zealand and South-eastAsia.

Tracerco Australasia benefits from technical inputfrom ANSTO and commercial input from ICIAustralia. The company's continuous exposure to awide range of industries allows Tracerco to functionas an information channel through which problemsof general importance to Australian industry may befed back to the parent organisations for research.

Tracerco Australasia continued to perform stronglyin 1996-97 and the original sales budget of $1.05million was revised upwards to $1.15 million. Theoutstanding feature of the year's performance wasthe rapid growth of business in Asia, with projectscarried out in South Korea, Singapore, Thailand andMalaysia. Asian business accounted for 60% of thetotal sales income and prospects for continuingbusiness are excellent.

On mainland Australia, Western Australia was by farthe most important market, accounting for 23% oftotal sales, followed by New South Wales (11.5%)and Victoria (5%). Combined sales in Queenslandand South Australia represented only 0.5% of thetotal and promotional initiatives are now beingdirected at industries in these States to redress thebalance.

As in previous years, Tracerco Australasia's activitieshave been dominated by the oil industry. Sales tooil refining, oil/gas production and downstreamchemicals accounted respectively, for 60%, 15% and22% of revenue. Though sales to mineralprocessing industries accounted for only 13% of thetotal income, Tracerco Australasia identifiedexcellent opportunities to provide services andinstrumentation to that sector. These are expectedto come to fruition in 1998.

The company continued to lend its support to theactivities of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The General Manager chaired an Experts Committeeon 'Emerging New Applications of Radiotracers inIndustry', the output from which will shape theAgency's research program in industrialradioisotope applications over the next three years.

A technician using the neutronbackscatter technique to providea level-interface measurement

72

A S S O C I A T E D O R G A N I S A T I O N S

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING(AINSE)

AINSE is a consortium of universities in partnershipwith ANSTO. By the end of 1996 all but two minorAustralian universities had joined the consortium.The University of Auckland is also a member,bringing the total number of member universities to36. The Institute was established by theCommonwealth Government in 1958 to conductresearch into nuclear energy and to provide trainingin the nuclear field. AINSE's mission today is toadvance research, education and training in nuclearscience and engineering and their applicationswithin Australia by being, in particular, the key linkbetween universities, ANSTO and major nuclearscience and engineering and associated facilities.

AINSE's objectives for the next five years wereunanimously approved on 6 December 1996 by thegoverning Council, which consists of arepresentative of each member University, theExecutive Director of ANSTO and the directors ofseven ANSTO scientific and technical divisions.These objectives are:

(1) to ensure users in member organisations ofAINSE have access to major nuclear science andengineering and associated facilities for researchpurposes

(2) to facilitate graduate and undergraduateeducation and training experience utilising majornuclear science and technology facilities

(3) to encourage collaboration and co-operationbetween member organisations of AINSE in areasprimarily related to nuclear science and engineeringand their applications and

(4) to sustain and support the development of majornuclear science and technology facilities in Australiafor shared use by member organisations of AINSE.

AINSE is a non-profit making institute incorporatedunder the NSW Associations Incorporation Act1984. All sources of funds coming to AINSE areused in supporting university research. Universityprojects are mainly supported through grants tocover costs associated with operating anddeveloping ANSTO's facilities.

AINSE operates on a calendar year basis. Thisreport covers 1 January to 31 December 1996.

In 1996, income of $2,595,949 was made up of

$1,002,300 from ANSTO, $527,050 from universitysubscriptions, $806,717 from external grants,$216,868 from interest on investments and $43,014,mainly from conference registrations.

AINSE acts as a peak body on behalf of its memberorganisations in applying for and administeringmajor research infrastructure grants. In this respect,1996 was a very successful year, with AustralianResearch Council (ARC) grants of $300,000 and$225,000 awarded in support of Quaternary Scienceutilising the ANTARES Accelerator MassSpectrometry facility and the National NeutronScattering facility, respectively. In addition, ARCgrants of $150,000 for Secondary Ion MassSpectrometry and $120,000 for Plasma Fusionresearch were also awarded. With respect to thelatter, AINSE is part of the consortium which hasbeen awarded $8.7 million for the National PlasmaFusion Research Facility based on the HI-Heliacstellerator device at the Australian NationalUniversity. AINSE is responsible for facilitatingaccess to this facility by researchers from memberuniversities.

Applications for ARC funding in 1997 have againbeen successful, with grants of $300,000 for theANTARES AMS facility (through the University ofWestern Australia), $60,000 for the SIMS facility,and $250,000 for the Heliac facility at the ANU.

A total of 153 university projects were supported in1996 under the AINSE grant scheme with a further54 AMS and Heliac projects funded from the ARCgrants, bringing the total to 207. In addition, 20postgraduate students received AINSE supplementsand grants for access to ANSTO's facilities. ANSTOsubsidises these awards by providing additionaltime on its facilities at no cost to AINSE. Thestudents also provide valuable support for ANSTO'sresearch.

Two national conferences and two workshops wereorganised by AINSE in 1996. AINSE-supportedresearchers spent about 2000 instrument daysusing ANSTO's facilities and there wereapproximately 800 person-days spent attending theAINSE conferences and workshops.

The 1996 AINSE Cold Medal for Excellence inResearch supported by AINSE was awarded to

73

A S S O C I A T E D O R G A N I S A T I O N S

Professor Andrew Gleadow and the La TrobeUniversity Fission Track Analysis Group. Dr JarrodMartin of the University of New South Wales, wasawarded the Student Gold Medal for his work as apostgraduate student. A pilot series ofundergraduate experiments on ANSTO's facilitieswere held this year for the first time.

The President of AINSE for 1995 and 1996 wasProfessor Bob Breakspere from Central QueenslandUniversity. The Vice President was Professor TrevorOphel from the Australian National University. TheExecutive Officer is Dr Roger B Gammon.

Member organisations of AINSE as at 31 December1996:

•ANSTO • University of Adelaide • University ofAuckland • Australian National University• University of Ballarat • University of Canberra• Central Queensland University • Charles SturtUniversity • Curtin University of Technology • DeakinUniversity • Edith Cowan University • FlindersUniversity of South Australia* Griffith University •James Cook University of North Queensland • LaTrobe University • Macquarie University • Universityof Melbourne • Monash University • MurdochUniversity • University of New England • Universityof New South Wales • University of Newcastle •Northern Territory University • University ofQueensland • Queensland University of Technology

• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology• Southern Cross University • University of SouthAustralia • University of Southern Queensland•Swinburne University of Technology • University ofSydney • University of Tasmania • University ofTechnology, Sydney • Victoria University ofTechnology • University of Western Australia• University of Western Sydney • University ofWollongong.

74

F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION

STATEMENT BY DIRECTORS

In the opinion of the Members of the Board of the Australian Nuclear Scienceand Technology Organisation, the attached financial statements for the yearended 30 June 1997 represent fairly the information required by the Ministerfor Finance's Guidelines for Financial Statements of CommonwealthAuthorities.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Members of the Board.

Max Richards

1/9/1997Sydney

Helen M Garnett

1/9/1997Sydney

75



OPERATING STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 1997

Notes

NET COST OF SERVICESOperating Expenses (before abnormal items)International Strategic Relevance Of Nuclear ScienceCore Facilities Operation and DevelopmentApplication Of Nuclear Science and Technology toNatural ProcessesTreatment and Management of Radioactive SubstancesCompetitiveness and Ecological Sustainability Of IndustryOrganisational Development and SupportRadiopharmaceuticals Operations

Total Operating Expenses (before abnormal items)

Operating Revenues from Independent SourcesInternational Strategic Relevance Of Nuclear ScienceCore Facilities Operation and DevelopmentApplication Of Nuclear Science and Technology toNatural Processes

Treatment and Management of Radioactive SubstancesCompetitiveness and Ecological Sustainability Of IndustryOrganisational Development and SupportRadiopharmaceuticals Operations

Total Operating Revenues from Independent Sources

Net Cost of Services (before abnormal items)

Abnormal Items

Net Cost of Services

REVENUES FROM GOVERNMENT

Parliamentary appropriations receivedOperatingCapital

Total Revenues from Government

Surplus/(Defidt)

1997$000

6.45629,377

6,3168,970

16,59813,7607,502

47,43116,220

1996$'000

4,73428,607

7,0037,367

18,62815,5976,920

4

6

5

4

88,979

9423,632

965912

3,6514,84212,310

27,254

61,725—

61,725

88,856

1,0093,782

1,121826

3,4945,266

12,060

27,558

61,2985,317

66,615

49,77715,825

63,651 65,602

1,926 (1,013)

EQUITY INTERESTAccumulated Surpluses at beginning of reporting periodAmounts Transferred from Reserves

Total Available For Appropriation

Accumulated Surpluses at end of reporting period

1010

87,8572,098

91,881

91,881

86,8721,998

87,857

87,857

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

76



STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIESAS AT 30 JUNE 1997

Notes

10

DEBTLeases

Total Debt

PROVISIONS AND PAYABLESEmployeesSuppliersOther payablesOther provisions

Total Provisions and Payables

Total Liabilities

EQUITYReservesAccumulated Surpluses

Total Equity

Total Liabilities and Equity

FINANCIAL ASSETSCashReceivables

Total Financial Assets

NON-FINANCIAL ASSETSLand and buildingsInfrastructure, plant and equipmentInventoriesIntangiblesOther

Total Non-Financial Assets

Total Assets

Current LiabilitiesNon-Current LiabilitiesCurrent AssetsNon-Current Assets

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

11

1997$000

1996$000

15,710 15,3773,224 1,5233,414 4,2406,059 8,763

28,407

28,407

89,94291,881

181,823

210,230

13,2373,408

16,645

29,903

29,907

59,55287,857

147,409

177,316

15,5193,428

18,947

1212131415

124,25459,467

9,141144579

98,53852,2834,908

1202,520

193,585 158,369

210,230 177,316

13,72414,68319,062

14,72815,179

23,003191,168 154,313

77



STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 1997

Notes

OPERATING ACTIVITIESCash receivedSales of goods and servicesInterest receivedParliamentary appropriations

Total cash received

Cash usedEmployeesSuppliers

Total cash used

Net cash from operating activities

INVESTING ACTIVITIESCash receivedProceeds from sales of property, plantand equipment

Total cash received

Cash usedPurchase of property, plant and equipment

Total cash used

Net cash from investing activities

FINANCING ACTIVITIESCash UsedPrincipal repayments under finance lease

Net cash from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash heldAdd cash at 1 July

Cash at 30 June

16

1997$000

Inflows(Outflows)

27,193980

63,651

91,824

(47,324)(34,619)

(81,943)

9,881

1996$000

Inflows(Outflows)

23,2511,752

65,602

90,605

(46,565)(34,016)

(80,581)

10,024

304

304

11

(12,463)

(12,463)

(12,159)

(4)

(4)

(2,282)15,519

13,237

(18,234)

(18,234)

(18,234)

(8)

(8)

(8,218)23,737

15,519

The cash balances at 30 June 1997 and 1996 as shown in the Statement of CashFlows are reconciled to the related items in the Statement Of Assets and Liabilities.


78



SCHEDULE OF COMMITMENTSAS AT 30 JUNE 1997

Note

BY TYPE

CAPITAL COMMITMENTSProperty, plant and equipmentWaste treatment and disposal projectTotal capital commitments

OTHER COMMITMENTSOther commitmentsTotal other commitments

Total commitments payable

Commitments receivable

Net commitments

1997$000

1996$000

1,5915,3656,956

2,4042,404

9,360

9,360

4,788

4,788

4,5024,502

9,290

9,290

BY MATURITY

One year or less

From one to two years

From two to five years

Net commitments

4,542

2,330

2,488

9,360

6,746

2,544

-

9,290


79



SCHEDULE OF CONTINGENCIESAS AT 30 JUNE 1997

Notes

CONTINGENT LOSSESDisposal of spent fuel (a)Other (b)

Total contingent losses

CONTINGENT CAINS

Total contingent gains

1997$000

90,000100

90,100

1996$000

90,000

90,000

Net contingencies 90,100 90,000

(a) ANSTO has an inventory of 1630 spent HIFAR fuel elements at its Lucas Heights site.ANSTO has advised Government that the options for the ultimate disposition of HIFARspent fuel elements are:

- return of all fuel to the United States or the United Kingdom for reprocessing,- the processing of the spent fuel domestically, or- some combination of these options.

Having taken advice on its obligations under the ANSTO Act 1987, the Boardrecognises that a decision on a preferred option is a matter for Government policy.The cost of this task has been estimated at up to $90 million, dependent on theselected disposal option. ANSTO is economically dependent on the Government tomeet the cost for this task (see also Note 1). No provision by ANSTO for the costinvolved has been made pending the Government's decision on a preferred disposaloption.

To provide interim storage relief, the Government has appropriated to ANSTO anadditional $13.05 million to fund overseas shipment of spent fuel during 1997/98 and1998/99.

(b) As at 30 June 1997, there are three Common Law claims against the Organisation.Two of these claims have been filed in the Dust Diseases Tribunal and the remainingone in the District Court.


80



NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THEFINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 1997

Note Description1 Economic Dependency2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies3 Segment Reporting4 Operating Expenses - including Abnormal Items5 Operating Revenues from Independent Sources6 Radiopharmaceuticals Operations7 Parliamentary Appropriations8 Debt9 Provisions and Payables10 Equity11 Financial Assets12 Property, Plant and Equipment13 Inventories14 Intangible Assets15 Other Non-Financial Assets16 Cash Flow Reconciliation17 Investments18 Remuneration of Directors/Members of the Board19 Remuneration of Executives20 Insurance21 Remuneration of Auditors22 Related Party Disclosures23 Trust Money

81



NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OFTHE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 1997

1 ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY

ANSTO is dependent on appropriations from Parliament to carry out its activities.(See also Note 20).

2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIESThe financial statements are a general purpose financial report. They have beendrawn up:

i. having regard to the provisions of the Australian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation (ANSTO) Act 1987 and the ANSTO Amendment Act 1992.

ii. in accordance with Guidelines for Financial Statements of CommonwealthAuthorities issued by the Minister for Finance, which require compliance withStatements of Accounting Concepts, Australian Accounting Standards, AccountingGuidance Releases and other mandatory professional reporting requirements(Consensus Views of the Urgent Issues Group).

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis and are inaccordance with the historical cost convention, except for certain assets which, asnoted, are at valuation. Except where stated, no allowance is made for the effect ofchanging prices on the results or the financial position.

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financialstatements are:

(a) Cash

For the purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, cash includes a short term depositheld with a bank.

(b) Bad and doubtful debts

A provision is made for any doubtful debts based on a review of all outstandingaccounts at year end. Bad debts are written off during the period in which they areidentified.

(c) Inventories

Uranium and Cobalt-60 inventories of enriched natural and depleted uranium arevalued on the basis of net realisable value.

Stocks of reactor fuel, heavy water and stores are valued at average purchase price.

Work in progress is valued at cost, which includes both direct costs and an allocationof overhead expenses.

(d) Property, plant and equipment

Acquisition

Items of property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated asoutlined below. Items of plant and equipment with a cost of less than $3,000 areexpended in the year of acquisition.

The cost of assets constructed by the entity includes the cost of materials, directlabour and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.

82


Revaluations

In accordance with the Guidelines for Financial Statements of CommonwealthAuthorities issued by the Minister for Finance, land and buildings are required to berevalued at 3 yearly intervals. During 1996-97 an independent valuation of ANSTOland, buildings, and electrical and site services was conducted as at 30 June 1997, byMr John Starr (registered valuer no. 2388) of the Australian Valuation Office. Thebasis of valuation is the depreciated replacement value based on existing use.

In accordance with AAS10, all increments and decrements relating to the one class ofassets have been taken to the Asset Revaluation Reserve account.

Depredation and Amortisation

Items of property, plant and equipment, including buildings, but excluding freeholdland, are depreciated over their estimated useful lives to ANSTO ranging from 3 to30 years. The straight line method is used.

The High Flux Australian Reactor (HI FAR) and the containment building aredepreciated on the basis of an assumed life to the year 2000. This is subject toreview and the useful life may be extended.

(e) Investments

Investments are brought to account at the lower of cost or valuation.

(f) Patents

Due to the uncertain commercial value of patents, and because benefits to morethan one accounting period cannot be assured, the costs associated with thedevelopment and registration of patents are expended in the year in which they areincurred, unless recoverability is assured beyond any reasonable doubt. At 30 June1997 there were 116 patents (128 at 30 June 1996) registered to ANSTO and nocosts were recognised as an asset.

(g) Employee entitlements

The provisions for employee entitlements encompass annual leave and long serviceleave. ANSTO has a present obligation to pay both entitlements resulting fromemployee services provided up to 30 June 1997.

General leave

The Organisation's Enterprise Agreement provides under the heading General Leavefor an employee entitlement which combines sick leave, carer's leave and leave forother prescribed purposes. No provision has been made for general leave as all suchleave is non-vesting and the average general leave taken by employees is less thanthe annual entitlement.

Annual leave

The provision for annual leave reflects the value of total annual leave entitlements ofall employees at 30 June 1997 and is recognised at its nominal value.

Long service leave

The provision for long service leave is recognised and measured at the present valueof estimated future cash outflows to be made by ANSTO in respect of employees atbalance date. In determining the present value of the liability, attrition rates and payincreases through promotion and inflation have been taken into account.

(h) Revenues recognition

Operating revenues from independent sources

Operating revenue from independent sources comprises revenues earned from theprovision of products or services to entities outside ANSTO. Revenue is recognisedwhen the goods are provided or when the fee in respect of the services provided isreceivable.

83

N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

Parliamentary appropriations

Parliamentary appropriations are recognised in the year in which they are drawndown.

Revenue received in advance

Revenue received in advance is initially brought to account as "other liabilities" andsubsequently recognised as revenue when earned.

(i) Superannuation

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation contributes to theCommonwealth Superannuation (CSS) and the Public Sector (PSS) superannuationschemes which provide retirement, death and disability benefits to employees.Contributions to the schemes are at rates calculated to cover existing and emergingobligations. Current contribution rates are 23.9% of salary (CSS) and 8.1 % of salary(PSS). An additional 3% is contributed for employer productivity benefits. For thosestaff who do not contribute to superannuation, ANSTO contributes 6% of salary tothe Australian Government Employees Superannuation Trust fund.

Contributions during the financial year are detailed at Note 4.

(j) Foreign currency

Transactions denominated in a foreign currency are converted at a rate of exchangeprevailing at the date of the transaction. At balance date, amounts receivable andpayable in foreign currency are translated at the exchange rate prevailing at thatdate and any exchange differences are brought to account in the OperatingStatement.

(k) Income tax

Pursuant to Section 30 (1) of the ANSTO Act 1987, ANSTO is not subject to incometax.

(I) Intangible assets

Where recognised, intangible assets are reported at the lower of cost or recoverableamount. Accumulated amortisation is disclosed as a deduction from each class ofassets separately identified.

(m) Assets received free of charge

The acquisition of property, plant and equipment free of charge or for a nominalamount is recognised initially at fair value.

(n) Comparatives

Where necessary, comparative information has been reclassified to achieveconsistency in disclosure with current financial year amounts and other disclosures.

(o) RoundingAmounts are rounded to the nearest one thousand dollars except in relation to:- remuneration of Directors- remuneration of Executive Officers- remuneration of auditors

84


3 SEGMENT REPORTINGANSTO operates in a single industry within Australia, namely in the nuclear scientificresearch industry.

OPERATING EXPENSES -Including Abnormal Items

Employee expenses:SalariesSuperannuationRedundancyAnnual leave provisionLong service leave provisionTotal employee expenses

Supplier expenses:General expensesStoresMaintenance and external servicesPower and waterReactor suppliesVariable production costsOperating leases

Total suppliers expenses

Depredation and amortisation:Depreciation of property, plant and equipmentAmortisation of leased assets and licences

Total expense:

Other:Provision for doubtful debtsLoss on sale of plant and equipmentWrite-off plant and equipment-stocktakeWrite-off intellectual propertyContributions to collaborative research projectsNuclear material stock revaluationPrior year adjustment

Total other expenses

Total expenses before abnormals

1997$'000

36,8905,4771,1603,135996

8,9966,5077,7661,932965

2,662115

11,98057

3010476-

119-12

1996$000

36,5346,286

973,1461,051

10,2617,2558,4071,944780

2,19417

10,55913

3053-40121599

1997$000

47,658

28,943

12,037

341

88,979

1996$'000

47,114

30,858

10,572

312

88,856

Abnormal expenses:Provision for waste treatment and disposal costsProvision for transport and reprocessing of HI FARspent fuel elementsHI FAR shutdown costsRepairs to Building 54 cell door

Total abnormal expenses: —

TOTAL

2,000

2,200853264

5,317

88,979 94,173

85

1997$'00012,2834,1492,0431,197270

2,010334-

1,211

_

355

1996$00012,0194,3572,3591,208232

1,870397156716

581368

1997$000

23,497

1,9361,004

1996$'000

23,314

1,3581,752


5 OPERATING REVENUES FROM INDEPENDENT SOURCES

Sales of goods and services:Radioisotope salesServices and contract researchSilicon irradiationCSIRO site supportTraining coursesLand managementSynchrotron projectInformation technology servicesAINSE interactionsTotal sales of goods and services:

GrantsInterestNet gains from sale of assets:Final proceeds from disposal ofFox Laboratories Ltd

Profit on disposal of plant and equipmentTotal net gains 355 949

Other revenues:Non-speculative foreign exchange gain 36Transfers from waste treatment anddisposal provision - 133

Nuclear material stock revaluationAssets received free of chargeMiscellaneous

Total of other revenues

TOTAL

6 RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS OPERATIONS

Trading as Australian Radioisotopes (ARl) - IncludingAbnormal ItemsARl operating results, as an independent commercial unit withinANSTO, are as follows:RevenueExternal sales and other revenue 12,310 12,060Intercompany sales

ExpensesSalariesSuperannuationAnnual leaveLong service leaveProvision for doubtful debtsOther operating expensesDepreciationExpenses external to ANSTO (before abnormals)ANSTO supportAbnormal items

Operating Surplus (Deficit) 662 (503)

22917225 52

462

27,254

18527,558

5512,365

3,312393459330

3,406223

7,5024,201

-11,703

7712,137

3,194407138530

3,029162

6,9204,6031,117

12,640

86


7 PARLIAMENTARY APPROPRIATIONS

Appropriation Act No.1 OperatingAppropriation Act No.2 Capital

1997 1996$000 $000

47,431 49,77716,220 15,82563,631 65,602

8 DEBTFinance Lease LiabilitiesFinance lease liabilities recognised in the Statement ofAssets and Liabilities.Current

PROVISIONS AND PAYABLESLiabilities to EmployeesAccrued salaries and wagesAnnual LeaveLong Service Leave

Aggregate employee entitlement liability

SuppliersTrade Creditors

Other PayablesRevenue Received in Advance

Other ProvisionsHIFAR spent fuel elements - refer note (a) belowWaste treatment & disposal - refer note (b) belowOther

Total other provisions

(a) Provision for HIFAR Spent Fuel Elements

As disclosed at Note 1, ANSTO is economically dependent on the appropriation ofmoney by the Parliament to meet its liabilities and expenses.

In 1995 ANSTO created a provision, in an amount of $6.6 million, for the transport andreprocessing of HIFAR spent fuel elements. At 30 June 1997, $4,543 million has beenexpended against the provision.

(b) Provision for Waste Treatment and Disposal

In the 1995 financial year, an initial provision of $3 million was created for themanagement of a quantity of residual waste from past operations. This provision wasincreased to $5 million in 1996.

The original projected cost of $11.1 million has been confirmed and comprises $4.9million operating expenses and $6.2 million capital expenditure. Hence no furtherprovision has been made.

In 1996-97 $0,877 million (1995-96 $0,133 million) has been charged against theProvision.

Further expenditure of $0,702 million was capitalised.

6774,92210,111

15,710

3,2243,224

3,414

2,0573,990

12

6,059

4084,80510,164

15,377

1,5231,523

4,240

3,8604,867

36

8,763

87


10 EQUITY

ReservesAsset revaluation reserveFuel elements reserve

Accumulated Surpluses

Movements are as follows:

1997$'000

87,5382,404

1996$000

55,0504,502

89,942 59,552

91,881 87,857

Item Asset FuelRevaluation Elements

Reserve Reserve

Total Accumulated TotalReserves Results Equity

$000 $000 $'000 $000 $000Balance 1 July 1996Surplus/(Deficit)

Net Revaluation

55,050 4,502 59,552 87,857 147,409

- - - 1,926 1,926

mcreases/(decreases)Transfers to/(from)reservesChanges in accountingpoliciesBalance 30 June 1997

32,488

_

_

87,538

—

(2,098)

_

2,404

32,488

(2,098)

_

89,942

—

2,098

_

91,881

32,488

_

_

181,823

Asset Revaluation Reserve

Balance as at beginning of yearNet Revaluation increases/(decreases)

Balance as at end of year

Fuel Elements ReserveBalance as at beginning of yearTransferred to Accumulated Surpluses

Balance as at end of year

Accumulated SurplusesAccumulated Surpluses at beginning of yearTransfers from fuel elements reserveOperating (Deficit)/Surplus

Accumulated Surpluses at end of year

1997$000

55,05032,488

87,538

4,502(2,098)

2,404

87,8572,0981,926

91,881

1996$'000

55,050-

55,050

6,500(1,998)

4,502

86,8721,998

(1,013)

87,857


1997 199611 FINANCIAL ASSETS $000 $000

CashCash at bank and on handFixed term investment

ReceivablesGoods and servicesLess provision for doubtful debts

3,329 3,299Advance held by Department of Industry Science andTourism for overseas payments 60 100Other 19 29

2,47810,75913,237

3,438109

1,41614,10315,519

3,37879

3,408 3,428

Age analysis of trade debtorsCurrentOverdue:Less than 30 days30 to 60 days; andMore than 60 days

1997$0002,169

831225213

1996$'0001,337

1,104300637

3,438 3,378

89


12 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Land - at independent valuation (a)

Buildings - at costLess Accumulated depreciation

Buildings - at independent valuation (a) & (b)Less Accumulated depreciation

Aggregate Land and Buildings

Plant and Equipment - at cost (b)Less Accumulated depreciation

Plant and Equipment under lease (c)Less Accumulated amortisation

Plant and Equipment under construction

Aggregate Plant and Equipment

Electrical /Site Services facilities - at cost

Less Accumulated depreciation

Electrical /Site Services facilities - at independent valuation (a)

Aggregate Infrastructure

HI FAR - at costLess Accumulated depreciation

Synroc pilot plant - at costLess Accumulated depreciation

Silicon Rigs - at costLess Accumulated depreciation

Research facility under construction

Aggregate Major/Research Facilities

Aggregate Other Infrastructure, Plant and Equipment

TOTAL

1997$000

33,223

1996$'000

33,000

375118

257

90,774

90,774

91,031

124,254

58,17127,869

30,302

_

-

453

30,755

—

-16,76516,765

16,765

12,24110,868

1,373

10,5355,970

4,565

683377

306

5,703

11,947

59,467

183,721

22,0232,175

19,848

49,7424,052

45,690

65,538

98,538

59,63828,226

31,412

2812

16

1,766

33,194

11,627

3,750

7,877--

7,877

12,39710,560

1,837

10,5355,268

5,267

—

-

4,108

11,212

52,283

150,821

(a) An independent valuation of land, building, electrical and site services facilities wasperformed by Mr John Starr (registered valuer No. 2388) of the Australian ValuationOffice. The 1996 comparative figures are based on valuations at 30 June 1995 withsubsequent additions at cost.

[See also Note 1 (d)|.

(b) Due to the recent revaluation of land, building, electrical and site services, the buildingcomponent of the cyclotron facility has been revalued.

90


12 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (continued)The extent of this revaluation has been included in buildings and land independentvaluation (1997). The machine component of the facility has been included as plant &equipment - at cost. Consequently, the comparatives have been realigned.The break up of cyclotron facility is as follows:

Cyclotron facility - machine at cost- building at cost

Less Accumulated depreciation- machine at cost- building at cost

Cyclotron facility -building at independent valuation

Total Cyclotron Facility

5,423

795

1997$000

5,423

795

4,628

12,999

17,627

5,08613,838

6261,648

1996$000

18,924

2,274

16,650

16,650

(c) Lease periods have matured and residual obligations paid out. Items have been transferredfrom Plant & Equipment Under Lease to Plant a Equipment - at cost.Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment, and IntangiblesMovement summary 1996-97 for all assets irrespective of valuation basis

Item

Gross value as at1 July 1996AdditionsRevaluationsDisposalsAdjustments for revaluationOther movements

Land

$000

33,000-

223---

Building

$000

71,7654,331

23,871-

(9,032)214

Total Land

and Building

$'000

104,7654,331

24,094-

(9,032)214

OtherInfrastructure,

Plant andEquipment

$000

100,09910,0688,394

(7,812)(4,680)(1,518)

TotalProperty,Plant andEquipment

$'000

204,86414,39932,488(7,812)

(13,712)(1,304)

Intangibles

$000

13079----

Total

$'000

204,99414,47832,488(7,812)

(13,712)(1,304)

Gross value as at30 June 1997 33,223 91,149 124,372 104,551 228,923 209 229,132

Accumulated Depredation/Amortisation 1 July 96 6,227 6,227 47,816 54,043 10 54,053Depredation/amortisation forassets held 1 July 96Depreciation/amortisationcharge for additionsAdjustments for revaluationsAdjustments for othermovementsAdjustments for disposals

2,666

106(9,032)

2,666

106(9,032)

8,255

953(4,680)

10,921

1,059(13,712)

40

15-

10,961

1,074(13,712)

151 151 (151)(7,109) (7,109) - (7,109)

Accumulated Depredation/Amortisation 30 June 97Net book value as at30 June 1997Net book value as at1 July 1996

33,223

33,000

118

91,031

65,538

118

124,254

98,538

45,084

59,467

52,283

45,202

183,721

150,821

65

144

120

45,267

183,865

150,941

91


Summary of balance of assets at valuation as at 30 June 1997

Item

As at 30 June 1997Gross valueAccumulated Depreciation/AmortisationOther movements

Net book value

As at 30 June 1996

Land

$000

33,223

33,223

Buildings

$000

90,774

90,774

Total Landand Buildings

$000

123,997

123,997

OtherInfrastructure

$000

16,765

16,765

Total

$000

140,762

140,762

Gross valueAccumulated Depreciation/AmortisationOther movements

33,000 49,742 82,742

4,052 4,052

82,742

4,052

Net book value 33,000 45,690 78,690 78,690

13 INVENTORIES

Raw Materials and stores-not held for resaleStores - at costCobalt-60 sources - at net realisable valueReactor Fuel and Heavy Water - at average purchase priceNuclear materials - at net realisable valueNuclear materials - at cost

Work In Progress - held for saleWork In Progress - at cost

In the absence of cost figures, Cobalt 60 sources in process arevalued at net realisable value.

1997$000

893596

6,826699

20

1996$000

944573

2,832472

20

9,034 4,841

107

9,141

67

4,908

14 INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Licences - at costLess Accumulated amortisation

15 OTHER NON-FINANCIAL ASSETSPrepaymentsInterest AccruedOther

1997$000

20965

144

4796040

579

1996$000

13010

120

2,48035

5

2,520

92


16 CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation of net cash flows from operating activitiesto Net Cost of Services

Net Cost of ServicesRevenues from Government

Operating (Deficit)/Surplus(IncreaseJ/Decrease in Receivableslncrease/(Decrease) in Accruals(IncreaseJ/Decrease in Prepaymentslncrease/(Decrease) in CreditorsNuclear Materials Revaluationlncrease/(Decrease) in Employee EntitlementsDecrease/(lncrease) in Inventorieslncrease/(Decrease) in Provision for Waste treatment and disposallncrease/(Decrease) in Provision for HIFAR spent fuel elementslncrease/(Decrease) in Other Provisionslncrease/(Decrease) in AR1 EquityDecrease/(lncrease) in Assets Under ConstructionDecrease/(lncrease) in Accrued InterestForeign Exchange GainAssets Received Free of ChargePrior Year Adjustmentslncrease/(Decrease) Other CreditorsDepreciation/AmortisationGain on Sale of AssetsLoss on Sale of AssetsTrade-In on Motor VehiclesOthers

Net cash provided by operating activities

1997$000

61,72563,651

1,926(48)

1,0212,000983(201)65

(4,034)il (877)

(1,803)(1)-

(81)(24)(35)(172)

-(826)

12,047(355)104802(610)

9,881

1996$000

66,61565,602

(1,013)(605)80

(2,015)(1,212)

7538738

1,867(540)23

1,573301301--

(36)-

10,577(368)53-

(245)

10,024

93

N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S

1997 199617 INVESTMENTS $'000 $000

Interest in Business Undertakings

Tracerco AustralasiaUnder a partnership arrangement with 1CI Australia Limited, ANSTO has a 49%interest in Tracerco Australasia. Tracerco Australasia is a commercial businessconcerned with the application of radioisotope technology to the solution ofproblems in industrial process plants. ANSTO's 49% share of the accumulatedlosses to 30 September 1996 is $681,325. ANSTO's investment in this venture($580,650) has been written off. ANSTO's share of accumulated losses inexcess of its investment to date, together with any liability for future losses,is assessed as not material and has not been brought to account.

18 REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS/MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 1997 1996$ $

Members' remuneration is determined by the RemunerationTribunal and payment is made in accordance with Section 12Of the ANSTO Act 1987.

Included in Salaries expenses in Note 4 are:Aggregated amount of superannuation payments in connectionwith the retirement of Members of the Board 19,843 19,214

Other remuneration received or due and receivable by theMembers of the Board 264,417 244,825

284,260 264,039

The number of Members included in these figures is shownbelow in the relevant remuneration bands:

Remuneration between$10,000 and $19,999$20,000 and $29,999$30,000 and $39,999$170,000 and $179,999$180,000 and $189,999

Number41-

Number2111

94


19 REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVES

Executive remuneration is determined by the ANSTOAward. Included in salaries expenses is total remunerationreceived, or due and receivable, by executives (excludingthe Executive Director who is included in Note 18)who earn $100,000 or more in connection withthe management of ANSTO.

The number of executives (excluding the ExecutiveDirector who is included in Note 18) whoseremuneration for the financial year falls withinthe following bands:

Remuneration between$100,000 and $109,999$110,000 and $119,999$120,000 and $129,999$130,000 and $139,999$140,000 and $149,999$150,000 and $159,999$160,000 and $169,999$170,000 and $179,999$180,000 and $189,999

1997$

1996

s

1,442,424 1,282,708

Number142111

Number1511-

1

20 INSURANCEANSTO is self insured, except for professional indemnity, public and product liability,industrial special risk for a property used substantially for commercial purposes,directors and officers, and motor vehicle third party property risk which are coveredby commercial insurance, and workers compensation which is covered by statuteunder the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.

The above insurance strategy is predicated on the Commonwealth's insuranceprinciples, which require claims or losses derived from insurabie risk associated withcommercial activities to be covered by commercial insurance, with other claims andlosses subject to consideration for acceptance by the Commonwealth on a case bycase basis. (Refer Note 1)

21 REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS

Remuneration to the Auditor-General for auditingthe financial statements for the reporting period

1997$

92,000

1996$

92,000

No other services were provided by the Auditor-General during the reporting period.

95


22 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

The Members of the Board during the financial year and to the date of the report onthe statements were:

MemberBAsheC R Ward-AmblerG Taylor AOJ Bell (alternateto G Taylor)H M GarnettA K GregsonM H Codd ACS M RichardsF A Khafagi

TermAppointed

5 July 19965 July 19965 July 1996

5 July 199611 May 19955 July 19965 July 19965 July 199614 May 1997

TermConcluded

30 June 199731 December 199631 January 1997

31 January 1997

TermConcludes

10 May 200031 December 199830 June 199930 June 200131 December 1999

For the 1996-97 financial year the aggregate remuneration paid to Board Members isdisclosed in Note 18.

The aggregate of superannuation payments paid to the Commonwealth SuperannuationScheme (CSS) and Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS), in connection with theretirement of Members of the Board was $19,843 (1995-96 $19,214).

Other Transactions with Members of the ANSTO Board or their Member-related Entities

All transactions with related parties are made on commercial terms and conditions,except where stated.

The aggregate amount brought to account in respect of the following types oftransactions with Members of the ANSTO Board and their member-related entities were:

Transaction TypeProvision of services by Bligh

Oil a Mining

Sale of goods and services by CS1RO

Sale of goods and services by CS1RO

Provision of services by TELSTRA

Provision of services by QANTAS

Provision of services by IBM

Provision of services by DIST

Services provided by Labour

Council of N.S.W.

Purchase of goods and services

Members Concerned

S M Richards

S M Richards

C R Ward-AmblerA K Gregson

M Codd

M Codd

M Codd

G Taylor

1997$

173

714,324

-

901,216

1,051,534

2,237

17,540

1996$

_

-

710,974--

--

BAshe

from AM RADServices provided to CS1RO

Services provided to CS1RO

Services provided to TELSTRA

Services provided to QANTAS

Services provided to DIST

C R Ward-AmblerS M Richards

C R Ward-AmblerA K Gregson

MCodd

MCodd

G Taylor

—1,406,930

-

378

3,750

125,951

7,200

350

- 1,330,334

96

1955,171

414,824

583

825735

411,406

195


1997 199623 TRUST MONEY $000 $ 000

Monies received by ANSTO for specific purposes are placed in specialbank accounts and are expended for these specified purposes only.These monies are not recognised in the financial statements.

TotalBalance 1 JulyAdd: Receipts during the yearAdd: Interest receivedLess: Expenditure

Balance 30 June

Represented by the following:

Trust AccountANSTO receive monies from trade creditors as security deposits forcontracts to be performed.These monies are held in a Trust Account and refunded to therespective trade creditors on satisfactory completion of contract.

Balance 1 JulyAdd: Receipts during the yearAdd: Interest receivedLess: Expenditure

Balance 30 June

SynchrotronContributions have been received from a consortium for the operationand development of the Australian Beamline Facility at Tsukuba, Japan.The Synchrotron Trust Account was established for this specific purpose.

Balance 1 JulyAdd: Receipts during the yearAdd: Interest receivedLess: ExpenditureBalance 30 June

MNRF SynchrotronANSTO was the proponent organisation for a consortium seeking government fundingfor the establishment of the Australian Synchrotron Research Program under the MajorNational Research (MNRF) Program. An initial funding of $250,000 was provided by theDepartment of Industry, Science and Tourism in 1995-96 to assist in the establishment ofthe Program.

Balance 1 July 96Add: Receipts during the year 5,076 250Add: Interest received 36Less: Expenditure 4,654 154

Balance 30 June 554 96

9426

9

4935

26515

9

6831

72

-

312375

13632

68

97


1997 199624 TRUST MONEY (CONTINUED) $000 $000

NEDO GrantANSTO was appointed research coordinator in the "InterfaceProperties of Ceramics and Their Impact on Materials Functions"project under the NEDO International Joint Research Program.The NEDO Grant Trust account was established to fund theoperations of the project.

Balance 1 July 2 1Add: Receipts during the year 88 105Add: Interest received 1 1Less: Expenditure 88 105

Balance 30 June 3 2

Welfare FundDonations and contributions have been received in the past from theoperations of the AAEC Welfare Fund. These are placed in theWelfare Fund Trust Account and expended on specific welfare itemsfor ANSTO employees.

Balance 1 JulyAdd: Receipts during the yearAdd: Interest receivedLess: Expenditure

Balance 30 June

20

14

17

19

1-

20

98

Australian.NationalitNational • 9

/AuditOFFICE

INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT

To the Minister for Science and Technology

Scope

1 have audited the financial statements of the Australian Nuclear Science andTechnology Organisation for the year ended 30 June 1997. The financial statementscomprise:

• Statement by Directors;

• Operating Statement;

• Statement of Assets and Liabilities;

• Statement of Cash Flows;

• Schedule of Commitments;

• Schedule of Contingencies; and

• Notes to and forming part of the Financial Statements.

The members of the Board are responsible for the preparation and presentation of thefinancial statements and the information they contain. I have conducted an independentaudit of the financial statements in order to express an opinion on them to the Ministerfor Science and Technology.

The audit has been conducted in accordance with Australian National Audit OfficeAuditing Standards, which incorporate the Australian Auditing Standards, to providereasonable assurance as to whether the financial statements are free of materialmisstatement. Audit procedures included examination, on a test basis, of evidencesupporting the amounts and other disclosures in the financial statements, and theevaluation of accounting policies and significant accounting estimates. These procedureshave been undertaken to form an opinion as to whether, in all material respects, thefinancial statements are presented fairly in accordance with Australian AccountingStandards, other mandatory professional reporting requirements (Urgent Issues GroupConsensus Views) and statutory requirements so as to present a view of the entity whichis consistent with my understanding of its financial position, the results of its operationsand its cash flows.

The audit opinion expressed in this report has been formed on the above basis.

Address all mail to PO Box A456 SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1235130 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Phone (02) 9367 7100 Fax (02) 9367 7104

99

Audit Opinion

In accordance with section 63M of the Audit Act 1901,1 now report that the financialstatements are in agreement with the accounts and records of the Australian NuclearScience and Technology Organisation, and in my opinion:

(i) the statements are based on proper accounts and records;

(ii) the statements present fairly, in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards andother mandatory professional reporting requirements, the financial transactions andresults, and cash flows, for the year ended 30 June 1997 and the state of affairs ofthe Organisation as at that date;

(iii) the receipt, expenditure and investment of moneys, and the acquisition and disposalof assets, by the Organisation during the year have been in accordance with theAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987; and

(iv) the statements are in accordance with the Guidelines for Financial Statements ofCommonwealth Authorities.

Australian National Audit Office

Russ ChantlerExecutive Director

For the Auditor-General

Sydney2 September 1997

100

APPENDIX 1

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

OBJECTIVES

• To ensure that Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

principles and practices are actively incorporated with

all people management activities

' To ensure that the structures and processes to

implement EEO adjust to changing employment needs

• To confirm and communicate the vision that ANSTO's

employment activities reflect the social justice needs of

the 1990s


Childcare

Negotiations continued with a prospective developerfor the construction of a childcare centre at ANSTO.The developer has experienced delays in obtainingthe necessary approvals to enable construction tocommence.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

ANSTO's EAP was revised. Psychologists from the

firm Citipsych were contracted to provide a weekly,on-site support service to staff. A series oflunchtime seminars covering a range of issuesrelevant to the work and family lives of staff wasintroduced.

A course relating to the management of stress wasprovided to supervisors and managers. The trainingarticulated the responsibilities of such staff toidentify and manage stress within the workplace.

Recruitment

Intermittent reviews were undertaken of recruitmentpractices to ensure compliance with ANSTO EEOlegislation and objectives. In addition, statistics weregathered on applications and appointments to thevarious career areas at ANSTO. Analysis of thesefigures revealed that technical and craftspersonvacancies are still dominated by male applicants.The situation for scientists is slowly changing, withmore females applying for and being recruited tothese positions.

STAFF NUMBERS AT 30 JUNE

Executive Director

Corporate Executives

Professional Officers

Research Scientists

Technical Officers

Administrative Service Officers

Craftspersons

1997

Full Time

Male

15

153

83

248

37

68

Female

1

1

34

18

28

68

8

Part Time

Male

1

2

0

0

Female

3

0

3

10

0

TOTALS 604

Total staff: 781

Number of temporary staff: 15 (included in 781 figure)

158 16

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE INFORMATION

Band 3 Corporate Executive - 3 full time male



Band 1 Corporate Executive -1 full time female

101

A P P E N D I X 1

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

SUMMARY OF EEO STATISTICS AS AT 30 JUNE 1997

TOTAL STAFF = 781 : Specific EEO data currently held for 352 staff

Number Percentage Average

employed of total staff salary

Women 174 23% $40,132

Men 607 77% $49,329

Staff in specific employment categories

People with disabilities 26 $44,839

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 2 $43,264

Non-English speaking background 141 $46,134

102

A P P E N D I X 2

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

In compliance with Section 8 of the Freedom ofInformation (FOI)Act (1982), the following is theannual statement on consultative arrangements,categories of documents maintained and facilitiesand procedures for access to documents relating toANSTO. Details of the functions of the organisation,membership of the Board and decision makingpowers of the Board and the executive are providedelsewhere in the Annual Report.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR EXTERNALPARTICIPATION

Bodies appointed under the ANSTO Act

The Safety Review Committee reviews and assessesthe standards, practices and procedures adopted byANSTO to ensure the safety of its operations. Thecommittee consists of a chairperson and fourmembers appointed by and reporting to theMinister. The majority of members are not ANSTOstaff.

The Nuclear Safety Bureau, an independent bodycorporate, is responsible to the Minister for Healthand Family Services for monitoring and reviewingthe safety of nuclear plant operated by ANSTO andfor providing technical advice to the Commonwealthon the safety of nuclear plant and related matters.

Liaison groups

Reference groups for ANSTO's major strategicresearch and development projects assist inassessing and evaluating research and developmentactivities. Members are drawn from industry,commerce, government, academia and ANSTO staff.

The Local Liaison Working Party (LLWP), establishedin 1967, comprises representatives from the NSWPolice, NSW Ambulance, NSW Fire Brigades, NSWState Emergency Services, NSW EnvironmentProtection Authority, NSW Department of Health,Australian Protective Services, Sutherland Shire LocalEmergency Management Committee, St George -Sutherland District Emergency Management, andANSTO, as well as an observer from the NuclearSafety Bureau. It reviews procedures applicable toan accident at the Lucas Heights Science andTechnology Centre which could have implicationsfor the public.

Meetings are held every two months between localcommunity groups and ANSTO with an independentfacilitator to ensure exchange of information.Meetings between the Sutherland Council and theANSTO Chairman and senior staff are held everythree months to review and resolve current issuesbetween the two organisations.

A Central Safety Coordinating Committee assists indeveloping, reviewing and implementing ANSTO'soccupational health and safety policies. Membershipincludes representatives of unions and staffassociations, the NSW Labor Council and ANSTO.

ANSTO/State Government arrangements

ANSTO, located in New South Wales, liaises with arange of NSW departments and authoritiesresponsible for safety, environmental planning andrelated matters. ANSTO has collaborativeagreements with the States of Western Australia andQueensland.

Associated organisations

The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science andEngineering Incorporated, an association of ANSTOand 36 universities, arranges access by staff andstudents of Australasian universities and institutes oftechnology to the major facilities at ANSTO.

Other arrangements

Less formal arrangements exist for discussions,exchange of views and/or collaboration withorganisations outside the Commonwealthadministration including local governmentauthorities, universities, standards bodies,professional societies, unions and staff associations,industrial groups and international nuclear agencies.

CATEGORIES OF DOCUMENTS HELD

Computer software packages, computer print outs,technical books and reports, and InternationalNuclear Information System documents areavailable for purchase. Single copies of the AnnualReport, the Lucas Heights News, Program of Research,Strategic Plans, ANSTO emergency plans,promotional literature and videos (under loanarrangements) are available on request.

Documents relating to decision-making processesinclude Cabinet documents about matters in which

103

A P P E N D I X 2

ANSTO has an interest, ministerial correspondenceand directions, ANSTO Board agenda, memorandaand decisions, deeds, legal contracts and formalagreements, minutes and submissions, employment,delegations, security, finance and accountinghandbooks and manuals.

General correspondence includes ministerial briefs,speeches, conference papers for national andinternational meetings, parliamentary questions andanswers, cables, telexes and facsimiles, and generalrecords files. Technical documents held includescientific and technical reports and laboratory notescomprising patents and inventions, computer tapesand print-outs, plant and equipment operatingmanuals, maintenance, quality assurance and safetymanuals, reactor operating authorisations, recordsand log books, radioisotope quality controlprocedures manuals, radioisotope catalogues andprice lists, engineering service general records,nuclear material movement vouchers andaccounting records, photographs and radiographs.Health and safety related documents include staffmedical records, safety related survey records, filmbadge and radiological records, accident reports andemergency response procedures.

Administration documents held include personnelrecords such as staff promotion files, organisationand establishment reports, compensation files, wordprocessor disk systems for administrativeinstructions and information storage, staff lists andclassifications, accounting records, pay-roll, flexitimeand overtime records, tender and contractdocuments, building plans, specifications andinstructions, directives, orders, memoranda,bulletins, notices and information. Other documentsheld include drawing office records such as plans,microfilm and drawings, maps and photographs.

FACILITIES FOR ACCESS

FOI reading facilities can be provided in theReception and Information Centre at the entrance tothe Lucas Heights Science and Technology Centre.Other arrangements for access may be made bycontacting The FOI Coordinator, ANSTO, Private MailBag 1, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia ([email protected]).

Information about ANSTO is available on theInternet through the organisation's homepage athttp://www.ansto.gov.au.

The Deputy Executive Director, Director CorporateServices, and Director Government and Public Affairshave been appointed as authorised officers underSection 23 of the FOI Act.

104

ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY

ANSTO is economically dependent on government,requiring appropriation of money by Parliament tocarry out its activities.

Compliance

ANSTO is subject to the provisions of the followingActs and Awards:

• Australian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation Act, 1987

• Audit Act, 1901

• Public Service Act, 1922

• Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employee's)Act, 1976

• Superannuation Act, 1976

• Superannuation Act, 1990

• Superannuation (Productivity Benefit) Act, 1988

• Superannuation Guarantee (Administration)Act, 1992

• Maternity Leave (Commonwealth Employees)Act 1987

• Australian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation (General Award) 1990

• Australian Government Statutory AuthoritiesRedeployment and Retirement (RedundancyAward) 1988

The functions of the Board

The organisation is managed by a Board establishedunder Section 8 of the ANSTO Act.

Its general functions, set out in Section 9 of the Act,are to:

• ensure the proper and efficient performance ofthe functions of the organisation and

• determine the policy of the organisation withrespect to any matter, having regard to thecurrent policies of the CommonwealthGovernment.

In particular it has responsibility for:

• approval of organisational strategy and theannual business plan and budget

A P P E N D I X 3

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

• monitoring financial performance

• monitoring managerial performance and

• ensuring that the significant risks facing theorganisation have been identified and thatappropriate control, monitoring and reportingmechanisms are in place.

The Board has established several committees toassist in the execution of its duties and allowdetailed consideration of complex issues. Details ofthese are included below. Committees operate underwritten terms of reference. AH matters consideredand determined by committees are submitted to theBoard for information and, where appropriate,ratification.

Board membership

The Board currently comprises four non-executivemembers, drawn from the broader community, andthe Executive Director. The non-executive membersare appointed by the Governor-General. TheExecutive Director is appointed by the Board.Section 19 of the ANSTO Act provides that theExecutive Director shall manage the affairs of theorganisation subject to the directions of, and inaccordance with, policies determined by the Board

Each member brings complementary skills andexperience to the Board. During the 1996-97financial year the experience of the Board membersincluded industry, manufacturing, scientific research,union leadership, medicine and primary production.

Ten Board meetings were held during the financialyear. The number of Board meetings held andattended during the period in which each memberheld office are provided in the table over.

105

A P P E N D I X 3

Member

C R Ward-Ambler (Resigned as Chairman and IVlember 31/12/96)

S M Richards (Appointed Chairman 1/1/97)

M H Codd AC

A K Gregson

B Ashe (Resigned 30/6/97)

F A Khafagi (Appointed 14/5/97)

H M Garnett (Executive Director)

C Taylor AO (Resigned 31/1/97)

J. Bell (alternate to G Taylor)

MEETINGSHeld

6

10

10

10

10

1

10

2

4

Attended

5

9

9

8

7

-

8

1

4

Remuneration and allowances

Non-executive members' remuneration andallowances are determined by the RemunerationTribunal.

Disclosure of interests

Section 15 of the ANSTO Act provides for thedisclosure of direct or indirect interests in mattersconsidered by the Board and prohibits participationand deliberation and decision making by anymember on such matters.

Independent professional advice

The Board has established procedures by whichmembers may seek independent professionaladvice.

Safety

The Board places primary importance on the safeperformance of all ANSTO activities. The monitoringof safety in general, and compliance with relevantlegislation in particular, is designated as aresponsibility of the Board as a whole. The Board isassisted in fulfilling its duties by the activities andreports of two external bodies.

The Nuclear Safety Bureau, established through anamendment to the ANSTO Act in 1992, regulatesthe manner in which the nuclear research reactorsin Australia - HIFAR and Moata - are operated andreports to its responsible Minister as appropriate.The Moata reactor has been shut down and a

decommissioning plan is being developed. TheNuclear Safety Bureau will continue to monitoractivities during decommissioning.

A Safety Review Committee, appointed by theresponsible Minister, monitors safety activities atANSTO and reports to the Minister on an annualbasis.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee, a formal sub-committee of theBoard, comprises Mr M. Codd (Chairman), Dr A.Gregson and a member external to ANSTO, Mr J.Bergman. The Executive Director, the Director,Corporate Services, the Chief Internal Auditor andrepresentatives of the Australian National AuditOffice attend meetings at the invitation of theCommittee Chairman.

This Committee was established by the Board tooversee the Organisation's risk managementpolicies, practices and controls in relation tofinancial and commercial activities, legislative andregulatory conformance and asset protection. TheCommittee also reviews the internal and externalaudit work programs and reports.

Seven Audit Committee meetings were held duringthe financial year. The number of Committeemeetings held and attended during the period inwhich each member held office during the financialyear are provided in the table opposite. TheCommittee generally meets quarterly and is the onlysub-committee of the Board.

106

A P P E N D I X 3

MEMBER

S M Richards (Resigned as Chairman and Member on 31/12/96)

M H Codd AC (Appointed as Chairman 1/1/97)

A K Gregson (Appointed 18/3/97)

B Ashe (Resigned 30/6/97)

J Bergman (External Member)

MEETINGSHeld

5

7

2

7

7

Attended

4

6

2

4

7


The Technical Advisory Committee, a committeeformally established in accordance with a Boarddecision, comprises four members, all of whom areexternal to ANSTO. Members are chosen on thebasis of internationally recognised scientificexpertise and experience.

This committee was established by the Board to:

• advise on the scope of ANSTO's scientific researchprogram

• advise on ANSTO's ability to achieve the scientificgoals of its Mission, and

• review the progress of ANSTO's research againstdefined milestones and objectives.

The Committee was formally constituted in October,1996 and met once during the period to 30 June,1997. The Committee is required to meet at leastonce a year.

Risk management

The Board recognises that developing andimplementing ANSTO's strategies requires carefulassessment and balancing of both risk andopportunity. The Board is charged with theresponsibility for ensuring that appropriate policiesare in place to cover identified risks andmanagement is required to develop appropriateprocedures to manage these risks.

During the year management, in consultation withthe Board Audit Committee, undertook a review of

the organisation's business risks. It covered activitiesin all Divisions and addressed risks with potential toprevent the organisation from achieving its businessobjectives. As a result, a new risk managementpolicy is being drafted by management forconsideration and endorsement by the Board.

Where possible and in appropriate circumstances,insurance is used as a method to transfer thefinancial impact of risk.

Ethical standards

In May 1997 the Board approved a policydocument, 'Ethics and Conduct - A Code for ANSTOStaff'. The policy provides a reference point forethical behaviour and applies to members of theBoard, management and all staff. The Code sets outthe standards for ethical behaviour and conductand provides guidance by defining the expectedvalues and standards of workplace behaviour andperformance.

Fraud control

In accordance with the Government's fraud controlpolicy, the Board commissioned a fraud riskassessment of the organisation which will give riseto a fraud control plan for consideration andadoption by the Board.

107

A P P E N D I X 4

FUNCTIONS OF THE ORGANISATION UNDER THE ANSTO ACT

Functions of the Organisation under theAustralian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation Act 1987 (the ANSTO Act)

Organisation' means the Australian Nuclear Scienceand Technology Organisation.

Section 5 of the ANSTO Act provides that:

(1) The functions of the Organisation are:

(a) to undertake research and development inrelation to:

(i) nuclear science and nuclear technology;

(ii) the production and use of radioisotopes,and the use of isotopic techniques andnuclear radiation, for medicine, science,industry, commerce and agriculture; and

(iii) such other matters as the Ministerdirects;

(b) to encourage and facilitate the application andutilisation of the results of such research anddevelopment;

(ba) to condition, manage and store radioactivematerials and radioactive waste, arising from:

(i) the Organisation's activities (includingthe production of radioactive materials forother persons); or

(ii) the activities of companies in which theOrganisation holds a controlling interest(including the production of radioactivematerials for other persons); or

(iii) the use by other persons of radioactivematerials produced by the Organisation orsuch companies; or

(iv) the activities of other persons who arespecified in the regulations;

(c) to provide and sell goods (whether producedby the Organisation or purchased or otherwiseacquired by the Organisation) and services:

(i) in connection with the production anduse of radioisotopes, and the use ofisotopic techniques and nuclear radiation,for medicine, science, industry, commerceand agriculture; or

(ia) in connection with the conditioning,management and storage of radioactivematerials or radioactive waste; or

(ii) otherwise in connection with mattersrelated to its activities;

(d) to act as a means of liaison between Australiaand other countries in matters related to itsactivities;

(e) to provide advice on aspects of nuclear scienceand nuclear technology and other matters relatedto its activities;

(ea) to make available to other persons, ona commercial basis, the knowledge,expertise, equipment and facilities of theOrganisation by:

(i) providing training and managementexpertise; or

(ii) selling or leasing equipment; or

(iii) leasing land and facilities; or

(iv) taking any other action that theOrganisation thinks appropriate;

(f) to co-operate with appropriate authorities ofthe Commonwealth, the States and Territories, andwith other organisations and institutions inAustralia or elsewhere, in matters related to itsactivities;

(g) to publish scientific and technical reports,periodicals and papers on matters related to itsactivities;

(h) to collect and sell or distribute, as appropriate,information and advice on matters related to itsactivities;

(j) to arrange for training, and the establishmentand award of scientific research studentships andfellowships, in matters related to its activities;

(k) to make grants in aid of research into mattersrelated to its activities; and

(m) to make arrangements with universities andother educational research institutions,professional bodies and other persons for theconduct of research or of other activities inmatters related to its activities.

108

A P P E N D I X 4

(1 A) A regulation made for the purposes ofsubparagraph (1 )(ba)(iv) must not have the effectof authorising the premises on which the LucasHeights Research Laboratories [the Lucas HeightsScience and Technology Centre] are situated tobecome a national nuclear waste repository.

(IB) In subsection (IA): national nuclear wasterepository" means a site chosen by theCommonwealth, after the commencement of thissubsection, for the storage of nuclear waste with aview to it never being moved to another site.

(2) The Organisation shall not undertake research ordevelopment into the design or production ofnuclear weapons or other nuclear explosivedevices.

(3) In undertaking its functions, the Organisation isto have regard to:

(a) the Commonwealth Government'snational science, technology and energypolicy objectives; and

(b) the Commonwealth Government'scommercialisation objectives for publicresearch institutions.

Subsection 4 (2) of the Australian Nuclear Scienceand Technology Organisation Amendment Act 1992(the ANSTO Amendment Act) provides that subjectto subsection 4 (3), for the purposes of paragraph 5(1) (ba) of the ANSTO Act, any radioactive materialor radioactive waste that is stored on theOrganisation's premises is taken to be radioactivematerial and radioactive waste arising from theOrganisation's activities.

Section 4 (3) of the ANSTO Amendment Act providesthat on and after 5 February 1995, the aboveprovision does not apply to any radioactive materialor radioactive waste that is the subject of order 3 ofthe orders made in the Land and Environment Courtof New South Wales on 5 February 1992 in thematter of the Council of the Shire of Sutherland v.the Australian Nuclear Science and TechnologyOrganisation.

General powers of the Organisation under theANSTO Act

Section 6 of the ANSTO Act provides that:

(1) Subject to this Act, the Organisation has power todo all things necessary or convenient to be donefor or in connection with the performance of itsfunctions and, in particular, has power:

(a) to enter into contracts;

(b) to acquire, hold and dispose of real or personalproperty;

(c) to occupy, use and control any land or buildingowned or held under lease by the Commonwealthand made available for the purposes of theOrganisation;

(d) to erect buildings and structures and carry outworks;

(e) to form, or participate in the formation of, acompany or partnership;

(f) to appoint agents and attorneys, and to act asan agent for other persons;

(g) to engage persons to perform services for theOrganisation;

(h) to design, produce, construct and operateequipment and facilities; and

(j) to do anything incidental to any of its powers.

(2) The powers of the Organisation may beexercised within or outside Australia.

109

A P P E N D I X 5

INDEX OF COMPLIANCE WITH REPORTING GUIDELINES

Enabling legislation

Responsible Minister

Powers, functions andobjects of the Organisation

Membership and staff

Financial statements

Activities and reports

page

page

page

page

page

page

iv

V

108

101

75

7

110

GLOSSARY

AAEC

ACARRE

AINSE

AMS

ANSTO

ANTARES

ARC

ARI

ASARR

ASO

ASP

ATD

AUSANS

BAPEDAL

CAM

CERN

CFD

CRC

CRP

CSS

DIST

EEO

FIMS

FOI

GIRD

HIFAR

IAEA

ICNCA

IMS

JAERI

JICA

Australian Atomic Energy Commission

Australian Centre of Advanced Risk andReliability Engineering

Australian Institute of Nuclear Scienceand Engineering

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Australian Nuclear Science andTechnology Organisation

Australian National Tandem Acceleratorfor Applied Research

Australian Research Council

Australian Radioisotopes

Analogue Studies in the Alligator RiversRegion

Australian Safeguards Office

Aerosol Sampling Program

Advanced Technical Development

Australian Small Angle NeutronScattering Instrument

Indonesian Environmental ProtectionAgency (translation)

computer aided manufacture

European Laboratory for Particle Physics(translation)

computational fluid dynamics

Cooperative Research Centre

Cooperative Research Program

Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme

Department of Industry, Science andTourism

Equal Employment Opportunity

Financial Information ManagementSystem

Freedom of Information

Generic Industrial Research andDevelopment

High Flux Australian Reactor

International Atomic Energy Agency

International Conference on NuclearCooperation in Asia

International Nuclear Information System

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute

Japanese International Co-operationAgency

KAERI

KEK

KPPL

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

National Laboratory for High EnergyPhysics (translation)

Jakarta City Government Urban andEnvironmental Study Office (translation)

LLWP

MNRF

NEA

NGAC

NMC

NOAA

NSB

NTD

OAEP

OECD

ORNL

PCI

PET

PSS

RAT

RCA

RFP

RSC

SAGTAC

SIMS

SPECT

TAC

TCDC

USGS

USNRC

VSP(N)

WHO

Local Liaison Working Party

Major National Research Facility

Nuclear Energy Agency

National Greenhouse AdvisoryCommittee

National Medical Cyclotron

National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration

Nuclear Safety Bureau

neutron transmission doping

Office for Atomic Energy for Peace

Organisation of Economic Co-operationand Development

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Pollution Control Implementation

Positron Emission Tomography

Public Sector Scheme

Reactor Aluminium Tank

Regional Co-operative Agreement

Request for Proposal

Reactors Safety Committee

Standing Advisory Group on TechnicalAssistance and Cooperation

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Single Photon Emission ComputedTomography


Technical Cooperation amongDeveloping Countries

United States Geological Survey

United States Nuclear RegulatoryCommission

Visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear)

World Health Oreanisation

NEXT PAGE(S)Mt BLANK

m

I N D E X

A Nuclear Source 60

Aboriginal rock art, dated 4, 22

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) 4, 9,11,16,18, 22

environmental applications 14

iodine-129 analysis 11

radioisotope analysis 4

accidents/incidents 66-8

in Japan 9

incident reporting system 9

acid mine drainage 38, 40, 42

actinide isotope monitoring 16

Advanced Photon Source (APS),

Argonne National Laboratory (US) 23, 24

Aerosol Sampling Program 27

air pollution 11

in Jakarta 26, 27

air quality, in Jenolan Caves 38

Alligator Rivers natural analogue studies 14, 26, 28

anode slime processing 43

ANSTO

commercial property leasing 46

corporate governance 105-7

functions 108-9

Web Home Pages 58, 60

Archaeometry Conference, 6th Australasian 29Argonne National Laboratory (US)

arsenic treatment

Atomic Energy for Peace,Office of (Thailand)

Australian Academic ResearchNetwork (AARNet)

Australian Agency for InternationalDevelopment (AusAlD)

Australian Atomic Energy Commission

Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Australian Coal Research Ltd

Australian Institute of Nuclear Science andEngineering (AINSE)

Gold Medals

grant support

23, 24, 33, 34

5, 40, 42-3

14

6

12

1

10

28

18, 19, 26, 48, 73-4

23

26

Australian National Beamline Facility (ANBF) 34

Photon Factory (Japan) 23-4

Australian National Tandem Accelerator

for Applied Research (ANTARES) 1, 21

upgrades 1,18

Australian Nuclear Science and

Technology Organisation Act 1987 iv

Australian Protective Service (APS) 52, 59

Australian Radiation Laboratory 11

Australian Radiation Protection and

Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA) 6

Australian Syncrotron Research

Program (ASRP) 6,18, 23, 53

B

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Authority 9

BATAN 14

bioradiopharmaceuticals 49

Board Audit Committee 2

Board members vi

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, Sellafield 9

Brookhaven National Laboratory (US) 20

Business Guidelines 57

c

caesium 11,34

in Australian honey 39, 43

cancer therapy 39-40, 49, 50

carbon-14 22,29

cement waste-forms 34

Centre for Quaternary Science 22

ceramics work 14, 44

chemistry

analytical 42-3

radioanalytical 43

Chinese Institute of Atomic Energy 33-4

Commonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation (CSIRO) 6,16,18, 20, 23,

26, 27, 44

Division of Marine Research 28-9

copper, in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania 38

copper-64 21,49

core facilities, operation/development 17-24

core science business areas 3

corporate governance 105-7

Counsellor (Nuclear) Posts 10,13

CSS Joint Venture Group 27

Czech Nuclear Research institute 26

D

dating techniques 4, 22

Defence, Department of 15

Digital Coincidence Counting 39, 46

dosimetry, external intercomparison 13

Dounreay (UK) 35

E

email 59

ecological sustainability 3-4, 5, 37-50, 61

electrostatic analyser 22

emergency response 2,15, 69-71

endangered species, analysis ofmetabolic rates 29

enterprise agreement 6, 52

113

I N D E X

Environment Australia

Environment Protection (Impact ofProposals) Act 1974

environmental discharges

environmental dynamics

Environmental Indicators of NuclearActivity (research project)

environmental management

equal employment opportunity

Ernest Henry mining project (Qld)crFangataufa Atoll

fire protection

flow visualisation system

Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of

freedom of information

French Atomic Energy Commission

fruit fly, Queensland

G

galllum-67

gamma irradiation

gamma transmission gauge

General Atomics (US)

geochemical computer codes

German Institute of Nuclear Safety

global climate science

Green Paper on Sustainable EnergyPolicy for Australia

guided tours

H

health physics

heap-leaching

heavy radioactivity

HI FAR

certification

maintenance/support

neutron scattering

operation/utilisation

Probabilistic SafetyAssessment (PSA)

reactor analysis

Remaining Life Study (RLS)

replacement

safeguards

silicon irradiation services

hospitals

Royal North Shore

Royal Prince Alfred, Sydney

St George

human resources

27,35

6,61

68-9

3,26

10

38-9

101-2

38,42

2,9, 10-11

18-19

19

15

103-4

33,44

5, 39, 44

21,49

39, 43-4

26

14

38,42

26

3, 9, 18, 26-7

9

60

2, 8, 20

42

29

1, 18, 48, 52

4, 18

18-19

14, 19-20, 27

4, 18

19

19

19

1,6

16

4

50

21

50

5-6, 55-7

indium-111

Indonesian Environmental ProtectionAgency (BAPEDAL)

Indonesian National Atomic EnergyAgency (BATAN)

industry competitiveness

Industry, Science and Tourism,Department of

industry services

information management

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Coordinated Research Programs(CRPs)

International Nuclear InformationSystem (IN1S)

involvement with

21,40

27

14

37-50

9, 14, 39

39

58-9

8, 10, 36, 52

11

8,13

10-13

Radioactive Waste TechnologyAdvisory Committee (WATAQ 10

Regional Cooperation Agreement(RCA) 4,8,11-12,13

Standing Advisory Group onTechnical Assistance andCooperation (SAGTAQ 10

International Conference on Nuclear

Cooperation in Asia (ICNCA) 2, 8,14

Nuclear Safety Culture Workshop 14

International Global AtmosphericChemistry Project 28

International Nuclear Information

System (INIS) 8,13

CD-ROM in Australia 13

lodine-129 16

lodine-131 50

ion beam analysis 22-3

heavy Ion microprobe 22-3

isotope bouncing system 22

J

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute 5, 13, 28, 33Japanese National Institute for Resourcesand Environment (NIRE)

Kintyre uranium project (WA)

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Land and Water Conservation,Department of (NSW)

landfill design 38, 40-1

Lawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory (US)

liquid waste management

Long Wavelength Polarisation Instrument(LONG POL)

22

5, 32, 34

14

20

32

5, 16, 32-3

36

20

114

I N D E X

M

Maralinga (SA)

materials assessment

metal-contaminated sediments

mineral precipitation

mineral processing

mining

mission

Moata research reactor

Mururoa Atoll

N

National Association of Testing Authorities(NATA)

National Medical Cyclotron (NMQ

upgrades

National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (US)

National Physical Laboratory (UK)

neutron scattering

novel interfaces

NSW Environment Protection Authority

nuclear analytical techniques (NAT)

nuclear biomedicine

Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

Nuclear Expertise Steering Group

nuclear information system

Nuclear Issues Seminar (Fiji)

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Nuclear Safety Bureau

Nuclear Safety, Tokyo Conference on

nuclear science

application to industrial/environmental problems

application to natural processes

nuclear-powered warship monitoring

0

occupational health and safety

Oklo project

organisation chart

Organisation for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD)

Megascience Forum NeutronSources Working Group

Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

organisational development/support

business development

communications

employee relations

finance and supply services

human resources

information management

land management

11, 32, 35

44-5

38

38,42

3-4, 39

3-4, 42

iv

20-1

2,9, 10-11

5,46

1, 21, 48, 49

1, 4, 18

38,42

39,46

14,19-20, 27

4

26

12

14

13,14

9

13

9

9

2,20

15

7

12

5, 25-9

15

5, 47, 66

14,29

V

13-14

8,13,14

51-2

57

59-60

57

52-5

55-7

58-9

60-1

quality assurance

security

site maintenance

site services

training

P

Pacific Power

patents

Pelletron charging system

performance Indicators

photography services

Photon Factory (Japan)

polymer research

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Primary Industries and Energy,Department of

Green Paper on SustainableEnergy Policy for Australia

QQuadramet™

quality assurance

Quality Assurance Services P/L

R

radiation, exposure to low levels of

radiation protection

consultancies

distance learning workshop

standards

training

radiation sterilisation

radiation technology

radioactive isotopes

radioactive substances,treatment/management

radioactive waste management

radiocarbon analysis

radioisotopes

commercial production

Radiological Consequence Model'(research project)

radionuclide transfer

radionuclldes

and dosimetry

research/development

radiopharmaceuticals

bioradlopharmaceuticals

commercial production

molecular

therapeutic

radon research

Ranger Uranium Mines (NT)

55

59

57-8

55

56-7

44

61

21

62-5

60

23

44

1, 4, 18, 21, 48

9

9

50

45-6, 55

18

16

8, 12, 20

46-7

12-13

46

46,47

13

43-4

43

5, 31-6

2, 3, 15, 32

22

4

14, 49-50

10

11

48

4

4, 39-40, 48

49

1, 5, 49-50

48-9

50

28

32, 34, 38, 42

115

I N D E X

remote monitoring equipment trial

research reactors

Resolute Ltd

risk and reliability services

S

safeguards

safety

R8D projects

site safety

Tokyo conference

safety culture

workshop

safety expert, for IAEA

Safety Review Committee

safety services

science Initiatives

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS)

Secondary Standard DosimetryLaboratory (SSDL)

sewage dispersion, off Hong Kong

SIA Radon (Moscow)

silicon

Irradiation services

neutron transmutation doping

Silicon Graphics multi-processor machine

Single Photon Emission ComputedTomography (SPECT)

site characterisation techniques

site safety

Small Angle Neutron ScatteringInstrument (AUSANS)

solid waste management

solvent extraction

spent fuel management

spent fuel transport flask

storage facilities

staff development see training

Strategic Plan

strontium

surface engineering

Sydney Water

synroc

advanced ceramics

development

US contracts

waste management technology

T

Technical Advisory Committee (TAQ

thallium-201

thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs)

16

11

43

47

3, 16

1-2,3

10

66-71

15

2, 9, 14

8,10

9

2

39,46

10, 14

26,28

46

27

33

4,18

20

6,59

1, 4, 18, 21, 48

11

66-71

20

36

43

9, 15, 35

35

35

2,3

11

45

26

2, 32-4

14

5

5, 32-3

14

2,4

21

20

thorium metallic scrap

Tracerco Australasia

training

uuniversities

Adelaide

Australian National University

Canberra

James Cook

Macquarie

Melbourne

Monash

New England

New South Wales

Newcastle

Queensland

Sydney

Technical University of Clausthal,Germany

Texas A&M University

36

72

56-7

45

6, 18, 22, 23, 28,39

6, 18, 23

22

23

6, 18, 23, 49

6, 18, 23, 39, 44

45

6, 18, 23, 26

20

6, 18, 22, 23

6,18, 20, 22, 23

45

22

University of Technology, Sydney 38,42

Western Australia

Wollongong

uranium

liquid effluents from mines

milling

mining

Uranium Mining and Milling,Senate Select Committee

uranium ore processing

uranium scrap

Uzbekistan, Safeguards Assistance Program

V

vision

visiting Ships Panel (Nuclear)

voice mail

wWaste Management Action Plan

waste minimisation

waste rock dumps, hydrology

water quality guidelines

weapons-grade plutonium

welding projects

Wien filter

Workplace Relations Act 1996

World Ocean Circulation Experiment

World Wide Web

ANSTO's Home Page

Library Home Page

29

45

28,29

11

3-4,9

5,9

9

34

36

16

3

8,15

6,59

32, 35-6

36

42

26,38

2,32

45

22

57

28-9

60

58

116