ARPANSA has issued a licence to the Australian Submarine Agency to prepare a site for the prescribed radiation facility known as the 'Controlled Industrial Facility'. The proposed Controlled Industrial Facility will provide low-level waste management and maintenance services to support the Submarine Rotational Force - West program, which is being planned at the existing HMAS Stirling Navy Base, Garden Island, Rockingham, Western Australia.
ARPANSA is responsible for licensing Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation and applies a
strict review and assessment process once a licence application is received.
The ARPANSA CEO elected to invite public comment in relation to the application due to the level of public interest and as this is the first licence application to ARPANSA from the newly formed Australian Submarine Agency (ASA).
ARPANSA received 165 submissions in relation to the ASA licence application. These submissions were reviewed and considered alongside the regulatory assessment of the licence application. A summary of the submission themes and ARPANSA responses is available on the ARPANSA website.
The siting licence approval is the first stage of a stringent licencing process that requires separate applications for siting, construction, operation and decommissioning.
Parliament is considering legislation to establish a dedicated naval nuclear power safety regulator, the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator (ANNPSR). Until the new regulator is established, ARPANSA will regulate nuclear and radiological safety for ASA.
Future applications for the Controlled Industrial Facility are likely to be made while ARPANSA remains the regulatory authority for nuclear and radiological safety for ASA. The CEO has committed to continuing to invite public comment on all future ASA facility licences considered by ARPANSA.
ARPANSA undertakes comprehensive regulatory assessment and applies appropriate licence conditions to ensure the protection of people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.
