Information distributed by activist groups to Sutherland Shire residents about the transportation of low level radioactive waste was described as unnecessarily alarmist by ANSTO Acting Executive Director, Dr George Collins, today.
"The leaflet is both misleading and irresponsible,” said Dr Collins. “It misrepresents facts and makes unfounded statements in order to provoke unnecessary fear.
"For example, the leaflet claims that 'we won't know which truck is carrying what waste and neither will your local emergency service’. This is simply untrue,” emphasised Dr Collins. "In keeping with the law, all vehicles will be marked as holding radioactive material.
"In addition, contrary to the President of the NSW Fire Brigade Union's alleged claim that 'we are just as useless and just as helpless as everyone else in dealing with radioactive waste', all NSW Fire Brigade Hazmat units are fully trained to deal with low level radioactive material and possess detectors.
“Radioactive material such as nuclear medicines used for diagnosing and treating disease is carried on the streets of the Sutherland Shire and Australia every day. Other hazardous materials – much more hazardous than low-level radioactive waste – are also carried on those streets.
“Reference to the 23 per cent probability of a truck having an accident is irrelevant. What would be of concern would be an accident that caused a release of radioactive material damaging to human health or the environment. Such an accident is exceedingly unlikely."
The transportation of radioactive materials has an excellent safety record. Over several decades, tens of millions of transports of radioactive materials have occurred world-wide, with no in-transit accidents causing serious human health, economic or environmental consequences.
The recent NSW Government inquiry into low level waste also accepted advice from NSW emergency services that the transport of low level radioactive waste can be conducted safely.
"Low level radioactive waste is just that,” said Dr Collins. "It is waste material that emits low levels of radiation. For example, if you stood two metres away from a truck full of low level waste for one hour without moving, you would receive less radiation than you would if you flew to Los Angeles and back.
"As the waste is radioactive, albeit at low levels, it still needs to be safely managed. ANSTO is clearly capable of continuing to manage its waste safely, but there are hundreds of other waste holders in the community who may not be. This is why a central repository has been proposed by the Government,” concluded Dr Collins.