A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights will be released for public review over a 12 week period. In September 1997, the Commonwealth Government announced a decision to fund ANSTO to construct and operate a replacement research reactor at ANSTOs site at Lucas Heights. The draft EIS has been prepared by PPK Environment & Infrastructure as consultants to ANSTO.
The complete version of the Draft EIS comprises two volumes plus a stand-alone overview document.
The draft EIS will be available for public examination at libraries throughout Sutherland Shire and the metropolitan Sydney area, Wollongong City libraries, the NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Information Centres in Sydney City, Parramatta, Rockdale and Wollongong, State libraries in Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane, The National Library, Environment Australia Library in Canberra, and the ANSTO Reception Centre.
The draft EIS can also be purchased during the review period from Australian Government Bookshops in Sydney and Parramatta and from ANSTOs Lucas Heights Reception Centre at a cost of $25 per volume.
There is no cost for the overview document, which is available from PPK and ANSTO.
Community consultation will continue to be a major focus of the EIS during the exhibition period for the draft EIS. Display advertisements appearing in national, metropolitan, suburban and ethnic newspapers provide details of the public review period.
Similar information is being letter-boxed in a third EIS newsletter to the local community near the Lucas Heights.
A series of six draft EIS exhibition and community information days will be held within Sutherland Shire on weekends during the public review period to assist people interested in making a submission. will also be held over the 12 week period.
Submissions are invited on the information provided in the draft EIS. These should be made to Environment Australia to procedures specified in both the Main Report of the draft EIS and the overview document.
A final EIS will be prepared after taking into account public submissions received during the draft EIS public review period.
This will also be a public document. After receiving the final EIS, Environment Australia will provide its advice to the Minister for the Environment, who will make recommendations to the Minister for Industry, Science & Tourism on the proposal.
Published: 17/08/1998