Little Forest Legacy Site (LFLS) is secure, safe, fenced and monitored, and is today used by scientists as an outdoor laboratory to research and publish on issues as diverse as nuclear security and materials storage.
It originated as a 1960’s disposal site – the place where several government agencies disposed of waste associated with an energy research program that has long since been abandoned.
Today the site is managed, on behalf of the Government, by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), in consultation with the independent nuclear regulator, ARPANSA.
Substantive ongoing management includes routine air, soil and groundwater testing, results of which are publically available and confirm that the site is being safely managed.
That said, ANSTO has lodged an application with the nuclear regulator to license the site in the medium term: formalising and codifying strong management systems, in line with international best practice.
In response, today the regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, (ARPANSA), has confirmed a routine public submissions process in relation to the licensing application.
“We encourage any interested parties to look at the documentation and make their views known through the independent submissions process,” said a spokesperson for ANSTO.
Under the ARPANSA-granted license, ANSTO will continue to appropriately manage the site using best practice.
ANSTO continues to support a national approach to waste management, including the establishment of a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility.
Media contact: Phil McCall 0438 619 987