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AUSTRALIAN RADIATION PROTECTION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY (LICENCE CHARGES) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2010 (NO. 1) (SLI NO 102 OF 2010)
Select Legislative Instrument 2010 No. 102
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Act 1998
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1)
Section 6 of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Act 1998 (the Licence Charges Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted by the Licence Charges Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Licence Charges Act.
The Regulations amend the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Regulations 2000 (the Principal Regulations) by increasing the annual licence charges levied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) by 14 per cent. The increase is the first by ARPANSA since 2004 and represents only a part of the 22 per cent actual cumulative wage cost increases from 2005 to 2009.
Under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (the ARPANS Act), a Commonwealth entity, Commonwealth contractor or person in a prescribed Commonwealth place (“a controlled person”), is prohibited from undertaking certain conduct in relation to a ‘controlled facility’ unless that person is authorised to do so by a facility licence. The conduct that is prohibited is to prepare a site for; construct; possess and control; operate; or de-commission or dispose of or abandon a controlled facility. A controlled facility is defined as either a nuclear installation or a prescribed radiation facility.
The ARPANS Act also provides that a controlled person is prohibited from undertaking dealings with controlled material or controlled apparatus (collectively referred to as “sources”) unless that person is authorised to do so by a source licence. To “deal with” a source includes to possess or control the source; use or operate the source or dispose of the source.
Subsection 32(1) of the ARPANS Act provides that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ARPANSA may issue a facility licence to a controlled person authorising that controlled person to undertake the otherwise prohibited action. Subsection 33(1) of the Act provides that the CEO of ARPANSA may issue a source licence to a controlled person authorising that controlled person to deal with a controlled apparatus or a controlled material.
Under the ARPANS Act a controlled person may apply for a facility or source licence. An application for a licence must be in a form approved by the CEO and accompanied by such fee as is prescribed in the Principal Regulations.
The Licence Charges Act provides that the holder of facility or source licence, at any time during a financial year, is liable to pay a charge for the licence for that year. The amount of the charge for a year is such amount as is prescribed by the Principal Regulations.
The Regulations increase by 14 per cent the annual licence charges prescribed in regulations 4, 5 and 6 and listed in Schedules 1 (Facility licence annual charges – nuclear installations), 2 (Facility licence annual charges – prescribed radiation facilities) and 3 (Source licence annual charges) to the Principal Regulations.
Details of the Regulations are in the Attachment.
ARPANSA undertook a preliminary assessment of the impact of the proposed increase on businesses or individuals. The findings of the assessment were sent to the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). The OBPR examined ARPANSA’s current licence fees and charges and the amount of fees and charges paid by licence holders in 2008‑09 and confirmed that the proposed increase has little or no impact on businesses or individuals and there is no need to submit a Regulatory Impact Statement or Business Cost Calculator report (OBPR Reference 11066). ARPANSA then notified its 35 licence holders of the proposed increase and sought comments. Submissions were received from three licence holders, namely, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the Commonwealth Scientific, Industrial and Research Organisation (CSIRO) and PETNET Australia Pty Ltd (an ANSTO subsidiary). CSIRO and PETNET agreed that ARPANSA should index its licence fees and charges, but CSIRO suggested that the adjustment should be by less than 10%. ANSTO called for a full review of ARPANSA’s regulatory costs. This review will commence in 2010‑11.
The Act does not specify any condition that needs to be met before the power to make the Regulations may be exercised.
The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
The Regulations commence on the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
ATTACHMENT
Details of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1)
Regulation 1 – Name of Regulations
This regulation provides that the title of the Regulations is the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Amendment Regulations 2010 (No. 1).
Regulation 2 – Commencement
This regulation provides for the Regulations to commence on the day after they are registered.
Regulation 3 – Amendment of Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Regulations 2000
This regulation provides that the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (Licence Charges) Regulations 2000 (the Principal Regulations) are amended as set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1 – Amendments
Item [1] – Schedule 1
Schedule 1 lists the annual licence charges for facility licences for nuclear installations. The amendments in item 1 increases the annual charges for each of the following things to be done under the licence as described below:
|
Item |
Description |
Fees |
|
1. |
Preparing a site for a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that is designed for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and to have maximum thermal power of less than 1 megawatt |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
2. |
Constructing a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that is designed for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and to have maximum thermal power of less than 1 megawatt |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
|
3. |
Possessing or controlling a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and with maximum thermal power of less than 1 megawatt |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
4. |
Operating a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) with maximum thermal power of less than 1 megawatt |
$91,875 to $104,738 |
|
5. |
De-commissioning, disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that was used for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and had maximum thermal power of less than 1 megawatt |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
|
6. |
Preparing a site for a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that is designed for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and to have maximum thermal power of 1 megawatt or more |
$36,750 to $41,895 |
|
7. |
Constructing a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that is designed for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and to have maximum thermal power of 1 megawatt or more |
$91,875 to $104,738 |
|
8. |
Possessing or controlling a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies) and with maximum thermal power of 1 megawatt or more |
$91,875 to $104,738 |
|
9. |
Operating a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies and with maximum thermal power of 1 megawatt or more |
$707,438 to $806,479 |
|
10. |
De-commissioning, disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a nuclear reactor that was used for research or production of nuclear materials for industrial or medical use (including critical and subcritical assemblies); and had maximum thermal power of 1 megawatt or more |
$183,750 to $209,475 |
|
11. |
Preparing a site for a controlled facility, being a plant for preparing or storing fuel for use in a nuclear reactor of a kind mentioned in any of items 1 to 9 above |
$9,188 to $10,474 |
|
12. |
Constructing a controlled facility, being a plant for preparing or storing fuel for use in a nuclear reactor of a kind mentioned in any of items 1 to 9 above |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
13. |
Possessing or controlling a controlled facility, being a plant for preparing or storing fuel for use in a nuclear reactor of a kind mentioned in any of items 1 to 9 above |
$9,188 to $10,474 |
|
14. |
Operating a controlled facility, being a plant for preparing or storing fuel for use in a nuclear reactor of a kind mentioned in any of items 1 to 9 above |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
|
15. |
De-commissioning, disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a plant that was used for preparing or storing fuel for use in a nuclear reactor of a kind mentioned in any of items 1 to 9 above |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
16. |
Preparing a site for a controlled facility, being a nuclear waste storage or disposal facility that is designed to contain waste with an activity that is more than the relevant activity level prescribed by regulation 8 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$9,188 to $10,474 |
|
17. |
Constructing a controlled facility, being: a nuclear waste storage or disposal facility that is designed to contain waste with an activity that is more than the relevant activity level prescribed by regulation 8 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
18. |
Possessing or controlling a controlled facility, being: a nuclear waste storage or disposal facility with an activity that is more than the relevant activity level prescribed by regulation 8 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$9,188 to $10,474 |
|
19. |
Operating a controlled facility, being a nuclear waste storage or disposal facility with an activity that is more than the relevant activity level prescribed by regulation 8 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
|
20. |
De-commissioning, disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a nuclear waste storage or disposal facility that formerly contained waste with an activity that is more than the relevant activity level prescribed by regulation 8 of the ARPANS Regulations. |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
21. |
Preparing a site for a controlled facility, being a facility to produce radioisotopes, containing a mixture of controlled materials, with an activity that is more than the activity level prescribed by regulation 11 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
22. |
Constructing a controlled facility, being a facility to produce radioisotopes, containing a mixture of controlled materials, with an activity that is more than the activity level prescribed by regulation 11 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
|
23. |
Possessing or controlling a controlled facility, being a facility to produce radioisotopes, containing a mixture of controlled materials, with an activity that is more than the activity level prescribed by regulation 11 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$18,375 to $20,948 |
|
24. |
Operating a controlled facility, being a facility to produce radioisotopes, containing a mixture of controlled materials, with an activity that is more than the activity level prescribed by regulation 11 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$73,500 to $83,790 |
|
25. |
De-commissioning, disposing of, or abandoning a controlled facility, being a facility that formerly produced radioisotopes, containing a mixture of controlled materials, with an activity that was more than the activity level prescribed by regulation 11 of the ARPANS Regulations |
$45,938 to $52,369 |
Item [2] – Schedule 2, Part 1
Schedule 2, Part 1 lists the annual licence charges for facility licences for prescribed radiation facilities. The amendments in item 2 increases the annual licence charges for each kind of prescribed radiation facility as described below:
|
Item |
Description |
Fees |
|
1. |
Particle accelerator with a beam energy of more than 1 MeV |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
2. |
Particle accelerator capable of producing neutrons |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
3. |
Irradiator containing more than 1015 becquerel (Bq) of a controlled material |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
4. |
Irradiator containing more than 1013 Bq of a controlled material but not including shielding as an integral part of its construction |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
5. |
Irradiator containing more than 1013 Bq of a controlled material and including shielding as an integral part of its construction, but the shielding does not prevent a person from being exposed to the source |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
6. |
Irradiator containing more than 1013 Bq of a controlled material and including shielding as an integral part of its construction, and with a source that is not inside the shielding during the operation of the irradiator |
$9,450 to $10,773 |
|
7. |
Facility for the production, processing, use, storage, management or disposal of sealed sources of controlled materials of activity in a quantity more than 109 times that mentioned in column 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the ARPANS Regulations |
$18,900 to $21,546 |
|
8. |
Facility for the production, processing, use, storage, management or disposal of unsealed sources of controlled materials of activity in a quantity more than 106 times that mentioned in column 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the ARPANS Regulations |
$18,900 to $21,546 |
|
9. |
Facility for the production, processing, use, storage, management or disposal of a mixture of controlled materials, the activity of which, worked out using the method set out in subregulation 6 (2) of the ARPANS Regulations, is more than the applicable level mentioned in that subregulation |
$18,900 to $21,546 |
Item [3] – Schedule 2, Part 2
Schedule 2, Part 2 lists the annual licence charges for facility licences for certain activities relating to prescribed radiation facilities. The amendments in item 3 increases the annual licence charges for each of the following things to be done under the licence as described below:
|
Item |
Description |
Fees |
|
1. |
De-commissioning a controlled facility, being a prescribed radiation facility that was formerly used as a nuclear or atomic weapon test site |
$31,500 to $35,910 |
|
2. |
Disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a prescribed radiation facility that was formerly used as a nuclear or atomic weapon test site |
$21,000 to $23,940 |
|
3. |
De-commissioning a controlled facility, being a prescribed radiation facility that was formerly used for the mining, processing, use, storage, management or disposal of radioactive ores |
$31,500 to $35,910 |
|
4. |
Disposing of or abandoning a controlled facility, being a prescribed radiation facility that was formerly used for the mining, processing, use, storage, management or disposal of radioactive ores |
$21,000 to $23,940 |
Item [4] – Schedule 3, Part 2
For purposes of source licence annual charges, controlled material and controlled apparatus have been divided into three groups, namely Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3, in ascending order of risk to people and the environment. The three groups are listed in Schedule 3, Part 1. Schedule 3, Part 2 lists source licence annual charges according to the number of controlled material or controlled apparatus from each group that is in the same location and which is covered by the same licence. The amendments in item 4 increases the annual licence charges for each group as described below:
|
Item |
Description |
Fees |
|
1. |
For less than 4 controlled apparatus or controlled materials from: (a) Group 1 (b) Group 2 (c) Group 3 |
$525 to $599 $2,100 to $2,394 $6,300 to $7,182 |
|
2. |
For more than 3, but less than 11, controlled apparatus or controlled materials from: (a) Group 1 (b) Group 2 (c) Group 3 |
$1,365 to $1,556 $4,200 to $4,788 $12,600 to $14,364 |
|
3. |
For 11 or more controlled apparatus or controlled materials from: (a) Group 1 (b) Group 2 (c) Group 3 |
$2,625 to $2,993 $7,896 to $9,001 $23,100 to $26,334 |
Item [5] – Schedule 3, Part 3
Schedule 3, Part 3 lists the annual licence charges for source licences held by three licence holders who pay a fixed amount regardless of the number of source licences held by them. The amendments in item 5 increases the annual licence charges for each licence holder as described below:
|
1. |
Department of Defence |
$606,900 to $691,866 |
|
2. |
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation |
$202,440 to $230,782 |
|
3. |
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
$202,440 to $230,782 |