AU9715909 / (V i -T- (V- ~ O'O0Q_ Cover A Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry image of calcium phosphate granules in the soft tissue of a freshwater mussel. Since many pollutants, including radioactivity from uranium mining sites, are incorporated into these granular deposits, mussels are used by ANSTO's Environmental Science Program for monitoring the quality of waterways throughout Australia. Annual Report 1994 -1995 Qnsto AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION \jL— < ^ Contact Details ANSTO Lucas Heights Research Laboratories New lllawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234 Postal Address: ANSTO Private Mail Bag 1 Menai, NSW 2234 Telephone: (02) 717 3111 Facsimile: (02) 717 5097 Telegrams: ANSTO, Sydney Telex: AA 24562 Email: [email protected] Tours of the ANSTO site and laboratories are available for individuals, groups and schools. Bookings and information: Telephone (02) 717 3168 Design and artwork by Jeff Evans Photography by Tim Tapsell ISSN 1031-6655 Printed in Australia by SB Jarvis Printing Service Pty Limited, Klrrawee, NSW. Ctnsto 21 September 1995 Senator the Hon Peter Cook Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 My dear Minister In accordance with Section 63M(1) of the Audit Act 1901, I am pleased to present the Annual Report of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation for the period 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995. Audited Group financial statements for the year ended 30 June 1995 are disclosed in the Report. Also included in accordance with Section 63M(2) of the Audit Act 1901 is a Report by the Auditor General. Yours sincerely C R Ward-Ambler Chairman. AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION New lllawarra Road. Lucas Heights, NSW 2234 Private Mail Bag 1. Menai. NSW 2234 Telephone (02) 717 3111 Facsimile (02) 543 5097 Telegram ANSTO Sydney Telex AA 24562 Table of Contents Chairman's Letter to the Minister 1 ANSTO's Mission 4 Enabling Legislation 4 Organisational Highlights 5 Organisation Chart 7 Members of the Board 8 Chairman's Report 10 Executive Director's Report 12 Review of ANSTO's Mission 15 Science and Technology Advanced Materials 17 Applications of Nuclear Physics 25 Environmental Science 31 Engineering 38 Nuclear Technology 42 Radiopharmaceuticals: 46 Biomedicine and Health 46 Australian Radioisotopes 50 National Medical Cyclotron 52 Service Activities Corporate Services: 54 Business Administration 54 Commercial 58 Portfolio Evaluation 59 Personnel and Services 60 Equal Employment Opportunity 63 Security 64 Fraud Control 65 Information Services: 66 External Affairs 66 Communications 71 Library 73 Computing Centre 74 Information Management Strategy 75 Freedom of Information 76 2 Safety and Quality Health and Safety: 80 Occupational Health and Safety 80 Safety and Reliability Centre 86 Nuclear Safety Unit 86 Education and Training 87 Quality 89 Business Operations ACARRE 90 TYacerco 91 Associated Organisation AINSE 92 Financial Statements 94 Index 115 3 ANSTO'S Mission ANSTO s mission is to ensure that its research, technology transfer, commercial and training activities in nuclear science and associated technologies will advance Australia's innovation, international competitiveness and environmental and health management. ANSTO will also maintain and further develop its scientific and technological resources and operate as a national centre for science and technology to advance Australia's national and international nuclear policies and interests. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is a body corporate established by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 as amended by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Amendment Act 1992. The functions and powers of ANSTO are set out in Part 2, Section 5 and 6 of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Act 1987 and Section 4 of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Amendment Act 1992. 4 Organisational Highlights • The recommendations of a comprehensive review of the Organisation were presented to the ANSTO Board in December 1994. The Board is of the firm view that implementation of the recommendations will result in a reinvigorated ANSTO directed by a clear mission and focussed on serving the needs of its stakeholders and customers. •To exploit complementary skills and facilities in the national interest, a protocol was signed with the CSIRO Division of Materials Science and Technology on cooperative relationships in research and development in advanced materials. •ANSTO strengthened its scientific and commercial linkages to further the development of Synroc. Research contracts funded by the US Department of Energy were successfully completed on high level radioactive waste remediation with Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Hanford, USA. •A new multi-sampling high intensity ion source on the ANSTO tandem accelerator enabled dating of samples up to 5 000 years old with an accuracy of 0.5% using the carbon-14 technique. •A massive database obtained from a two year, 24-site monitoring program provided new information on the distribution, composition and sources of fine particles in the atmosphere in the major urban areas of NSW. It will assist Government and local authorities to establish guidelines for protecting community health and living standards. •A computer program, CEQUIL, for modelling geochemical processes in the environment, was completed. The program was successfully applied to modelling the movement of contaminated groundwaters from the uranium mines of WISMUT GmbH, in eastern Germany. • ANSTO became a full partner in the Australian Centre for Minesite Rehabilitation Research, with responsibility for developing and managing a collaborative research program on acid mine drainage. • An innovative arsenic treatment process was developed by ANSTO through the Cooperative Research Centre for Waste Management and Pollution Control Ltd. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has shown a strong interest in the process and is funding a $A1 m demonstration project to treat wastes from a smelter in Montana. • ANSTO conditioned radioactive waste stored at the Australian Defence Industries site at St Marys, Sydney, and facilitated its safe transport to Woomera, South Australia. • Biomedicine and Health Program moved into a new $3.3m research laboratory. It will assist improved health care in Australia through the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals by ANSTO scientists. — e 5 • A pilot study at the lllawarra Regional Hospital of a radiolabelled monoclonal antibody has shown promise in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and in monitoring its recurrence. • Specialised pivot roller bearing assemblies were designed and manufactured for the coarse control arms used to control the nuclear fission rate in the reactor HIFAR. • Record sales by Australian Radioisotopes reflected the continuing strong growth of nuclear medicine procedures in Australia. • The National Medical Cyclotron met most of Australia's needs for cyclotron produced radiopharmaceuticals, reducing reliance on Imports. •The documentation relating to the Authorisation - HIFAR Operations was completed in accordance with the requirements of the Nuclear Safety Bureau. • Development of a formal quality system and increased attention to customer satisfaction resulted in record income of $2.2m from overseas customers for the irradiation of silicon ingots in HIFAR for semiconductor applications. •ANSTO provided health physics coverage for all field operators associated with the clean-up of the former British atomic weapons testing site at Maralinga in South Australia. • Updated site and district emergency planning documents, developed in conjunction with NSW emergency response agencies, were widely distributed. • An Information Management Strategic Plan was developed. It recognises that effective information management is an essential element in supporting ANSTO's scientific and commercial activities. • New community interaction processes, including regular meetings with the Sutherland Shire Council and with community representative organisations, was put into place to enhance understanding of ANSTO’s activities. • A Triennium Funding (Resource) Agreement was agreed to by the Federal Government. This Agreement provides financial certainty and facilitates longer term planning of resource allocations. • • Ratification of the second Enterprise (Bargaining) Agreement, 1995, took effect from 29 December 1994. The implementation of this Agreement resulted in a stable industrial relations environment. —• 6 Organisation Chart Advanced Materials June 1995 Director Dr Adam Jostsons * Applications of Nuclear Physics Director Dr John Boldeman * Environmental Science Director Dr Wally Zuk * MINISTER Engineering Sen the Hon Peter Cook Director Ken Horlock * Nuclear Technology Director BOARD George Malosh * Chairman C R Ward-Ambler Radiopharmaceuticals Director Vacant * • Australian Radioisotopes • Biomedicine & Health Board Secretariat • National Medical Cyclotron Secretary to the Board Peter Nixon Corporate Services Director EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Richard Baker * Prof Helen Garnett * • Business Administration • Commercial • Personnel & Services • Security General Manager Scientific & Deputy Executive Director Information Services Vacant * Director John Rolland * • External Affairs • Communications • Library • Computer Centre Health & Safety Director Dr Ron Cameron * • Occupational Health