Radiation Protection Amendment (Disposal) Regulations 2012
I, the Governor in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Radiation Protection Act 2005 .
17 December 2012PETER G. UNDERWOOD
Governor
By His Excellency's Command,
MICHELLE O'BYRNE
Minister for Health
These regulations may be cited as the Radiation Protection Amendment (Disposal) Regulations 2012 .
These regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the Gazette.
In these regulations, the Radiation Protection Regulations 2006 are referred to as the Principal Regulations.
4. Regulation 19 amended (Disposal)
Regulation 19(2) of the Principal Regulations is amended by omitting "in" first occurring and substituting "into".
5. Regulation 20 substituted
Regulation 20 of the Principal Regulations is rescinded and the following regulations are substituted:A person must not dispose of radioactive material into a sewer without the prior written approval of each of the following:(a) the Director of Public Health;(b) the Secretary of the department responsible for administering the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 ;(c) the regulated entity, within the meaning of the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 , responsible for the sewer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.20A. Methods of disposal into sewer
(1) A person who disposes of radioactive material into a sewer must ensure that the radioactive material is –(a) an aqueous solution; or(b) macerated biological matter.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.(2) A person who disposes of radioactive material by means of a sink on any premises must ensure that –(a) the plumbing leads to a sewer and not to a stormwater drain; and(b) the radioactive material is –(i) disposed of through a slow drip system; and(ii) well diluted by running water; and(c) reasonable effort is made to prevent splashing.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
6. Regulation 21 amended (Maximum radiation activity into sewer)
Regulation 21 of the Principal Regulations is amended by omitting subregulation (2) and substituting the following subregulation:(2) A person who disposes of radioactive material into a sewer must ensure that the quantity of that radioactive material does not exceed –(a) in any 7-day period, 20 times the annual limit on intake for a radionuclide; or(b) such other quantity as may be approved in advance of the disposal, either generally or by reference to a period of time, by each of the following:(i) the Director of Public Health;(ii) the Secretary of the department responsible for administering the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 ;(iii) the regulated entity, within the meaning of the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 , responsible for the sewer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
7. Regulation 22 substituted
Regulation 22 of the Principal Regulations is rescinded and the following regulation is substituted:22. Allowable concentration level
(1) In this regulation –connection point, in relation to any premises and a sewer, means the point at which the plumbing for the premises joins the sewer.(2) A person who disposes of radioactive material into a sewer from any premises must ensure that the concentration of radioactive material in sewage, immediately before the connection point, does not exceed –(a) in any 24-hour period, one-tenth of the amount specified in the Dose Coefficients Document for each 730 litres of sewage; or(b) such other concentration as may be approved in advance of the disposal, either generally or by reference to a period of time, by each of the following:(i) the Director of Public Health;(ii) the Secretary of the department responsible for administering the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 ;(iii) the regulated entity, within the meaning of the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 , responsible for the sewer.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.(3) A person who disposes of radioactive material into a sewer from any premises must be able to prove, by calculation or measurement, that the concentration level of the radioactive material in sewage, immediately before the connection point, does not exceed the allowable concentration under subregulation (2) .Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
8. Regulation 23 amended (Biological re-concentration)
Regulation 23 of the Principal Regulations is amended by omitting "in" first occurring and substituting "into".
9. Regulation 23A inserted
After regulation 23 of the Principal Regulations , the following regulation is inserted in Part 7:A person who disposes of radioactive material into a sewer from any premises must ensure that –(a) the plumbing is in good condition; and(b) there are no low points in the plumbing, other than those required under the Building Act 2000 , in which the radioactive material could collect.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 250 penalty units.
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 26 December 2012
These regulations are administered in the Department of Health and Human Services.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the regulation)
These regulations amend the Radiation Protection Regulations 2006 to introduce an approval mechanism relating to the disposal of radioactive material, and to effect minor statute law revision in relation to that matter.