THE Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is seeking to formalise its control of the historic Little Forest radioactive waste dump at Lucas Heights.
The site, at the northern end of the 1.6-kilometre radius buffer zone around the reactor, contains low-level waste buried from 1960 to 1968, when the facility was operated by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission.
ANSTO, which succeeded that government body, applied to the independent regulator, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), for a licence over what is officially known as the Little Forest Legacy Site.
The public can comment until February 20.
An ANSTO spokesman said the application was designed to "formalise and codify strong management systems, in line with international best practice".
He said ANSTO would "continue to appropriately manage the site using best practice" while the public submissions process was "routine".
The spokesman said the site was "secure, safe, fenced and monitored" and was now used by scientists as an "outdoor laboratory to research and publish on issues as diverse as nuclear security and materials storage".
He said ongoing management included routine air, soil and groundwater testing.
Visit: ansto.gov.au
