The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has operated the 10MWHIFAR research reactor since 1958. In addition to its role in research, the reactor provides radioisotopes formedical and industrial use and is a major supplier of NTD silicon for the semi-conductor industry. It isanticipated that HIFAR will finally shut down operations in December 2006. Although ANSTO has successfullydecommissioned MOATA and undertaken other smaller decommissioning projects the proposed HIFARdecommissioning project will be the largest ever undertaken by ANSTO.ANSTO faces a number of challenges in HIFAR's final year of operation. These include: the establishment of amodern decommissioning strategy in the absence of a long-term nuclear waste repository management facility orwaste acceptance criteria for the material generated by the decommissioning;the impact of the impeding closureof the facility on staff morale and retention of key staff;and to meet the our customer's needs up to the finalclosure.These challenges are compounded by competition for skilled resources required to commission the new researchreactor (OPAL) and the need to continue to supply radioisotopes.Important "lessons in progress" that will be discussed in this paper include staffing the decommissioning team,maintenance of a strong safety culture during final stages of operation, working towards regulatory approval fordecommissioning and strategies for knowledge retention.
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