Case study and one question

THE CASE STUDY Background The storage of nuclear waste is a challenge for countries around the world, Australia is no exception Australia does not have a permanent solution to the storage of nuclear waste it produces, Nuclear waste is currently held at more than 100 locations around Australia. Many organisations are using storage areas that are not designed for the long-term storage of radioactive waste. It is recommended under international safety standards that long-term nuclear waste be held in low population, low seismic risk areas, with minimal flooding risk. There is almost 5,000 cubic metres of nuclear waste (around the volume of two Olympic size swimming pools) held in temporary facilities, this excludes uranium mining waste, which is disposed of at mined sites There is a need to find a permanent storage solution for nuclear waste that is generated in Australia The solution needs to be, technically correct, politically supportable, and constructible. There has been attempts in the past to secure a site for the construction of a purpose-built facility, however strong opposition from state governments and local communities stopped these projects from proceeding, largely due to the perception of the risks involved with such a project. Nuclear Waste Facility located in South Australia 2020 - A potential solution The search for a suitable site has taken more than seven years at a cost of more than $60 million: however, it still needs to be debated and supported in Federal Parliament. The current Federal Govemment plans on introducing legislation to establish the required legal framework to commence the project in Napabdee, a farm on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. It is considered, a low population, low seismic risk and minimal flooding risk area. However, the remoteness of the site could present project managers with a range of challenges. From sourcing enough skilled labour (which could also impact quality), to workers housing, to ensuring a steady and reliable flow of the required raw materials. The local township of Kimba (the closest town to Napabdee farm) has a declining population, with just over 1000 people. The region's income is heavily dependent on agricultural production. There is relatively low unemployment and high labour market participation Local community support seems to be high. The federal resources minister Matt Canvan has been quoted as saying, "Napandee was volunteered by the landowner is suitable from a technical perspective, and has broad community support from those who live and work nearby.", however there are concerns traditional land owners were not adequately consulted. While there seems to be community support for the project at this point in time, the highly controversial nature of the project means that if there are unexpected events, the community could withdraw their support for the project before it is completed. The Social Bascline Report: Kimba highlights that "...public concerns about risk are based largely on lack of trust in the institutions responsible for risk management.". The proposed constructed facility would store low-level nuclear waste permanently, and intermediate- level waste temporarily. Intermediate waste would be stored for approximately 30 years, which is considered sufficient time for the Australian Government to establish a permanent solution. Nuclear waste is classified into categories depending on how much radiation it emits and for how long. According to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, "Low-level waste contains small amounts of radioactivity and generally requires minimal shielding during handling transport and storage. Intermediate-level waste emits higher levels of radiation and requires additional shielding." The complex nature of the project could make it difficult to accurately estimate the costs and time required to complete individual project tasks. Additionally, the highly technical nature of this project may mean that quality standards have to be tightly controlled. The complexity and uniqueness of the project may also pose a challenge when training staff Australia has benefited from the use of nuclear technology. Approximately lin 3 Australians will need some form of nuclear medicine in their lifetime. Additionally, nuclear technology has allowed us to study the structure of materials using neutron beams. However, Australia has an obligation to ensure nuclear waste material is handled, stored, and transported in accordance with international best practice Project Objectives The objectives of the storage project include the following Removal of nuclear waste from highly populated cities and temporary storage facilities. Enough excess capacity to cope with all future low-level nuclear waste generated in Australia. Temporary storage for all intermediate-level waste generated in the next 30 years. CASE STUDY QUESTIONS Your local Member of Parliament (MP) is seeking your independent advice regarding project risk management. Provide your thoughts on this project by reviewing the risk management aspects involved in the nuclear waste facility development 2. Risk Management Process (Guide: 750 words) (50 Marks) Using the PMBOK risk management process undertake the following in relation to the case. Identify 3-5 key risks Analyse these risks qualitatively using a risk matrix Select the appropriate risk management strategy Present the residual risk Discuss monitoring and controlling of identified risks Any other information you think is relevant for your local MP