Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites at Emu and Maralinga (Australia); Report by the Maralinga Rehabilitation Technical Advisory Committee

Canberra: Australia Commonwealth Government, Department of Education, Science and Training, 2003. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. Good. li, [1], 403, [1] pages. Maps. Illustrations (photographs, figures, tables--some in color). References. Glossary. The referenced CD at the back of the volume is NOT PRESENT. From 1952 to 1963, the British government, with the permission of the Australian government, conducted a series of nuclear weapons development tests in Australia. The testing occurred at Maralinga; Montebello Islands and Emu Field. The tests included major trials described as detonation of nuclear devices and minor trials were investigating the performance of various components of a nuclear device. In total, 12 atomic detonations of nuclear devices occurred. This included: three at the Montebello Islands; two at Emu fields; and seven at Maralinga. These atomic detonations dispersed radioactive material into the environment. At Maralinga and Emu the nuclear devices were detonated from ground level and at higher altitudes. The resulting radioactivity has decayed to levels where the radiation dose contribution is indistinguishable from that of natural radiation background levels. The minor trials consisted of investigating the performance of components and safety of the nuclear devices. At Emu Field, minor trials involved the testing and experimentation of various radioactive materials, an essential process in nuclear weapon detonation. At Maralinga, the minor trials resulted in the burning and explosive dispersal of radioactive materials, some with long half-lives, using conventional high explosives. The radioactive contamination occurred over smaller areas, but at higher levels when the radioactive materials settled on the ground surface. A royal commission into British nuclear tests in Australia found that significant radiological hazards remained at many of the Maralinga test sites. A rehabilitation project was successfully implemented between 1995 and 2000 to rehabilitate the former nuclear test sites at Maralinga. In 2009, the test site land was returned to traditional owners. The Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites at Emu and Maralinga (Australia) 2003 Report-also known as the MARTAC report-contains a brief history of Maralinga and a thorough report on the Maralinga Rehabilitation Project. Chapters 1 to 3 covers the: site's characteristics, especially the aspects that influenced the nature of the contamination safety of the remedial measures permanency of solutions parameters of an Aboriginal outstation lifestyle extent and nature of the contamination at the start of the program UK testing program financial, administrative and organizational arrangements that allowed the project to be implemented on behalf of the Commonwealth Chapters 3 to 5 describe the: work that was planned, how it was done, and its outcomes and occupational and public health consequences comparisons between the corrective measures applied and the scope of work outcomes achieved of the rehabilitation program, focusing on quality assurance Chapter 6 includes: discussion of land and environment management issues that the new owners and occupiers of the Maralinga Lands must address experiences to be drawn from the project.