The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

In June 2008, Government published the White Paper "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal". This paper sets out Government's detailed framework for the long term management of higher activity wastes.

Government has made the NDA the implementing organisation, responsible for planning and delivering the geological disposal facility. As part of this process, the NDA will engage with the communities and other stakeholders.

Our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) will be responsible for the programme that delivers the geological disposal facility. In due course its ownership may be opened up to competition in line with other NDA sites. Further dialogue with Government, the regulators and the supply chain will be required before the step is taken to determine whether this is the appropriate implementation approach.

• Background Information
• Supporting Documentation

Programme Mission

To deliver geological disposal and provide radioactive waste management solutions.

Programme Objectives

• Engage with national and local governments and communities to identify a geological disposal facility site
• Develop the specification, design, safety case and environmental and sustainability assessments for the disposal system and obtain regulatory support
• In conjunction with waste producers, identify and deliver solutions to optimise the management of higher activity waste
• Develop and maintain an effective organisation and secure resources to deliver geological disposal
• Obtain and maintain stakeholder support for our activities
• Deliver a focused Research & Development programme to support geological disposal and optimised packaging solutions
• Seek sustainable, innovative and cost effective solutions that have public support and are in the best interest of the UK

For information on our governance see details of our Repository Development Management Board

Our Stakeholders

A key recommendation of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) is that we implement Government policy of geological disposal through a voluntarism and partnership approach. We aim to develop open and transparent relationships with stakeholders and provide relevant and accessible information, including the wider context of the waste issue – understanding it as a social and ethical question as much as a technical and scientific one.

We will, therefore, be liaising with the a range of stakeholders, including:

• Government
• Communities who have come forward through the voluntarism process
• Independent regulators
• Local Government and its representative bodies
• Nuclear industry and its representative bodies
• Supply chain
• Academia and skills organisations
• Non-Government organisations (NGOs)
• Media and
• Organisations and individuals who are interested in our work.

Our approach will be to use formal channels including appropriate consultations as well as informal channels and on an ad hoc basis. This means that an open, collaborative approach will be central to our culture and to our success.

For more information on previous and current consultations see Our Consultations

If you require more information from the NDA on the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme or geological disposal, see Geological Disposal Enquiries