The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Previous attempt to develop a long term solution to managing radioactive waste stopped
A planning application for a rock characterisation facility (that's an underground laboratory) in Cumbria was refused.

House of Lord's review approach to finding a lasting solution for managing the UK's radioactive waste
Stakeholder engagement was suggested as the key to moving forward. A conference by the UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development showed the public were actually keen to engage with the issue of long-term radioactive waste management.

Government initiated the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme
A public consultation to find a practicable solution for the UK's higher activity wastes that:

• achieved long-term protection of people and the environment
• did this in an open and transparent way that inspired public confidence
• was based on sound science, and
• ensured the effective use of public monies.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Managenement (CoRWM) published a document entitled "Long List of Options"
They undertook an extensive programme of public and stakeholder engagement, including public meetings throughout the country. Following further rounds of public and stakeholder engagement, a preliminary options short-list was developed. It included:

• long-term interim storage
• near surface disposal of short lived wastes
• deep geological disposal

UK Government and devolved administrations response to CoRWM recommendations
They accepted CoRWM's recommendations that geological disposal, preceded by safe and secure interim storage, was the best available approach for the long-term management of higher activity radioactive wastes. The response committed to consulting on a framework for implementing geological disposal as the next stage of the MRWS programme. 

UK Government and devolved administrations for Wales and Northern Ireland published an MRWS consultation document
One hundred and eighty-one responses were received and taken into consideration in the development of the way forward set out in the MRWS White Paper published in June 2008.

White Paper: Managing Radioactive Waste Safely published
This paper sets out the UK Government's framework for managing higher activity radioactive waste in the long-term through geological disposal, coupled with safe and secure interim storage and ongoing research and development to support its optimised implementation. It also invites communities to express an interest inopening up without commitment discussions with Government on the possibility ofhosting a geological disposal facility at some point in the future.

• More information on Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Programme (Department of Energy and Climate Change website)

Joint Research Centre of the European Commission published its report "Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste: Moving Towards Implementation"
It concluded "our scientific understanding of the processes relevant for geological disposal is developed well enough to proceed with step-wise implementation."

 Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste: Moving Towards Implementation 2009: Joint Research Committee Reference Report (1Mb)