The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

Our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) is 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.

 Watch video of Bruce McKirdy introducing the role of NDA's Radioactive Waste Management Directorate 

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
• • More information on developing Disposal System Safety Case (DSSC) for geological disposal of radioactive waste
• In conjunction with waste producers, identify and deliver solutions to optimise the management of Higher Activity Waste
• • More information on what we do to assess packaging proposals for Higher Activity Waste in the UK
• 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
• Develop sustainable, innovative and cost effective solutions that have public support and are in the best interest of the UK

• More information on our governance - 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 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.

• More information on previous and current consultations

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