The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

02 April 2007

In its response to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management’s (CoRWM’s) recommendations in October 2006, the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations (Government) decided that responsibility for securing geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste should fall to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority(NDA), creating one organisation able to take a strategic view through all stages of the waste management chain.

Following that announcement and a period of consultation, the Government transferred its shares in Nirex to the NDA and since then the two organisations have been working closely together via a joint transition team to bring about the successful integration of Nirex’s skills and expertise into the NDA. The majority of Nirex staff have been transferred to the NDA ensuring that the necessary skills, knowledge and experience are protected. 

This integration is now complete and with effect from 2 April 2007 the NDA will perform the functions previously undertaken by Nirex.

As a result of this successful integration a new Directorate has been established within the NDA - the Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) – which will be led by Richard Waite, previously NDA’s Engineering Director. A Repository Technical Director, a Repository Project Director and a Head of National Waste Management Strategy will work under Richard’s leadership to ensure the successful delivery of the geological disposal project. The engineering components of Richard’s former area of responsibility have been transferred to the Nuclear Safety, Security and Environment Directorate led by Laurence Williams who will also now act as the NDA’s Chief Engineer.  

We understand that the next stage of the Government’s Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS Stage 3) programme is to undertake a public consultation in the summer on the framework for the implementation of geological disposal. This will include proposals for a voluntarist / partnership approach to site selection, and also an outline geological disposal delivery programme.

The NDA will use its new Radioactive Waste Management Directorate to design and build an effective implementing organisation to deliver a safe, environmentally sound, publicly acceptable, geological disposal solution. It is envisaged that in due course this new organisation will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the NDA. Once a suitable site has been selected the subsidiary can develop into the repository Site Licence Company. Considerable future dialogue with Government, regulators and the supply chain will be required before this step is taken.

Background Information

The UK Government and the devolved administrations announced (25 October 2006) that higher activity radioactive waste, which includes waste from the nuclear and medical industries, military uses and academic research, will be managed in the long term through geological disposal. 

This decision accepts the recommendation of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which reported in July 2006. Geological disposal was identified by CoRWM as being the option that would perform best in terms of security and protecting the public and the environment.

Planning and development of geological disposal will be based on four pillars:

• the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority acting as a strong, effective implementing organisation with clear responsibilities and accountabilities;
• strong independent regulation by the statutory regulators: the Health and Safety Executive, the environment agencies and the Office for Civil Nuclear Security;
• independent scrutiny and advice to Government by a successor body, built on CoRWM principles; and
• open and transparent partnerships with potential host communities for disposal facilities.