The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Environmental impact of future decommissioning at Wylfa comes under scrutiny

06 October 2008

Stakeholders living around Wylfa are being invited to comment on the Site’s Environmental Impact Assessment for the Decommissioning Project (EIAD). An Open Day session will take place at the site’s Sports and Social Club on 17th October when staff will be on hand to take people through the huge document.

Jan Milburn, who heads the EIAD team, told the September meeting of the Site Stakeholder Group, that the document, which is available in full in hard copy, as a non technical summary and on cd, has been issued as part of the three month consultation led by the Health and Safety Executive.

She said the document was compiled from surveys carried out looking at all aspects of how the decommissioning of the site would impact on the environment. The work has taken almost three years to complete.

When Wylfa stops producing electricity and has despatched all its spent fuel to Sellafield for reprocessing, the process of decommissioning will begin. This will involve the dismantling and removal of all redundant buildings, plant and equipment.

Before any of this work is started, Consent is required from the Health & Safety Executive under the Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact Assessment for Decommissioning) Regulations 1999 (as Amended) SI 1999 No.2892. In considering their Consent, the Health & Safety Executive carries out a three-month consultation with members of the public.

Janet Milburn, said:
“Amongst the many areas covered in the Assessment are Air Quality and Dust; Archeology and Cultural Heritage; Ecology; Geology, Hydrogeology and Soils; Landscape and Visual; Noise and Vibration; Socio-Economic; Surface Waters; and Traffic and Transport.”

“It is very important that local people who are interested in our application to decommission are involved in our consultation.”

John Roberts, Chairman of the SSG, encouraged as many local people as possible to get involved in the consultation.

Earlier in the meeting he paid tribute to Vice-Chair, Beverley Evans, who died recently and extended his sympathy to the family. He also reflected the fact that the meeting was taking place on 11th September and recalled the 9/11 attacks on the US which he described as “a bleak day for mankind”.

Site Director, Greg Evans, said the Wylfa plant had the lowest radiation dose for workers in the world. He said the site had an exemplary operating record since November 2007 and that his staff’s attention to detail was second to none.

As Chair of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, in the North West, Mr Evans said he was proud to be involved with schools on Anglesey where they had an opportunity to promote potential future careers in the nuclear industry through talks with year 1 to year 12 pupils and 16 year olds.

“What you need to get a job at Wylfa is the ability to work in a team, and to be determined and enthusiastic,” he said.