The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

A workshop later this month will consider a draft set of guiding principles that are being developed to assist the UK's nuclear industry on the packaging and storage of Higher Activity Waste (HAW).

The NDA launched a project earlier this year to consider a more effective approach to the storage of HAW, in particular Intermediate Level Waste, comprising waste management experts from across the industry including NDA, NDA's Radioactive Waste Management Directorate, Site Licence Companies, British Energy, and where appropriate, other commercial waste producers.

Formation of the Integrated Project Team (IPT), which is being managed by Magnox North, follows the publication of two reports:

• The NDA's UK Higher Radioactive Waste Interim Storage Review 2009
• The independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) Interim Storage report 2009 which recommended a more co-ordinated industry-wide approach to waste management.

The Government has noted the formation of the IPT to "address key issues such as waste package performance, store longevity, monitoring and inspection regimes and store maintenance and refurbishment".

 

Next month's workshop, to be held at Trawsfynydd on 21-22 September, aims to bring all UK store operators together, including NDA, British Energy and the MoD. Discussions will focus on experience to date, lessons that can be learned, areas to share information, road-testing of the emerging guidelines and future direction for the guidelines.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure a consistent and robust approach to packaging and store lifetimes across the UK, as well as enhance the confidence of regulators, Government and local stakeholders.

HAW covers all radioactive material that has no further use and includes all vitrified high-level waste, Intermediate Level Waste and a small volume of Low Level Waste.

HAW exists on most of the NDA's sites and is currently being packaged and then placed into interim storage at each of the sites where it arises pending final disposal when the deep Geological Disposal Facility becomes available or 'near-surface, near-site' storage and disposal for wastes in Scotland.

While all technical safety criteria and legislative requirements for storage are observed, sites have in the past adopted an individual approach to packaging practice, store design and monitoring. There are 15 existing longer-term ILW stores across the NDA estate, with more due to be constructed.

Overall, the project will:

• assess existing storage and packaging methods
• provide guidance to all waste producers who manage HAW
• examine emerging technologies that could be applied in order to help ensure safe storage in the longer term

James McKinney, the NDA's Higher Activity Waste (HAW) Strategy Manager, said:

"The project's aim is to ensure improved co-ordination across the UK and we are also examining all areas where improvements could be achieved. We anticipate being able to draft industry guidelines, drawing on best practice world-wide, and will also examine all the latest technological innovations."

The conclusions of the project, expected to be complete by the middle of 2011, will be reported to the UK and Scottish Governments and Devolved Administrations.