The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

LLW Strategy Group Meets

20 August 2008

The second meeting of the NDA National Low Level Waste Strategy Group took place in late June as work on developing the national strategy gathers pace.

The NDA is leading on developing the strategy in partnership with UKNWM Ltd who won the contract to manage and operate the LLW Repository near Drigg in west Cumbria.

To help gain better picture of existing practices across the NDA sites, staff from NDA and LLWR recently visited Magnox sites including Oldbury and Hinkley Point ‘A’. In addition the UKAEA LLW team from Dounreay visited the LLWR to share knowledge and good practice from their perspective. This is the start of work in verifying and establishing a UK LLW baseline from which to benchmark new developments.

David Rossiter, Strategy Development Manager at LLWR said they had received 300 comments on the topical strategy consultation. The feedback was from a wide range of organisations including low level waste consignors, Regulators, the NDA, Government and local authorities.

Matthew Clark, NDA’s LLW Technical Support Manager told the meeting they are looking at integrated waste strategies from nuclear and non-nuclear producers, taking into account costs, the volume of waste and other assets/infrastructure and plans. This information will help focus on the potential future strategic options for dealing with LLW more effectively as part of the NDA strategy for the UK nuclear LLW industry.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is also being undertaken to underpin this work. This is a requirement under European rules and covers the social, economic and environmental effects with the aim of sustainable development. Consultation will take place on the NDA scoping report for the SEA towards the end of July.

The LSG meeting continued work on developing its Terms of Reference. Members also considered the criteria for assessing the success of the LLW strategy, and gave useful input to inform process and other points needing consideration.

They also discussed the need to use existing networks and groups and the possibility of establishing sub-committees to cover specific topics as well as looking at the options and opportunities, or studies that may be needed to support the strategy. Other areas that could be put forward for research and development related to LLW, contaminated ground and groundwater.

Joanne Fisher, NDA’s Head of Low Activity Waste Management said that this 2nd meeting of the group significantly built on the inaugural one and provided extremely useful input. The next meeting for the group is scheduled for August 2008.