The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Last Updated: 02 February 2012

Efficient delivery of the NDA mission relies heavily on the ability to transport radioactive materials (nuclear fuel, radioactive waste, contaminated items, etc) and bulk materials (spoil, concrete, new raw materials, etc) to, from and between sites, during construction, operation and decommissioning.

 Transport and Logistics Strategy Feburay 2011 (1Mb)

Objective

To ensure the efficient transportation of radioactive and bulk materials is carried out safely and securely.

Scope and Boundaries

The current scope of the strategy is the transport of radioactive and non-radioactive materials to, from and between sites. Sites include NDA's designated sites and installations, power and research reactor sites, reprocessing plants, processing plants and waste storage facilities. No mode of transport is excluded and could include transport by road, rail, air, sea and waterways.

Interfaces

As a critical enabler the Transport and logistics strategy interfaces with many other Topic Strategies issues including:

• All forms of active and non radioactive wastes because of the need to transport them between sites
• Spent fuels and nuclear materials strategies are relevant because of transport requirements between sites
• Health, Safety, Security, Safeguards, Environment and Quality Strategy is relevant because transport must be carried out within current regulations.
• The Supply Chain Strategy is relevant because of the need to procure transport services.
• Public Stakeholder Engagement and Communciations Strategy is relevent because of the need to take account of stakeholder and local community concerns.
• People (incorporating Skills and Capability) Strategy is relevant because of the need to retain expertise in this area.

Credible Options

The credible strategic options that relate to Transport and Logistics are;

1.      NDA provides complete transport services through its subsidiary companies

2.      SLCs set their own policies and contract their own transport services

3.      NDA works with SLCs and regulators to define principles under which they procure transport services

Current Position

The current strategy is for the NDA to define a set of principles under which the SLCs arrange and co-ordinate transport to maximise its effectiveness across the estate.

The strategy is defined by a set of principles which are summarised below: 

• ensure the safety and security of material movements to protect people and the environment and consider the impact on the resulting Carbon Footprint
• optimise movements between sites whilst enabling other strategic themes
• seek to reduce the adverse impact of all transport modes throughout the transport routes
• find common and reliable packaging and transport arrangements to support movement and disposal requirements.
• use rail over road where practicable
• maximise the use of existing assets rather than develop new ones

Our current strategy and the principles above meet our current needs and are being implemented across the estate. We recognise however, that we will have to further develop this strategy as the requirements of other strategic themes become clear, such as the co-location of materials, treatment or storage facilities.