29 August 2008
NDA Welcomes Environment Agency Report
We welcome the report on the longevity of intermediate-level radioactive waste packages for geological disposal.
06 August 2008
Geological Disposal Consultations Launched
The NDA has published consultation documents on its framework for stakeholder engagement and communication during development of the geological disposal facility; and proposals for sustainability appraisal and environmental assessment as part of implementing geological disposal.
12 June 2008
NDA welcomes publication of MRWS White Paper
We welcome the publication of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) White Paper and the NDA’s role in both planning for and delivering the geological disposal facility.
12 June 2008
2007 Radioactive Waste Inventory Published
NDA publishes latest and most up-to-date record about the type, quantity and whereabouts of radioactive waste in the UK.
12 June 2008
Views sought on Research and Development Programme
NDA seeks comments on a proposed R&D strategy that will support the implementation of a geological disposal facility.
Bibliography
Note: the online bibliography is
under development and will be
available shortly.
In the meantime, references are
available in a number of pdfs:
Radioactive Waste Management
(previously Nirex) Bibliography Files
In the UK, radioactive wastes are classified according to their levels of radioactivity and their capacity to generate heat. The three main categories are High Level Waste (HLW), Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) and Low Level Waste (LLW). In addition, significant quantities of non-radioactive wastes, such as asbestos and chemically-contaminated land, are present at our sites.
Our overriding objective is to ensure that radioactive waste is managed safely, securely and in ways that protect the environment by ensuring that it is put into a passively safe form - and that appropriate plans are developed for dealing with non-radioactive wastes on our sites.
Through our contractual arrangements with sites we are:
- ensuring that the remaining quantities of liquid HLW are vitrified (i.e. converted into glass blocks and stored safely);
- evaluating the options for rationalising interim storage of ILW;
- continuing to use the LLW Repository near Drigg to meet our short-term needs;
- seeking to minimise the amounts of waste generated on our sites; and
- ensuring that Integrated Waste Strategies (IWS) are developed for each site, as well as developing a national IWS.
We need to develop a UK-wide view of waste types and waste quantities and their locations. We can then assess changes over time and consider and develop appropriate strategies for the movement of wastes between sites and decisions on their final location.
Contractor Integrated Waste Strategies
Contractors' site plans submitted to NDA for approval should be based upon optimised and integrated waste strategies (IWS).
The production of IWS aims to:
- ensure site plans are suitably informed by robust, integrated waste management plans;
- provide confidence that best practice is being consistently applied to minimise:
-
- the generation of wastes; and
- the environmental impact of waste which cannot be avoided.
What is an Integrated Waste Strategy?
An integrated waste strategy is a document which describes:
- how a site optimises its approach to waste management in an integrated way;
- the waste streams and discharges expected from current and future operations; and
- any actions required to improve the sites approach to waste management.
Why do sites need to produce Integrated Waste Strategies?
The NDA requires sites Lifetime plans to be based around optimised integrated waste management strategies produced in line with its specification for such plans.
See Specification for the Content and Format of a Site Integrated Waste Strategy Document Rev 2.
A few sites such as Sellafield also have regulatory requirements within their discharge authorisations to produce integrated waste strategies. The requirement for such strategies is agreed by the Environment Agencies and may be different from those of the NDA.