What is the long-term waste management solution - Higher activity wastes
UK Geological Disposal Facility concept for higher strength rock
No facilities for disposing of LLW not suitable for near-surface disposal, ILW and HLW have been developed – these wastes are currently stored.
In 2001 the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme was initiated by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations to take a fresh look at management policy of the UK's higher activity wastes that include LLW not suitable for near-surface disposal, ILW and HLW. The MRWS programme also takes into consideration some radioactive materials that are not classified as wastes in the UK. These materials include uranium, plutonium and some spent nuclear fuel associated with civil nuclear activities. They have potential value: uranium and plutonium can be used to make nuclear fuel, and spent nuclear fuel can be reprocessed to recover uranium and plutonium for reuse. However, if it were decided at some point in the future, on the basis of economics, or environmental and safety issues, that these materials had no further use, they may need to be managed as wastes. Radioactive materials that are not deemed to be waste are not reported in the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, but summary information is provided in a separate document that is published with the Inventory.
An independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) was appointed to make recommendations for the long-term management of UK's higher activity wastes that would protect the public and the environment, and inspire public confidence. The challenge in managing these wastes is to isolate their radioactivity from people and the environment for thousands of years.
CoRWM reported in 2006 with a package of recommendations including geological disposal, preceded by safe and secure interim storage. The UK Government accepted CORWM's recommendations as the way forward, and following public consultation, published a White Paper in June 2008 [Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal]. This sets out its detailed policy and plans for the long-term management of higher activity wastes.
The White Paper sets out an approach based on voluntarism and partnership with local communities, coupled with the use of appropriate site screening and assessment criteria as the basis for siting a geological disposal facility. Overseas experience suggests that such an approach is likely to be an effective way of addressing the concerns of communities about hosting such a facility.
The UK Government has invited communities to express an interest in taking part in discussions about the siting process for a geological disposal facility, and is so far talking to three local authorities about two areas; the boroughs of Copeland and Allerdale in Cumbria. The NDA is the implementing organisation, responsible for planning and delivering the geological disposal facility and, as part of this process, will work with Government to engage with communities and other stakeholders.
The NDA and its agents will have the responsibility for securing the necessary regulatory and planning permissions involving the host community and planning authorities as necessary.
The Scottish Government has a different policy for its higher activity waste which is that long-term management should be in near-surface facilities. Facilities should be located as near to the site where the waste is produced as possible and developers will need to demonstrate how the facilities will be monitored and how waste packages, or waste, could be retrieved.
CoRWM was re-constituted in 2007, with modified terms of reference and expertise in its membership, to scrutinise the future MRWS programme and its implementation on behalf of UK Government and to provide it with independent advice on the programme.
Further information on CoRWM work and progress on the MRWS consultation process are from the CoRWM website http://corwm.decc.gov.uk see the website of the Department of Energy and Climate Change http://www.decc.gov.uk, and the NDA website http://www.nda.gov.uk).
