Geological Disposal Facility BEIS Consultation Workshop – Central Hall Westminster 22/02/2018

Introduction

The Committee for Radioactive Waste Management (CoWRM) considered all options for the long term disposal of medium(MLW) and high(HLW) level radioactive waste in 2006 and concluded that underground Geological Disposal was the preferred option. Subsequently, a planning application for preparatory work for such a facility was rejected by Cumbria County Council. In 2014 a Government White Paper establishing the overall policy framework for Implementing Geological Disposal was published.   The Government department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has now developed a strategy for achieving a Geological Disposal Facility(GDF) based upon the following 3 documents:

National Policy Statement(NPS) for GDF – This is a document that can be used under national planning laws to establish GDF as national infrastructure. It may be debated in Parliament.

Assessment of Sustainability (AoS) of GDF – This document supports the NPS.

Working with Communities(WWC): implementing GDF – A long term (120yrs) structure for government engagement with host communities involving significant financial support for host communities in the middle and later stages of engagement.

Objectives

The objective of the workshop was to receive views on whether the above documents were a suitable framework upon which public consultation could proceed.

The workshop was independently facilitated and approximately 40 delegates from diverse backgrounds e.g. National Parks Authority, EDF, Atkins, environmental groups, Imperial College and Local Government Councillors attended. Industry experts from ONR, BEIS and EA also participated.

Comments and Observations

1. The workshop was heavily biased 75%-25% towards discussion of the WWC as opposed to discussion of the NPS and AoS.
2. The WWC allows a host community a Right of Withdrawal right up to final site selection and enables a local Test of Public Support.
3. The timescales proposed by the WWC(up to 20yrs for final site selection) appear realistic and overall the approach is constructive. However, some delegates felt that it could be counter-productive, particularly the offer of financial support.
4. Local councils at existing nuclear facilities(notably Dungeness) are positive about becoming host communities, however the associatedCounty Councils are not. It should be noted that Hartlepool and Oldbury are the existing nuclear facilities in areas run by Unitary Councils.
5. During the WWC early engagement periods national interest groups e.g. National Trust will access the consultation via the relevant local government organisation.
6. The NPS and AoS have been written in the widest general terms possible to enable the widest possible response from communities interested in becoming a host community. There will need to be a raft of additional information ready for any interested community including: the implications of local geology, nuclear material retrieval arrangements, the implications of mining works, safety case status and nuclear material transport arrangements.
7. The NPS does not highlight that the key benefit of GDF is reduced above ground nuclear facilities.
8. The NPS indicates that a large proportion of the nuclear material intended for GDF has yet to be declared as waste or unwanted by its owner.
9. The NPS indicates a GDF sited anywhere in the depth range 200m – 1000m. There are significant GDF construction and operation implications across this range.
10. The NPS makes no reference to Scottish Policy for nuclear material. If a 200m depth could be classed as ‘near surface’ the facility may align with Scottish policy.

BEIS consultation period

BEIS held further four consultation workshops across the country.

The deadline for receipt of consultation responses was 11.45am Thurs 19 April 2018.