Written - The Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Consultation

Since 2001 the Welsh Assembly Government has been working with UK Government and the other devolved administrations to find a publicly acceptable way to deal with the UK’s long-lived higher activity radioactive waste legacy.  We are committed to the objective of securing the long term safety of radioactive wastes and to the implementation of an associated framework appropriate to the needs of Wales.  We therefore need to ensure that the people of Wales are fully informed of developments in this area and that we seek their views about these matters.  For this purpose I have endorsed the publication today, jointly with the UK Government [and the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland,] of a consultation document entitled “Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: a Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal”.  The consultation document contains proposals for the long term management of the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste.  However the Welsh Assembly Government does not confirm, at this time, that it will support the future implementation in Wales of the proposals contained in this consultation paper or the adoption of policies consistent with them.  

This consultation document was promised in the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the report of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) issued in a written statement by Carwyn Jones AM, Minster for Environment Planning and Countryside, on 25 October 2006.

The consultation paper sets out proposals both for a technical programme and aspects of design and delivery of a potential geological disposal facility for the UK’s higher activity radioactive waste; and also the process and criteria to be used to decide the siting of that facility, including:

 - development of a voluntarist/partnership approach; and
 - the assessment and evaluation of potential disposal sites, including the initial screening-   out of areas unlikely to be suitable for geological disposal.

The consultation is therefore about how implementation of a geological disposal programme could be taken forward and seeks views not only on the technical aspects of developing a disposal facility, but the most effective ways of engaging with those communities that might have a potential interest in hosting the facility.  Under the process proposed, there will be no map of potentially suitable sites or areas where a geological facility might be built: it will be for communities to come forward and express an interest. That said, there is no site selection or voluntarism process underway at this point.

Furthermore this consultation is not about the principle of allowing new nuclear build.  The UK has an existing radioactive waste problem that must be solved regardless of any potential new build.  This consultation seeks views on a potential approach to securing that solution.  

Copies of the consultation paper will be placed in the Members’ Library or can be accessed at www.defra.gov.uk.


DRAFT PRESS RELEASE TO COVER THE MRWS CONSULTATION

Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development

Monday 25 June 2007

CONSULTATION ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

The long term management of radioactive waste is the subject of a joint consultation issued today (Monday 25 June) by the Welsh Assembly Government, UK Government, and the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland.

Minister for Sustainability and Rural Development, Jane Davidson, said that the Welsh Assembly Government is committed to securing the long term safety of radioactive waste. The Minister stressed that she wants the people of Wales to be fully informed and involved in the process.

Ms Davidson said: “The UK has an existing radioactive waste problem that must be solved. This consultation seeks views on a potential approach to securing that solution.  

“We are seeking views not only on the technical aspects of developing a disposal facility, but the most effective ways of engaging with those communities that might have an interest hosting the facility.”

However the Welsh Assembly Government does not confirm, at this time, that it will support the future implementation in Wales of the proposals contained in this consultation paper or the adoption of policies consistent with them.  

The consultation paper, “Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: a Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal”, was promised in the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the report of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) published in October 2006.

There is no site selection underway at this point, nor is there a map of potentially suitable sites or areas where a geological facility might be built. Furthermore this consultation is not about new nuclear build.

Notes

The consultation document is available at www.defra.gov.uk

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management is an independent committee appointed in 2003 by the UK Government and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Its task has been to review the options for managing the estimated 470,000 cubic metres of higher activity radioactive wastes.  

CoRWM reported to Parliament on 31 July 2006.  A copy of the report is available at http://www.corwm.org.uk/content-1092.

The membership of CoRWM is being revised to reflect the requirements in the next stages in the MRWS programme. 

Geological disposal is a long-term management option involving placing radioactive waste in an engineered repository at between 200 and 1000 metres underground where the geology (rock structure) provides a barrier against the escape of radioactivity.