Key Issues
Our 2006 Recommendations and the Government Response
We reported to Government in July 2006 on options for the long-term management of solid radioactive wastes in the UK (see report). Our report contained 15 recommendations. These covered, amongst other topics:
Government Response to our 2006 Recommendations
Government responded to our recommendations in October 2006 (see response). Government* accepted that geological disposal coupled with safe and secure interim storage should be the way forward for the long-term management of the UK’s higher activity wastes. It committed itself to exploring how an approach based on communities’ willingness to participate and partnership could be used in implementing geological disposal, to a staged decision-making approach and to carrying out appropriate research. It gave the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) the responsibility for planning and implementing geological disposal. Government then put in hand a new phase of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme to implement these decisions (click here for details). In 2007 it held a public consultation on a framework for implementing geological disposal. CoRWM was reconstituted later that year with revised terms of reference (see About Us).
*Following a change of administration, the Scottish Government subsequently decided that it does not accept geological disposal as the right way forward. It continues to support robust interim storage and further research. The Welsh Assembly Government has reserved its position on geological disposal.
2008 Government White Paper and Invitation to Communities
On 12 June 2008 the UK, Welsh and Northern Ireland Governments published the White Paper “Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal” (Cm 7386). Communities in England were also invited to enter into discussions with Government to find out more about hosting a geological disposal facility. This is a discussion with no commitment to proceed. The invitation was sent to Local Authorities as the community leaders. A web site was established to give communities access to information on radioactive waste and how the process will work [www.defra.gov.uk/environment/radioactivity/mrws ]. The Government invitation went to Local Authorities in England. Welsh Authorities were informed, and may choose to enter into discussions, though their Government is currently neutral on geological disposal. The Scottish Government policy is one of continued interim storage.
Interim Storage
On 31 March 2009 we submitted a report on interim storage to Government. The report covers:
It concludes that better strategic co-ordination is required in all these areas, across aa UK nuclear industry organisations (civil and defence). It also concludes that stakeholders and the public need better information about the management of radioactive wastes and materials that may be declared to be wastes. It makes recommendations to Government to address these issues. The Executive Summary of the report is here (see document 2500ES) and the full report is here (see document 2500). The Government response to the report is here (see document 2632). Our follow-on work is described in the Current Work section. CoRWM provided informal comments on two DECC pre-consultation discussion papers on the long-term management of plutonium. The comments can be viewed here (see document 2690 and 2718).
Geological Disposal
Our report on Geological Disposal was submitted to Government in July 2009. It covers: the June 2008 White Paper and the invitation to communities, decision making, funding, managing risks, PSE, the regulators and the regulatory framework, land use planning, environmental and sustainability assessments, the inventory of wastes for disposal, disposal concepts, site screening and assessing sites using desk-based studies. The report is here (see document 2550) and the executive summary is here (see document 2550ES). The Government response to the report is here (see document 2727).
Three Councils from Allerdale, Copeland and Cumbria County have responded positively to the invitation to express an interest and have started the early stages of a conversation with Government about hosting a geological disposal facility. The Councils are keen to have their discussions informed by a wide range of community interests, so have set up a Partnership to advise them: the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership. The Partnership is an advisory body aiming to 'make recommendations to the Councils on whether they should participate or not in the geological disposal facility siting process, without commitment to eventually host a facility'. Effectively the Partnership is considering whether West Cumbria should proceed to the next stage with Governemnt, during which a range of geological and engineering research would be carried out to see if West Cumbria is suitable. As well as organising communications to all households in West Cumbria, the Partnership holds it meetings in public, and will be organising additonal open meetings for people to find out more. Members of CoRWM attend Partnership meetings as observers. There is nore information about the work of the Partnership on its website.
Research and Development
Our report on R&D for interim storage and geological disposal was submitted to Government in October 2009. It covers: establishing R&D requirements, the current and past UK arrangements for R&D, arrangements in some other countries, R&D skills, infrastructure for R&D and some specific UK R&D issues. It makes recommendations to Government about strategic co-ordination of R&D, responsibilities for providing R&D skills, facilities for R&D with highly radioactive materials, underground research facilities, and public and stakeholder engagement on R&D. The Executive Summary of the report is here (see document 2543ES) and the full report is here (see document 2543).