An invite to express an interest
With the publication of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely White Paper: A Framework For Implementing Geological Disposal on 12 June 2008, communities are invited to express an interest in entering into discussions with Government about the possibility of hosting a geological disposal facility at some point in the future. Discussions would be exploratory and without commitment to continuation in the siting process.
Who can express an interest?
Government does not want to be prescriptive about who should initiate local discussions about an Expression of Interest, but expects local authorities to be involved in an approach to Government. Government would expect any community that wanted to be considered in the siting process to contact its local authority in the first instance to discuss putting forward an Expression of Interest to Government.
Before making an Expression of Interest, Government suggests that the local authority should have canvassed opinion, for example, through existing Local Strategic Partnerships or specifically convened meetings with potential local partners. These partners might include Parish/Town Councils, local Community, Business and Environmental stakeholder groups, and neighbouring local authorities.
Initial screening out of unsuitable sites
Receipt of an Expression of Interest will enable without commitment discussions to begin. Agendas for opening discussions would be for mutual agreement between the local authority/ies and Government and might include discussion on how further community engagement could be undertaken and supported.
At this point the British Geological Survey (BGS) will be asked to apply initial sub-surface screening criteria for the area under consideration. This screening will not identify sites that could definitely host a geological disposal facility but will rule out sites that definitely could not host a facility for geological reasons. This is the first step in a detailed process to establish if the area is suitable.
Moving to a decision to participate
The BGS report will feed into ongoing community engagement seeking to identify: the extent of local support; any issues of concern about participation further in the siting process; and the reasons for any opposition to further participation. This consultation process should apply established local good practice and will be led by local authorities. To progress to the next stage (a Decision to Participate) the engagement and consultation process will need to be shown to be credible with evidence of appropriate community engagement and meaningful feedback on any concerns of those affected.
The Decision to Participate is the point at which a Decision Making Body makes a formal commitment to participate in the geological disposal facility siting process, but ‘without commitment’ to eventually host the facility.
The West Cumbria MRWS Partnership
So far, three local authorities have expressed an interest. The West Cumbria MRWS Partnership has been set up as an advisory body to make recommendations to Allerdale Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council and Cumbria County Council on whether or not they should participate in the geological disposal facility siting process, without commitment to eventually host a facility. The Partnership has access to funding from Government to enable local community representatives to meet, commission independent research, and organise public events on behalf of the wider community in West Cumbria.
Partnership working and assessment of geological /other characteristics of participating communities
Following a Decision to Participate, the site selection process will require ongoing engagement. Government favours a partnership approach as experience here and in other countries indicates it is an effective method providing opportunities for all parts of a community to work together. This would involve the setting up of a Community Siting Partnership such that all parts of the local community will work with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and with other relevant interested parties towards agreed objectives.
Meanwhile, more detailed assessments of the impact on a community hosting a facility based on geological and other characteristics would be undertaken. Further steps will include, the production of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Sustainability Appraisal (SA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and adhering to the necessary planning requirements. Whilst not having yet taken a final decision, Government is currently minded to apply the Major Infrastructure Planning system, introduced under the Planning Act 2008, to geological disposal. Whether planning applications are made under the Major Infrastructure Planning process or the Town and Country Planning Act, a range of issues will need to be considered including design and access, impacts on health, the environment, and traffic, socio-economic impacts and Statutory Development Plan policies.
How long will it take?
Government cannot be certain how long it will take to get to an operational geological disposal facility as the driver for the process is a voluntarism/partnership approach with potential host communities. That is, the process will be dependent on discussions with local communities.
Government suggests that it is likely to be around two to three decades from the beginning of the site selection process to a facility becoming operational and ready for waste emplacement.
Timescales
An indicative timeline for implementing geological disposal has been developed based on the NDA planning assumption of intermediate level waste being emplaced by 2040.
Timescales for implementing geological disposal in other countries are as follows:
- USA: work commenced on Waste Isolation Pilot Project in 1974 and it has been operational since 2001
- Finland: siting began in 1983 and a facility at Eurajoki is expected to be operational by about 2020
- Sweden: following an expression of interest in 1992, a facility at Forsmark is expected to be operational by about 2023
- France: the siting process began in 1993 and it is anticipated that a facility will be operational by about 2025
- Belgium: expect to have an operational facility in around 2040
- Switzerland: expect to have an operational facility in around 2040
- China: anticipate having an operational facility around 2050