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 sub-surface screening criteria in order to eliminate from the process any area that is obviously unsuitable and so avoid further unnecessary work. This would be 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.
Partnership working and assessment of geological /other characteristics of participating communities
The process to site the facility following this Decision to Participate will require considerable 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.
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 dependant 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.