29 Jun (NucNet): The UK government has launched a consultation on how to choose a potential deep geological disposal site for radioactive waste and has also provided an update on its disposal programme.
The government said the UK has built up “a substantial legacy” of radioactive waste from both civil and defence-related nuclear programmes and faces a decommissioning and clean-up bill of some four billion pounds (6.4 billion US dollars, 4.4 billion euro).
Some of the waste is already in storage, but most will only become waste over the coming decades as existing nuclear facilities are decommissioned.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) thinks geological storage is the best option and is keen for areas to volunteer sites to help meet its goal of putting the first waste into a disposal facility by the end of 2029.
Its consultation document suggests that “desk-based studies” could be used to identify possible sites put forward by local authorities.
It also sets out how these may be assessed against agreed criteria and how local and central government decisions will be made about any sites that might be put forward for more detailed geological assessment.
The DECC said it has already received three expressions of interest for two areas in west Cumbria, near the existing Sellafield nuclear site, and wants more communities to come forward with potential sites for storage.
In its update of the disposal programme the DECC said desk based studies of potential candidate sites are estimated to take around four years, surface based investigations (seismic surveys and borehole investigation of candidate sites) about 10 years and underground operations (research, initial construction and commissioning) about 15 years.
The UK’s “indicative timeline” of 32 years (from publication of an initial policy document in 2008) is consistent with the estimated timescales of the three most advanced programmes in Europe – estimated at 31 years in Sweden, 32 years in France and 37 years in Finland.
The update is online:
http://mrws.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/mrws/2011-06-24%20mrws%20annual%20report%202010-11%20final.pdf
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
UK Calls For Volunteer Communities For Deep Geological Repository (News No. 46, 12 June 2008)
UK Unveils Proposals For Deep Geological Repository By 2040 (News in Brief No. 119, 7 July 2010)
