17-Jul-2006
- The Environment Agency is starting a public
consultation over an application to revise existing
arrangements for disposal of radioactive waste
from HM Naval Base (HMNB) at Devonport .
The Radioactive Substances Act
1993 (RSA 93), does not apply to the Ministry
of Defence (MOD) Naval Bases, but it is government
policy that arrangements are made with the MOD
for the Agency to approve disposals of radioactive
waste in the same way that authorisations are
issued for the disposal of radioactive waste under
the act.
HMNB already holds certificates
of approval to dispose of solid and liquid radioactive
wastes by transfer to Devonport Royal Dockyard
(DRDL). It also has an approval for disposing
of liquid waste to sewer and very low level waste
to landfill.
The Agency, working closely
with the Naval Base, has reviewed the proposed
future operations and the radioactive wastes that
will be generated. In general the Agency concluded
with HMNB that it can reduce some of the limits
associated with future radioactive waste disposals
and introduce limits where currently there are
no limits. The radiological dose to members of
the public resulting from the waste disposals
at the proposed limits is assessed to be less
than 1 microsievert per year, which is very small
a fraction of the annual dose from natural radiation
in Devon and Cornwall.
The Agency is now consulting
on these proposals for a period of 2 months to
assist its decision making process. Copies of
the consultation document and HMNB’s application
are being sent to Plymouth City Council. Documents
will be supplied on request via telephone, fax,
or email. Adverts announcing this consultation
have been placed in local newspapers.
‘We welcome views on any issues
that the public thinks we need to take into account
in determining this revised approval,’ said Anil
Koshti, Nuclear Regulator at the Environment Agency.
‘The draft approval would bring
together regulatory controls covering solid, liquid
and gaseous waste and provide a more transparent
and improved method of regulation. We will not
make any decision until the consultation is completed
and we have considered and addressed any issues
raised. We will produce a decision document in
due course and this will be made available to
anyone wishing to have a copy’.
The consultation documents can
be viewed, from July 18, 2006, at the public registers
of Plymouth City Council and the Environment Agency
offices in Bodmin and Bridgwater or online at
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations/195992/Copies
can also be obtained by contacting the Agency
by: Fax 01491 834703 or by telephone 01491 828629
or by email: nrg.south@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Comments should be sent
in writing to the Environment Agency by September
18, 2006 at HMNB Consultation, Environment Agency,
Nuclear Regulation Group, Red Kite House, Howbery
Park, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 8BD or by fax or
email.
Mike Dunning
