10-Aug-2006
- The Environment Agency has been seeking feedback
on its proposals for the future regulation of
radioactive waste disposal from the two Atomic
Weapon Establishments in Berkshire managed by
AWE plc.
Radioactive wastes containing
tritium, arising from the decommissioning and
maintenance of nuclear warheads at AWE Aldermaston
and AWE Burghfield have been disposed of at Foulness
between 1998 and 2003.
Historically AWE has transferred
these wastes to the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
and the MOD has then transferred these to Foulness.
Although there have been no transfers of wastes
since 2003, the MOD has asked that the disposal
route be available for the future for potential
disposals resulting from maintenance and further
decommissioning work.
In the Environment Agency consultation
document we proposed to reduce the volume and
amount of radioactivity in the wastes consigned
to Foulness and also to allow a direct transfer
from AWE sites to Foulness, simplifying the process
and making it more transparent.
Our public consultation began
on 15 May and was due to end on 7 August. As a
result of considerable media and local interest
we have decided to extend the consultation period
until 1 October 2006 to allow members of the public
in the vicinity of Foulness the opportunity to
provide us with their comments on our proposals.
David Griffiths, a nuclear regulator
for the Environment Agency, said: ‘We are reviewing
these authorisations to make sure that the limits
for discharging radioactive waste are still appropriate
and that the conditions we have set continue to
protect the public and the environment.
‘We want to ensure that AWE
continues to safely and transparently manage its
radioactive waste disposals from these sites.
‘In our role in protecting and
improving the environment, we are committed to
progressive reductions in radioactive discharges
and discharge limits from sites such as Aldermaston
and Burghfield, and their impact on sites that
receive such wastes.
‘We have put forward our proposals
for the two sites, and the public now has a vital
role to play in helping us set out the conditions
of the company’s authorisation.’
Details of the proposals can
be seen in the Environment Agency consultation
pack available on their website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Copies of the consultation pack have also been
sent to local libraries near the Qinetiq Site,
to Rochford District Council and to Essex County
Council.
All responses will be logged,
acknowledged and considered as part of the process,
and could influence changes to the considerations.
‘We hope the public will take this opportunity
to look at our proposals and have their say,’
Mr Griffiths added.
All comments should be sent
to: AWE plc Review, Environment Agency, Nuclear
Regulatory Group (South), Red Kite House, Howbery
Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BD or by
e-mail to: nrg.south@environment-agency.gov.uk
and should not be received any later than 7 August
2006.
Libraries who will hold a copy
of the consultation package are: Rochford, Hullbridge,
Great Wakering, Hockley and Rayleigh.
ENDS
Notes for editors
- Under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 authorisation
is required by any business that wants to dispose
of or store radioactive waste.
- At nuclear sites, Nuclear Site Licences deal
with the storage of radioactive waste and authorisations
cover disposals. This review looks at the management
arrangements, operation and maintenance of the
plants to ensure that any radioactive risk is
kept to a minimum.
- Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen,
and can be formed naturally by the action of the
sun’s rays on water vapour in the upper atmosphere.
It has a wide range of applications in medicine
and the defence, manufacturing and pharmaceutical
industries.
- Carbon-14 is a radioactive element that emits
low energy beta radiation, and presents a very
low radiation hazard. AWE does not routinely generate
radioactive waste that includes carbon-14 but
this type of waste is most effectively disposed
of by incineration.
Rita Penman
