Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report
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Defence Equipment and Support Submarine Dismantling Project Intermediate-Level Waste Storage Site Selection: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report February 2014 Jacobs document control sheet BPP 04 F8 version 15; Mar 2013 Project: SDP ILW Storage Client: Ministry of Defence Project No: B4160003 Document title: ILW Storage Site Selection: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report Ref. 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Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Context ................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Requirement for SEA .............................................................................................. 2 1.4 Purpose of this Report ............................................................................................ 3 1.5 ILW storage Scoping Report Structure .................................................................... 3 1.6 How to Comment on this Scoping Report and Key Questions ................................. 4 2 The Submarine Dismantling Project ............................................................................... 6 2.1 Background............................................................................................................. 6 2.2 2011 SEA and Public Consultation ......................................................................... 7 2.3 Aim and Scope of the Current Stage of the SDP ..................................................... 7 2.4 Shortlisted Sites for ILW Storage .......................................................................... 10 2.5 Key Aspects of Implementing ILW Storage ........................................................... 12 3 Approach to Scoping the SEA ...................................................................................... 13 3.1 Stages of SEA ...................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Elements of SEA Scoping ..................................................................................... 13 3.3 Information Used to Set the Scope ....................................................................... 14 3.4 Habitats Regulations Assessment ......................................................................... 14 3.5 SEA Categories .................................................................................................... 15 4 Review of Plans, Programmes and Environmental Protection Objectives .................... 17 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Updates since the 2011 SEA ................................................................................ 17 5 Baseline Information and Local Context ....................................................................... 19 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 19 5.2 Baseline Context for All Nuclear-Licensed Sites ................................................... 19 5.3 AWE Aldermaston................................................................................................. 20 5.4 AWE Burghfield .................................................................................................... 32 5.5 Capenhurst (Capenhurst Nuclear Services) .......................................................... 40 5.6 Sellafield (NDA) .................................................................................................... 49 5.7 Chapelcross (NDA) ............................................................................................... 59 5.8 Summary of Key Issues and Opportunities at Each Site ....................................... 67 6 Proposed Scope of the SEA......................................................................................... 69 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 69 6.2 Technical Scope ................................................................................................... 69 6.3 Assessment Timescales ....................................................................................... 77 6.4 Geographic Scope ................................................................................................ 78 Intermediate-Level Waste Storage Site Selection: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report 7 Next Steps ................................................................................................................... 79 7.1 SEA Scoping ......................................................................................................... 79 7.2 Purpose and Proposed Structure of the Environmental Report ............................. 79 7.3 Public Consultation on the SDP and Environmental Report .................................. 80 Annex 1: Statutory and Governmental Department Comments on ILW Storage from the Previous SEA.................................................................................................... 81 Annex 2: Maps of Alternative Sites and Key Environmental Features .............................. 82 Annex 3: Key Environmental Protection Objectives .......................................................... 93 Annex 4: Rationale for Amendment of the SEA Objectives and Guiding Questions ........ 103 Annex 5: Rationale for the SEA Technical Scope ........................................................... 112 Annex 6: Guideline Assessment Criteria by SEA Category ............................................ 128 Annex 7: SEA Scoping Quality Assurance Checklist ...................................................... 139 Intermediate-Level Waste Storage Site Selection: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview The overarching objective of the Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) is to develop and implement a timely solution for the dismantling and ultimate disposal of the UK’s 27 defueled nuclear submarines at the end of their life. This report presents the proposed scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the transportation and interim storage of the submarine Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) as part of the SDP. This SEA builds upon the previous, overarching 2011/12 SEA which considered the end-to-end process of submarine dismantling but was not able to consider any specific