I ntr o d u cti o n t o G e ol o gi c al Dis p os al L e ar n a b o ut o ur missi o n t o d e al withradioactive w ast e a n d h o w it c o ul d s u p p ort e c o n o mic gro wt h i n y o ur c o m m u nit y
Workingtogetherto pr ot e ct t h e f ut ur e
V er si o n E 1 G e ol o gi c al disposalistheright t hi n g t o dofortoday’s s o ci et y a n d f ut ur e generations. Itis a si g nifi c a nt e n vir o n m e nt al pr oj e ct withlong-ter m e c o n o mi c b e n efit s a n d c o m m u nit y c o n s e nt at t h e h e art of t h e pr o c e s s.
V er si o n E 1 C o nt e nt s
5 W h y d o e s t h e UK n e e d g e ol o gi c al di s p os al ?
9 W h at i s a G e ol o gi c al Di s p os al F a cilit y ?
1 3 T h e s af e st s ol uti o n
1 7 W h at ar e t h e b e n efits of h osti n g a G e ol o gic al Dis p os al F a cilit y?
2 1 T h e siti n g pr o c e s s
2 5 C o m m u nit y Vi si o n a n d C o m m u nit y I n v e st m e nt
2 8 Protectingthe e n vir o n m e nt
3 2 O ur vi si o n, mi s si o n a n d v al u e s
3 V er si o n E 1 Si z e w ell B n u cl e ar p o w er st ati o n 4 V er si o n E 1 W h y d o es t h e UK n e e d g e ol o gi c al dis p os al?
V er si o n E 1 M aj or s it es i n t h e UK whereradioactive w ast e is c urr e ntl y pr o d u c e d a n d st or e d
V ul c a n D o u nr e a y
R o s yt h Cl y d e T or n e s s H u nt er st o n
C h a p el cr o s s
H artl e p o ol S ell a fi el d LL W R
B arr o w H e y s h a m Clift o n M ar s h S pri n g fi el d s C a p e n h ur st W ylf a S h ef fi el d Tr a w sf y n y d d D er b y D o n ni n gt o n Ki n g s Cliff
C ul h a m Si z e w ell B er k el e y H ar w ell C ar diff Br a d w ell A m er s h a m Ol d b ur y Sil w o o d P ar k Hi n kl e y P oi nt R ut h erf or d D u n g e n e s s
Al d er m a st o n Wi nfrit h P ort s m o ut h D e v o n p ort
S p e nt f u el r e pr o c e s si n g F u el f a bri c ati o n & ur a ni u m e nri c h m e nt N u cl e ar p o w er r e a ct or s M e di c al & i n d u stri al N u cl e ar e n er g y R & D W a st e di s p o s al f a cilit y D ef e n c e
6 V er si o n E 1 W h y d o es t h e UK n e e d g e ol o gi c al dis p os al?
N u cl e ar p o w er g e n er at es ar o u n d o n e fi f h of t h e U K’s el e ctri cit y. R a di o a cti v e w ast e is pr o d u c e d fr o m electricity generation, m e di c al, i n dustrial, d ef e n c e a n d r es e ar c h a cti viti es. W e n e e d t o d eli v er i n n o v ati v e solutionsforthe m a n a g e m e nt of t his w ast e t h at m e et t o d a y’s s af et y st a n d ar ds a n d will pr ot e ct us i nt o t h e distantfuture. T h er eisi nt er n ati o n al c o ns e ns us t h at t h e s af est p er m a n e nt s ol uti o n t o m a n a g e hi g h er activityra dioactive w ast eis t ois ol at eit d e e p u n dergroundin s oli d r o c k, vi a a n et w or k of v a ults a n d t u n n els. T his is c all e d g e ol o gi c al dis p os al. T h e U nit e d Ki n g d o mis a pi o n e er of nucleartechnologies. T h e w orl d’s first c o m m er ci al n u cl e ar p o w er st ati o n w as o p e n e d h er e. Si n c e t h e n, nucleartechnology h as d eliv er e d gr e at b e n efits; s u p p orti n g n ati o n al d ef e n c e a n d g e n er ati n g electricityf or o v er 6 0 y e ars.
P o w er pl a nt Reprocessing M e di ci n e D ef e n c e I n d ustr y R es e ar c h
W h at d o w e n e e d t o d o n o w? Existi n g w ast eis c urr e ntl y st or e d a b o v e gr o u n d at m or e t h a n 3 0 sit es a cr oss t h e U K. T h es e s urf a c e st or es c a n b e k e pt s af e f or m a n y d e c a d es, b ut r e q uir e c o nti n u o us maintenanceto k e e p t h e m s e c ur e a n di n g o o d c o n diti o n, as s o m e of t h e w ast e r e m ai ns radioactivefor h u n dr e ds ofthousands of y e ars. A G e ol o gi c al Dis p os al F a cilit y pr o vi d es a p er m a n e nt solutionfor s u c h w ast e. W e w a nt t o w or ki n partnership wit h c o m munitiestofind a s uit a bl e sit e f or a Geological Dis p os al F a cilit y ( G D F).
7 V er si o n E 1 I nt er m e di at e L e v el W a st e st or e 8 V er si o n E 1 W h at is a G e ol o gi c al Dis p os al F a cilit y?
V er si o n E 1 1 0 V er si o n E 1 What is a Geological Disposal Facility?
A Geological Disposal Facility {GDF) will be a significant piece of UK infrastructure where the majority of the facility is built between 200 and 1000 metres underground, with a surface area of approximately 1 square kilometre.
Geological disposal involves putting the waste in purpose built containers which are then placed in tunnels and vaults beneath several hundred metres of solid rock.
This is already the chosen approach in many other countries including Canada (www.nwmo.ca/'), Finland (www.posiva.fi/en), France (www.andra.fr), Sweden (www.skb.com/) and Switzerland (www.nagra.ch/en). These countries are well on their way in developing their own GDFs.
Geological disposal is possible thanks to world-class engineering, science and technology. This involves:
■ isolating the radioactive waste in sealed vaults and tunnels deep underground,
between 200metres and l000metres below the surface
■ containing the radioactivity while it decays naturally over time
11 Version E1 ■ preventing radioactivity from ever reaching the surace in levels that could cause harm Solid radioactive waste is packaged in secure engineered containers, typically made of metal or concrete, and then placed in a stable rock formation hundreds of metres below the surface, with the containers surrounded by clay or cement. This is called the multi barrier approach.
overlying rocks
engineered barriers
In addition, in the very long term a GDF:
■ requires no ongoing maintenance ■ protects the waste from natural processes such as climate change
Once operations have ceased, the GDF will be permanently sealed to provide safety without the need for further action.
12 Version E1 T h e s af est s ol uti o n
V er si o n E 1 R e c ei pt of a n e m pt y 5 0 0 litr e st ai nl e s s st e el w a st e c o nt ai n er pri or t o 1 4 l o a di n g a n d e n c a p s ul ati n g I nt er m e di at e L e v el W a st e (I L W) V er si o n E 1 T h e s af est s ol uti o n
Thereisinternational consensusthat g e ol o gi c al disposalisthe s af est p er m a n e nt s ol uti o n t o d e ali n g withradioactive w ast e. S af et y as s ur e d t hr o u g h stri n g e nt regulations T h e UK h as stringent,independent a n d e ff e ctiv e existingregulationfor all as p e cts of radioactive w ast e m a n a g e m e nt. T h e e n vir o n m e nt al a n d nuclearregulators will e ns ur e t h at a GDF will m e et t h e ri g or o us standardsrequiredfor e n vir o n m e nt al pr ot e cti o n, s af et y a n d s e c urit y at all st a g es ofits lif e c y cl e. P ut si m pl y,if it c a n’t b e s h o w n t o b e s af e, it c a n n ot b e b uilt. W ast eis alr e a d y b ei n g packagedfor dis p os al. At R W M, w e ar e ass essi n g proposalsfor p a c k a gi n g w ast ei n s p e ci all y e n gi n e er e d containers(kno w n as w ast e packages)to c o nf or m t o alltheregulatoryrequire m e nts f or g e ol o gi c al dis p os al. T h e pr ot e cti o n of p e o pl e a n d t h e e n vir o n m e nt is o ur a bs ol ut e pri orit y W e will pr es e nt s af et y ar g u m e nts f or all as p e cts of a pr o p os e d GDF – fr o mtransporting wastetothefacility, t o its d esi g n, construction a n d operationinthelongter m f oll o wi n g cl os ur e.
1 5 V er si o n E 1 M ulti- barrier c o n c e pt
R o c k
Cl a y b u ff er/ b a c kfill C e m e ntiti o us b u ff er/ b a c kfill
S oli d gl as s w ast ef or m C e m e ntiti o us w ast ef or m St ai nl e s s st e el w ast e c o nt ai n er
D ur a bl e m et al w ast e c o nt ai n er
P er mit s andlicences W e will n e e d t o o bt ai n t h e n ec ess ar y p er mitsfr o mtheregulatorsfor alltherelevant activiti es i ncl u di n g drilli n g d e e p b or e h ol es, c o nstr ucti o n, tr a ns p ort a n d o p er ati o n a n d cl os ur e. Independentregulators will o nl y a p pr o v e o p er ati o n at a sit eif w e c a n d e m o nstr at e t h at t h e GDF andtransport s yst e m will b e s af e, s e c ur e a n d providelong-ter m e n vir o n m e nt al pr ot e cti o n.If,f or ex a m pl e, at a n y p oi nt a sit e w as f o u n d t o b e unsuita ble, t h e n t h e o p er ati o ns at t h at sit e w o ul d st o p.
1 6 V er si o n E 1 W h at ar e t h e b e n efit s of h osti n g a G e ol o gi c al Dis p os al F a cilit y?
V er si o n E 1 1 8 V er si o n E 1 W h at ar e t h e b e n efit s of h osti n g a G e ol o gi c al Dis p os al F a cilit y?
E c o n o mi c a n d c o m m u nit y b e n efit s I n v est m e nt will fl o w i nt o a c o m munitythat h osts a G D F. T h er e will b e h u n dr e ds of w ell- p ai dj o bs e v er y y e ar f or o v er a c e nt ur y. L o c al pr oj e cts will b e n efit fr o m C o m m u nit y I n v est m e nt F u n di n g a n d p u bli c f a ciliti es andinfrastructure c a n b e i m pr o v e d o v er t h e l o n g t er m.
J o bs a n d s kill s H u n dr e ds of p e o pl e will c o nstr u ct a n d o p er at e a G D F. T h e v ast m aj orit y of t h es e p e o pl e will b e i n s kill e d r ol es, andtherefore hi g h er paidthanthe a v er a g e w a g e i n t h e U K. Wit h s u p p ort t o est a blis h a l o c al s kills b as e, m a n y ofthosejobs c o ul d b e dr a w n fr o m t h el o c al c o m m u nit y. T h es e c o ul d b e i n ar e as s u c h as s af et y a n d s e c urit y, r a di ati o n protection, engineering d esi g n, s ci e ntifi c andtechnical s u p p ort, construction a n d operations.
I nfr astr uctureinvest m e nt T h e d e v el o p m e nt, construction, o p er ati o n a n d cl os ur e of a G D F will b e a m ulti- billi o n p o u n d undertaking, a n d t h er e will b e si g nifi c a nt i n v est mentinlocalinfrastructure. I m pr o v e m e nts couldinclude developingroad a n d r ail n et w or ks, n e w h o usi n g, s c h o ols andlibraries,i mprovedinternet a cc ess, d e v el o pi n g c o m m u nityfacilitieslike s p orts c e ntr es a n d vill a g e h alls, a n d e n vir o n m e nt al s p a c es li k e parks,footpaths a n d cycleroutes.
1 9 V er si o n E 1 C o m m u nit y s u p p ort Opportunitiesforthe c o m m u nit y e xist fr o m t h e m o m e nt t h e siti n g processislaunched, t hr o u g h t o cl os ur e. V er y f e w d e v el o p m e nts h a v e t his p ot e nti al a cr oss s u c h a l o n g ti m eli n e. RWM will w or k wit h t h e c o m munitythat h osts a G D F, t o h el p it a c hi e v e its o w n visi o n f or s o ci al a n d e c o n o mi c wellbeingin recognition of t h e ess e nti al s er vi c eit will b e providingtothe n ati o n.
2 0 V er si o n E 1 T h e siti n g pr o c ess
V er si o n E 1 2 2 V er si o n E 1 The siting process
Finding a site for a GDF will be the first community consent-based process to be undertaken in the UK for a project of this size. A GDF cannot be built without the consent of a community. The siting process will be governed by the following principles:
Safety first Safety, security and protectionof people and the environment are paramount. Put simply, if it cannot be shown to be safe it cannot be built.
Partnership To deliver a GDF, we will work in partnership with communities. This means:
■ there will be a fair and transparent process that meets the needs of communities ■ a GDF can only be developed if the geology is suitable and a community is willing to host it ■ anyone can come forward and express an interest in geological disposal. Peopie do not need to own land or form liaison groups to do this ■ individuals and organisations can be part of the process, and can benefit from community investment without having to commit to a GDF ■ we will ensure that people have the opportunity to have their questions answered ■ we will explore how a GDF can support the community's vision for their area ■ we also know that a successful consent-based process needs a willing community with local authority support
■ communities can withdraw from the process, and if they do, then a GOF cannot be built ■ support will be provided to help people understand all the issues ■ councils or individuals working in partnership with us will have their agreed costs covered.
23 Version E1 Fl e xi bilit y C o m m u niti es will b e at t h e h e art of t h e siti n g pr o c ess a n d of a n y d e cisi o n- m a ki n g. W e will w or k wit h y o ur c o m m u nit y at a p a c e t h at r efl e cts y o ur n e e ds a n d preferences. W e will ai m t o r efl e ct as m a n y as p e cts of t h e c o m m u nit y as p ossi bl e, t a ki n gi nt o c o nsi d er ati o n l o c al s o ci al, e c o n o mi c, p oliti c al a n d e n vir o n mentalinterests a n d t h e div ersit y of t h e ar e a. T h e a p pr o a c h t o s el e cti n g a sit e Whenlookingfor a sit e, a r a n g e of f a ct ors will betakeninto accountincluding:
■ s af et y
■ t h e c o m m u nit y
■ t h e e n vir o n m e nt
■ tr a ns p ort
■ engineeringfeasibility
■ c ost
T h e g e ol o gi c al c o n diti o ns at a p ot e nti al sit e will m a k e a si g nifi c a nt contributionto a n u m b er ofthesefactors, particularlyinregardtolong-ter m s af et y.
2 4 V er si o n E 1 C o m m u nit y Visi o n a n d C o m m u nit y I n v est m e nt
V er si o n E 1 Working with Communities
1 - Syrs duration 10 - 15yrs duration l00+yrs duration
People
Initial conversations, working Developing a vision, providing Continued investment in supply group, establishing partnerships information, funding and chain, skills, infrastructure, etc with communities, providing support for each community information Realising local plans for benefits and investment
Place
Desktop research and site Site investigations, designing Construction, operation evaluation and planning and closure Site selection and final decision
Investment
@um @£2.Sm @the
Up to £Im per year per community Up to £2.Sm per year per Significant investment community during borehole package for a host community investigations.
26 Version E1 C o m m u nit y Visi o n a n d C o m m u nit y I n v est m e nt
W e will w or k wit h c o m munitiesthattake p art i n t h e siti n g pr o c ess t o d e v el o p a p ositi v e a n d as pirational visionforthefuture. C o m m u nit y Visi o n T h e C o m m u nit y Visi o n willi nf or mi n v est m e nti n t h e c o m m u niti es t h at e n g a g e wit h us. Si g nifi c a nt AdditionalInvest m e nt w o ul d b e m a d ei n a c o m m u nit y t h at h osts a G D F. T his pr oj e ct c o ul d supportlocal andregional visi o ns as p art of a c o m m u nit y’s pl a n f or achievingthefutureit d esir es. T h ei n v est m e nt c o ul d u nl o c k benefitsfor e v er y o n e. C o m munityInvest m e nt A s w ell as t h e Si g nifi c a nt AdditionalInvest m e nt t h at will c o m e wit h t h e d e v el o p m e nt of t h e G D F, c o m m u niti es will havefunding a v ail a bl e w hilst t h e y participateinthe siti n g pr o c ess. I nitiallythere will b e u p t o £ 1 milli o n p er c o m m u nit y p er y e ar. T his will ris e t o u p t o £ 2. 5 milli o n p er c o m m u nit y p er y e ar w h er e d et ail e d Sit e Characterisationtakes pl a c e. Pr oj e cts couldincludei m pr o v e m e nts t o c o m m u nit y w ell b ei n g, opportunitiesto d e v el o p n e w s kills a n d e n h a n c e m e nts t o t h e e n vir o n m e nt a n d p u bli c s p a c es. W e will h el p c o m m u niti es m a k e t h e m ost of t h e opportunities pr o vi d e d b y a G D F t o d e v el o p s kills, supportlocal businesses, o p e n u p n e w m ar k ets a n d d e v el o p a b al a n c e d e c o n o myforthefuture. A GDF will attr acti nv est menttotheirlocal ar e a andsurroundingregion. W e will l o o k t o m a k e bi d di n g f or c o ntr a cts as e as y as p ossi bl e, especiallyfor s m all a n d m e di u m siz e d e nter prises, w h o c a n wi n w or k a n d pl a n f or a prosperousfuture.
2 7 V er si o n E 1 Pr ot e cti n g t h e e n vir o n m e nt
V er si o n E 1 2 9 V er si o n E 1 Protectingthe e n vir o n m e nt
D e v el o pi n g a n d constructing a G D F is o n e of t h e m ost i m p ort a nt e n vir o n m e nt al pr oj e cts of o ur generation. O n e of R W M’s objectivesisto e ns ur e t h at a GDF s u p p orts a c o m m u nit y’s aspirationsto pr ot e ct a n d i mprovetheirlocal e n vir o n m e nt. Li k e a n y ot h er l ar g e pr oj e ct, werecognisethere m a y b e s o m ei m p a cts o n t h e l o c al e n vir o n m e nt. T h er e c o ul d beincreased v e hi cl e m o v e m e nts or n ois e a n d d ust d uri n g constructionfor ex a m pl e. W e u n d erst a n d t h at p e o pl e m a y b e c o n c er n e d a b o ut t h e n e w d e v el o p m e nts a n d w h atit meansforthe m. W e will w or k cl os el y wit h c o m munitiesto understandtheir c o n c er ns a n d t o d e v el o p a p pr o pri at e m e as ur es t o a d dr ess t h e m.
O p p ort u niti e s f or b ett er l a n d Potentialfori m pr o v e m e nts E n vir o n m e nt al i m p a ct i s q u alit y b y i m pr o vi n g d er eli ct or t o utilit y s u p pli e s, fl o o d si g nifi c a ntl y r e d u c e d a s m ost of p o or q u alit y ar e a s. Pr os p e cti v e m a n a g e m e nt a n d l o c al dr ai n a g e thefacility will b e h u n dr e d s of b e n efits t o bi o di v ersit y a n d s y st e m s m etr e s u n d er gr o u n d. l a n d s c a p e q u alit y
H el pi n g t o preservelocal ri g hts W e’ll k e e p tr a n s p ort disruptions of w a y, c o n s er vi n g h erit a g e t o a mi ni m u m
3 0 V er si o n E 1 M ost of t h e f a cilit y will b e h u n dr e ds of m etr es underground. H o w e v er, w e will e ns ur e t h at t h e s urfacefacilities of a GDF ar e properlyintegratedintothelocallandscape or t o w ns c a p e andtransport disr u pti o nis mi ni mis e d.
S urfacefacilities at t h e u n dergroundlaboratory, A s p o, S w e d e n (picturefro m S K B)
W e will b e o p e n t o opportunitiestoi mprovethelocal e n vir o n m e nt. S u c h opportunities couldinclude: cl e a ni n g u p a n ol di n d ustri al sit e,i mprovinglandscape q u alit y a n d bi o div ersit y, developingthelocalrights of w a y n et w or k, conservinglocal h erit a g e ass ets, a n di m pr o vi n g socialinfrastructure(such as healt hcarefacilities a n d s c h o ols) t o supportthelocal p o p ul ati o n. Forinstance,in Fi nl a n d a n d Fr a n c e GDF pr oj e cts h a v e supportedlocalinitiatives beneficialtothe e n vir o n m e nt. I n E ur aj o ki, Fi nl a n d, t h e V u oj o ki M a nsi o n h as b e e n r est or e d, ensuringthelong-ter m f ut ur e of a ni m p ort a nt arc hitect ural a n d h erit a g e ass et. At B ur ei n Fr a n c e t h e E c ot h e q u e h as b e e n b uilt, pr o vi di n g a ni mportantlong-ter m e n vir o n mentalresearch a n d s a m pl e st or a g e f a cilit y.
3 1 V er si o n E 1 O ur visi o n, missi o n a n d v al u es
V er si o n E 1 3 3 V er si o n E 1 O ur visi o n, missi o n a n d v al u es
O ur vi si o n i s t o cr e at e a s af er f ut ur e b y m a n a gi n g r a di o a cti v e w a st e e ffectively, t o pr ot e ct p e o pl e a n d t h e e n vir o n m e nt.
O ur missionisto d eli v er a G e ol o gi c al Di s p os al F a cilit y a n d pr o vi d e radioactive w a st e m a n a g e m e nt s ol uti o n s.
W e h av e established a s et of v al u es w hic h describethe ki n d of organisation w e striv e t o b e. W e a ctiv ely us e t h es e v al u esi n developingthe organisation a n d o ur p e o pl e, w h o ar e c e ntr al t o o ur d eliv er y s et o uti n t his d o c u m e nt. T h e v al u es arefactoredinto o ur ass ess m e nt of h o w w ell w e ar e p erf or mi n g asindividuals a n d as a n or g a nis ati o n.
O ur v al u es
Pr of e s si o n al W e ar e ex p ertsi n o ur fi el d, a cti n g wit hi ntegrity a n d efficiencyto d eliv er t h e b est s ol uti o ns.
S af e W e ar e c o m mitt e d t o achievingthe hi g h est st a n d ar ds of s af et y, s e c urit y a n d e n vir o n m e nt al pr ot e cti o n.
E n g a gi n g W e ar e o p e n a n d c o m m u ni c at ei n a str ai g ht-f or w ar d w a y t h at e n h a n c es understanding a n d e n c o ur a g es e n g a g e m e nt.
L e ar ni n g W e continuouslylearn, s h ar e k n o wl e d g e a n d b uil d str o n g m ut u ally b e n efici al r el ati o ns hi ps.
3 4 V er si o n E 1 3 5 V er si o n E 1 Further reading on geological disposal
This document is part of a set we have prepared to give you more information about our plans for a GDF. If you wish to find out more about the process of finding a site for a Geological Disposal Facility, we have also published the following two documents:
Community Guidance A guide for communities explaining in detail how we will work with a willing community and what the process entails.
Site Evaluation A consultation document that explains and seeks views on how we will evaluate the suitability of sites.
You can find all three documents on our website: geologicaldisposal.campaign.gov.uk
36 Version E1 G e ol o gi c al disposalistheright t hi n g t o dofortoday’s s o ci et y a n d f ut ur e generations. Itis a si g nifi c a nt e n vir o n m e nt al pr oj e ct withlong-ter m e c o n o mi c b e n efit s a n d c o m m u nit y c o n s e nt at t h e h e art of t h e pr o c e s s.
V er si o n E 1 G etti n g i n t o u c h T o l e ar n m or e a b o ut t h e U K’s mi s si o n t o d e al wit h r a di o a cti v e w a st e E m ail g df e n q uiri e s @ n d a. g o v. u k
T el e p h o n e 0 3 0 0 0 6 6 0 1 0 0
F oll o w u s o n T witt er @r w m _ g df _ u k @r w m _ c o m m u nit y
or vi sit g e ol o gi c al di s p o s al. c a m p ai g n. g o v. u k 1 - 1 2/ 2 0 1 8 V ersi o n
M,
V er si o n E 1 W
R