[NukeNet] Scotland: Nuclear strategy may lead to rash of dumping sites

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Nuclear strategy may lead to rash of dumping sites
Nuclear power stations across the country are likely to end up as dumps for thousands of tonnes of radioactive waste under plans to be unveiled by ministers in the next few days.

Nuclear sites at Hunterston in North Ayrshire, Torness in East Lothian and Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway could all have to build new stores for low-level waste. The Dounreay complex in Caithness has already applied for planning permission for such a store.

Though the principle of disposing of radioactive waste where it was created is backed by anti-nuclear groups, it may not be welcomed by local communities. Dounreay's planned facility has sparked furious opposition from villagers in nearby Buldoo.

The Scottish Executive, along with the Westminster government, is about to publish a strategy for the management of solid low-level radioactive waste. UK nuclear sites have amassed 31,000 tonnes of such waste, and are expected to produced at least 2.8 million tonnes more as they are decommissioned.

The waste includes contaminated soil, building rubble and reactor equipment. It is very bulky, but not as dangerous as the industry's medium and high-level waste, which is due to be buried deep underground at sites still to be decided.

Until now most of Britain's low-level waste has been sent for disposal to Drigg, a coastal landfill site near the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria. But the site is nearly full, and ministers sought views last year on what should be done with waste in the future. It is the outcome of this consultation that will be announced in the next few days, and the Sunday Herald understands that the new policy will pave the way for nuclear sites to take responsibility for their own waste.

Preliminary assessments at nuclear stations in England suggested onsite repositories were the "preferred option from a technical perspective". In Scotland it is likely that Hunterston, Torness and perhaps Chapelcross will follow Dounreay's lead to build a low-level waste repository. Decisions will also have to be taken on what to do with waste at the nuclear submarine bases at Rosyth on the Forth and Faslane on the Clyde.

The prospect of waste repositories at existing nuclear sites was described as "the least-worst option", by Stewart Kemp, secretary of the nuclear-free group of local authorities. He said: "As an interim measure, it may be best to hold the waste where it is. But some communities involved may want to revisit the proposal in the future."

The first sign that waste disposal policy was being re-thought came in 2005 when the Scottish environment minister, Ross Finnie, rejected Dounreay's plan to send waste to Drigg. That prompted the operator, the UK Atomic Energy Authority, to develop plans for an onsite repository.

According to Pete Roche, a nuclear consultant in Edinburgh, acceptance that waste shouldn't be transported around the country was a step forward.

"But that doesn't have to mean lots of local waste dumps," he said. "They should be above ground in retrievable and monitorable storage."

Dounreay had applied to build a "modern, engineered facility" for its low-level waste, said a spokesman. "We have no plans to receive low-level waste from any other nuclear site," he stressed.

The application is now being assessed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) - a process which is not expected to be completed until late summer 2008. Dounreay will also have to apply separately to Sepa for authorisation to actually dispose of the waste.

7:40pm Saturday 24th March 2007



By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor


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