CURRENT STATUS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM PROGRAMME FOR THE DEEP DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

摘要

The programme for the deep disposal of long-lived radioactive wastes in the UK commenced in 1987, its focus being Intermediate-Level Waste (currently estimated to have a volume of up to 260,000 m{sup}3 by 2050). These wastes comprise a wide range of materials generated through operational, reprocessing and decommissioning activities, and include wastes from the early years of the nuclear programme in the UK, some of which pose particular challenges. A site selection exercise followed an initiating public consultation period in the late 1980s and resulted in the investigation of two sites until 1991, and then the concentration of investigations at the site adjacent to the BNFL works at Sellafield in north-west England. An extensive programme of site characterisation, associated research and safety assessment was carried out at Sellafield, taking the programme to the point where a more detailed stage of underground investigation had been identified as the next essential step. However, after a Public Inquiry in 1995, the Secretary of State for the Environment announced, in March 1997, his decision to reject the planning application for the Rock Characterisation Facility that would have provided for those underground investigations. The paper provides an up-to-date account of the activities that have been carried out in the UK since that announcement and in particular describes the three main strands of activity that are now taking the programme forward: Raw wastes are being conditioned and packaged to create the first barrier of the multi-barrier repository concept in advance of a site being selected for the repository. The substantial programme of scientific work carried out to date has established sound technical foundations for the future development of a safe repository: the 'Nirex97' post-closure safety assessment reflecting the substantial progress made through the Sellafield investigations. It is generally recognised that the main reason that the repository project has stalled is not because of the technical issues, rather it has been shortcomings in the institutional framework. The key third strand of activity is therefore the engagement of Nirex and the nuclear industry with the Government and other stakeholders in a process of consultation and dialogue. The paper provides an up-to-date account of activities in each of these areas against the background of recent industry restructuring.