The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and Environment Agency have outlined in a joint report their regulatory activities during 2023/24 for the development of a geological disposal facility (GDF) to dispose of the UK’s most hazardous radioactive waste.
This year’s ‘Regulatory scrutiny and engagement for geological disposal: annual report 2023 to 2024’ details the work overseen during the past 12 months with local community partnerships in Cumbria and Lincolnshire.
The document also highlights our international engagement with GDF developers and regulators from countries at different stages of GDF siting and development, which offered valuable learning opportunities.
While construction of a GDF is not expected to start for many years, the regulators are engaging with Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), the organisation responsible for delivering any facility, to provide regulatory advice and ensure that any future applications to develop a GDF takes account of all permitting and licensing requirements.
Our pre-application advice and scrutiny during 2023/24 covered a wide range of topics including design and safety case development and disposability assessment and waste package records management.
Paul Dicks, ONR's Director of Regulation for Sellafield, Decommissioning Fuel and Waste, said: "We don't have a regulatory role in selecting potential GDF sites, however we are committed to offering support to communities considering hosting a GDF and are ready to offer advice, guidance and explanation about how any future regulation of such a site would work.
"Our approach towards open and transparent engagement will ensure we remain available to talk to communities, local authorities and others to explain more about our regulatory role in this area."
Current government policy is that the UK’s most hazardous radioactive waste will be managed in the long-term through geological disposal, which involves placing it deep within a suitable rock formation, providing long lasting protection by acting as a physical barrier.
ONR and the Environment Agency are responsible for ensuring that a future GDF meets the high standards necessary to protect people and the environment when under development, while in operation, and after closure.