Solid Radioactive Waste Strategy Report.pdf - UK EPR
Solid Radioactive Waste Strategy Report.pdf - UK EPR
Solid Radioactive Waste Strategy Report.pdf - UK EPR
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<strong>EPR</strong> <strong>UK</strong><br />
N° NESH-G/2008/en/0123<br />
REV. A PAGE 35 / 257<br />
5 CURRENT POSITION OF THIS STRATEGY<br />
This strategy will be submitted to the Environment Agency and HSE as a Supporting Document<br />
to the Step 3 GDA Pre-Construction Environmental <strong>Report</strong> (PCER) submission in November<br />
2008.<br />
This section describes the progress in dialogue that EdF and AREVA have made to date<br />
(November 2008) to agree the potential means of disposing of the <strong>UK</strong> <strong>EPR</strong> radioactive waste<br />
streams through establish routes and those future disposal routes being implemented by the <strong>UK</strong><br />
Government (like the GDF).<br />
5.1 Liaison With <strong>UK</strong> Regulators and Potential <strong>Waste</strong> Service Providers<br />
During the GDA EdF and AREVA have engaged with regulators and potential waste service<br />
providers to assess the disposability of the possible waste streams. We are committed to<br />
ensuring that the quantities of waste produced as a by-product of generating electricity are kept<br />
as low as possible and in a form which is readily disposable. The <strong>UK</strong> <strong>EPR</strong> design has evolved<br />
over a number of years by learning from Europe-wide operational practice and implementing<br />
lessons learnt to eliminate the creation of radioactive wastes where possible. Where waste<br />
creation cannot be avoided, we will endeavour to work with utilities, regulators and waste<br />
service providers to find viable solutions to minimise the creation of waste, maximise reuse and<br />
recycle and finally as a last resort dispose of the waste.<br />
This section describes the progress in dialogue that has made to date (November 2008) through<br />
applying innovative thinking, state-of-the-art designs and engaging close liaison with <strong>UK</strong><br />
regulators and potential waste service providers.<br />
5.1.1 Current Main <strong>Waste</strong> Service Providers<br />
As well as the waste management services provided by onsite facilitates, there are other off-site<br />
waste service providers which the <strong>EPR</strong> may utilise to ensure a safe disposal of the waste and<br />
optimisation of waste minimisation.<br />
5.1.1.1 RWMD<br />
The RWMD currently assesses the disposability of ILW and some LLW (which are not<br />
acceptable for disposal at LLWR) through the LoC assessment process [Ref.24]. The transport<br />
of ILW to the GDF will be managed and operated by the operator of the disposal facility [Ref.25<br />
and 26]. The ILW will be transported in robust shielded transport containers that have been<br />
approved for use in the <strong>UK</strong> and developed specifically for the safe transport of ILW.<br />
As part of the GDA process the RWMD has developed a conceptual LoC process. RWMD is<br />
conducting a ‘nature and quantities’ assessment of the conditioned ILW packages that will be<br />
produced during the operation and eventual decommissioning of the <strong>UK</strong> <strong>EPR</strong>. A similar<br />
conceptual process has also been adopted for spent fuel. These assessments are ongoing at<br />
present and the following paragraphs describe progress in this area.