Annual Report for 2010/11 and Forward Programme - Sellafield Ltd

SSEM/2011/4730 June 2011Communications and engagement with the Environment Agency is not limited to one-to-onedialogue. Where specific items require (or benefit from) wider discussion and input fromothers, separate meetings or Working Groups have been held or established (for examplethe Multi-Agency Workshop and Sellafield Seabed Monitoring Working Group, bothdescribed below).Sellafield Ltd is also required to prepare written submissions to the Environment Agency.This report forms the annual programme update submission that is referred to in the CEARspecification.Sellafield Ltd regards the need for effective and constructive communications with theEnvironment Agency on this complex subject as essential; and believes the processesemployed to achieve this, continue to be productive and ensure that good progress continuesto be made.4.2 Multi-Agency WorkshopIn November 2010 the Environment Agency hosted their third multi-agency workshop on thesubject of Sellafield radioactive particles in the environment. As with the previous workshopsSellafield Ltd delivered a number of presentations, providing updates on the work done todate and inviting discussion on the future direction and objectives for the work. In addition tothe material presented on the day, Sellafield Ltd also produced a paper in advance of theworkshop, providing background and further information to help facilitate discussions on theday. The workshop was attended by various government agencies and bodies (including theHealth Protection Agency; Food Standards Agency, and Committee on Medical Aspects ofRadioactivity in the Environment) and Local Authorities.This workshop forum provides an excellent opportunity for Sellafield Ltd to engage directlywith regulators and stakeholders; and SL will continue to support future workshops that areorganised.4.3 COMAREThe Committee on Medical Aspects in the Environment (COMARE) Sellafield Working Groupmet in February 2011 with a main focus on the particles in the environment work. TheEnvironment Agency provides a routine report summary to COMARE that details theprogress being made. The February meeting was only the second time that SL had beeninvited to attend the Sellafield Working Group. At the meeting, SL provided verbal updateson key issues of interest to the committee. The meeting was constructive, and provided anopportunity for SL to listen to and discuss some the committee’s questions first hand.4.4 Sellafield Seabed Monitoring Working GroupThe Seabed Monitoring Working Group has continued to meet through 2010/11 with a keymeeting held shortly after the November multi-agency workshop. In addition to the usualmembers of the Group from EA, HPA and FSA, the NDA attended this meeting to discussthe way forward for seabed monitoring. The main focus of the Group for 2010/11 hascontinued to be the risk assessment work that HPA and FSA have been conducting and thatwas issued in April 2011. Through 2011/12 SL will consult the Group on the development ofan offshore monitoring contract specification.© Nuclear Decommissioning Authority 2011. 76