Amendments to the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 Fees and Charges ( Scotland ) Scheme

The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 Fees and Charges ( Scotland ) Scheme is to be amended. This follows the establishment of the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which will manage the decommissioning and clean-up of all publicly owned UK civil nuclear licensed sites from 1^st April 2005 .


Why are we amending the charging scheme?

Currently, the Radioactive Substances Charging Scheme does not make it explicit that SEPA could recover its costs for any work which is not directly associated with a Band A premises, such as the policy and generic work that falls outwith our normal regulatory duties. To incorporate such work which we will do to support the NDA, the Scheme will be amended to include charging for work which is directly attributable to supporting the main functions of the NDA.


What we will do:

When the NDA is formed, SEPA and the NDA will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out our respective roles and responsibilities. In accordance with the MoU, SEPA will provide support to the NDA in helping it to carry out its main functions. Thus, the MoU will have resource and cost implications for SEPA and the RS Charging Scheme will be amended to allow recovery of staff time, travel and outlays. 


Scope of Changes to the RS Charging Scheme:

In the amended scheme the following will be added to the definition of Band A Premises

• …ii) installations, sites, facilities or related premises that have been, or are to be, designated by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, incorporated under the Energy Act 2004 or any statutory successor thereof (“NDA”) and (iii) similar facilities exempt under section 42 of the 1993 Act;

The following will be added to the definition of chargeable expenditure:

• …(Where appropriate and applicable) Professional time, travel and subsistence throughout the UK and overseas directly attributable to work undertaken by SEPA that relates to the functions of the NDA, including strategy, plans and reports in respect of its functions;

Written Comments

A formal copy of the proposed scheme amendments is attached as Appendix 1.  As only a small number of sites are affected by this proposal the consultation period has been limited to 6 weeks.

• View Appendix 1 here (35k pdf)
  

Any written comments on the scheme should be received by 10th January 2005 and addressed to:

Sam Anwar
Scottish Executive
SEPA Sponsorship and Waste Unit
Victoria Quay
Area 1-J(N)
Edinburgh
E H6 6QQ

Email:   SEPATeam@scotland.gsi.gov.uk


Consultees should note that it may not be possible to consider responses which arrive after the deadline. The Scottish Executive may wish to publish responses to this consultation paper or to deposit them in its library. All responses will be available publicly unless a respondent specifically asks for their response to be treated confidentially. Confidential responses may be included in any statistical summary of numbers of responses received or views expressed.

Yours faithfully

John Ford