Application by United Kingdom Atomic Energy
to Dispose of Radioactive Wastes from
Dounreay Caithness
Issued on 9 September 1997 - Ref 31/97

SEPA considered the application made by UKAEA in 1993 to dispose of radioactive waste from Dounreay and the response to this application from the public consultation carried out in 1995/96. As a result SEPA revised the authorisations that were originally consulted upon.

The agency board acknowledged it was minded to grant a more stringent authorisation in order to strengthen the regulatory control at Dounreay and to ensure that modern regulatory practice is provided. The following changes were made:

• the authorised limits for most gaseous disposals have been reduced;

• the authorised limits for most liquid disposals have been reduced;

• a requirement to eliminate all particulate matter above 0.1 micrometres from atmospheric discharges has been added;

• a requirement to eliminate all particulate matter above 60 micrometres from liquid discharges has been added;

• a requirement for a stringent review of the performance of the radioactive waste treatment systems, plants and facilities with regard to the application of best practicable means for minimising discharges has been added;

• a requirement to use an ultrafiltration pilot plant for routine operations hence reducing radioactive discharges to the marine environment has been added;

• a requirement for the reporting of events relevant to SEPA’s functions has been added;

• a requirement for a compilation of the total activity in terms of total alpha and total beta/gamma in all the waste disposed to the shallow land disposal facility (the Dounreay pits) since disposals commenced has been added;

• a requirement to undertake a Best Practicable Environmental Option study on UKAEA’s decisions for waste management at Dounreay has been added;

• a requirement to return waste from overseas reprocessing of nuclear fuel as soon as practicable and no later than 10 years has been added.

• the various processes that are carried out at Dounreay have been explicitly identified in the authorisation.

These revised authorisations were forwarded on 18 March 1997 to the Secretary of State for Scotland for consultation as required by law. The Secretary of State for Scotland noted that the authorisations had been significantly amended from those that were originally consulted upon and as a result, invited SEPA to initiate a fresh consultation process based upon the authorisations that it was minded to grant.

The main agency board of SEPA met today (9 September 1997) and considered this request. The agency board has with some reservation decided to ask its officials to put in hand this further round of public consultation.

The agency board ratified a change to the return of waste clause such that it would apply to any overseas nuclear material brought to Dounreay after the 21 August 1997, (the date that UKAEA were notified of this recommended change). In agreeing this change the agency board took due regard of UKAEA’s written views, and the original recommended change as notified to UKAEA on 21 August 1997 was altered slightly, such that a small amount of unirradiated German fuel currently at Dounreay awaiting reprocessing remain unaffected by the return of waste clause.

Notes for Editors

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) applied in October 1993 to dispose of gaseous, liquid and solid radioactive wastes from its premises at Dounreay, Caithness. The application was subject to public consultation between December 1995 and February 1996. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, SEPA, carefully considered the responses that were received as part of the public consultation, the views of its technical staff and views of the North Region Agency Board and Main Agency Board. As a result of SEPA’s deliberations the authorisations that had been consulted upon were significantly amended. The revised authorisations were forwarded to the Secretary of State for Scotland for consultation as required by law. The Secretary of State for Scotland noted that the authorisations had been significantly amended from those that were originally consulted upon and as a result, invited SEPA to initiate a fresh consultation process based upon the authorisations that it was minded to grant.

SEPA’s consideration of the application is contained in a 252 page document that describes the consultation that took place and gives the detailed reasoning behind the authorisations that SEPA is minded to grant. It also addresses the main points raised as part of the original public consultation. This document is being sent to all respondents of the public consultation.

The further consultation package will comprise of a summary document of the changes made to the draft authorisation consulted upon and the reasons for these changes and the authorisations that SEPA is minded to grant. In addition SEPA’s full decision document will be available on request.

RETURN OF WASTE: the act of returning waste overseas is, under UK law a disposal of radioactive waste from Dounreay. This disposal is specifically authorised under the authorisation that SEPA is minded to grant. Though further authorisations by SEPA may be required to comply with the Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste Regulations.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has concluded that the provisions of the certificates of authorisation that it is minded to grant, if adhered to, will be effective in protecting human health, the safety of the food chain and the environment generally.

ENDS

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© SEPA 1997