22/03/2005 - The Environment
Agency is seeking the views of the public
on proposals for the future regulation of
radioactive waste disposal, at the UK Atomic
Energy Authority (UKAEA) site at Windscale,
Cumbria.
If implemented, the Agency’s proposals will
lower the permitted radioactive discharges
from the site and reduce the potential radiological
impact, which is already relatively small
and well within legal limits. As part of the
Agency’s role in protecting and improving
the environment, it is committed to progressive
reductions in radioactive discharges wherever
possible.
The proposals will also strengthen the regulatory
conditions with which UKAEA will have to comply,
with the aim of steadily improving environmental
performance, while at the same time enabling
UKAEA to continue its important job of decommissioning
the Windscale site.
The Environment Agency began its review in
October 2002. Following the preparation and
provision of information by UKAEA, the Agency
has put together proposals for the future
regulation of radioactive waste disposal at
Windscale.
It has now made these proposals publicly
available and is asking relevant national
and local authorities, members of the public,
the Sellafield Local Liaison Group and other
interested parties to comment.
The main aim of the review is to ensure that
the environment and the public continue to
be protected from the potential effects of
radioactive waste disposal at the Windscale
site, which is contained within the larger
British Nuclear Fuels plc site at Sellafield.
The three-month consultation period starts
on Thursday 24 March 2005. Responses must
reach the Agency by 30 June 2005, after which
the Agency will consider carefully all comments
received before making and publishing its
final decisions.
Notes
The Agency has published details of its proposals
in the form of an Explanatory Document. Anyone
wishing to see a copy can do so in the following
ways:
Call the Agency’s general enquiry line on
08708 506 506 and ask for the Area External
Relations team at Penrith
Visit the Agency’s website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Write to Windscale Review, Environment Agency,
Ghyll Mount, Gillan Way, Penrith 40 Business
Park, Penrith CA11 9BP
Alternatively, the documents can be viewed
at the main offices of Cumbria County Council,
Copeland, Allerdale and Barrow Borough Councils,
Carlisle City Council and Eden and South Lakeland
District Councils, as well as public libraries
in Workington, Whitehaven, Egremont, Cleator
Moor, Seascale, Gosforth and Millom and Environment
Agency offices in Penrith and Warrington
