Rita
Penman - 12-Sep-2006 – A drop-in session is being
held at the Gt Wakering Community Hall to hear
feedback on proposals for the future regulation
of radioactive waste disposal at Foulness.
The Environment Agency public
consultation began on 15 May and was due to end
on 7 August. As a result of considerable media
and local interest it has been extended to 1 October
2006 to allow members of the public in the vicinity
of Foulness the opportunity to air their comments.
On hand to answer questions
at the drop-in will be representatives from the
Agency, which regulates discharges of radioactive
waste and James Dudderidge MP for Rochford and
Southend East.
The proposals cover the future
regulation of radioactive waste disposal from
the two Atomic Weapon Establishments in Berkshire
managed by AWE plc.
Radioactive wastes containing
tritium, arising from the decommissioning and
maintenance of nuclear warheads at AWE Aldermaston
and AWE Burghfield have been disposed of at Foulness
between 1998 and 2003.
Historically AWE has transferred
these wastes to the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
and the MOD has then transferred these to Foulness.
Although there have been no transfers of wastes
since 2003, the MOD has asked that the disposal
route be available for the future for potential
disposals resulting from maintenance and further
decommissioning work.
The Environment Agency consultation
document proposes to reduce the volume and amount
of radioactivity in the wastes consigned to Foulness
and also to allow a direct transfer from AWE sites
to Foulness, simplifying the process and making
it more transparent.
James Duddridge, MP for Rochford
and Southend East, said: ‘I requested we hold
a public meeting in the area so local people can
hear in more detail the facts laid out in this
briefing and question the key figures involved
in the disposal of materials.
‘As a community we fear the
unknown the most. Initial misunderstandings lead
to both myself and the community opposing the
proposed dumping of radioactive waste. It transpires
the level of radioactivity is very low. My own
view is we need to discuss this more, but it is
likely that with the right level of consultation
and communication the community would feel safe
with the disposal continuing.’
David Griffiths, a nuclear regulator
for the Environment Agency, said: ‘We are reviewing
these authorisations to make sure that the limits
for discharging radioactive waste are still appropriate
and that the conditions we have set continue to
protect the public and the environment.
‘We want to ensure that AWE
continues to safely and transparently manage its
radioactive waste disposals from these sites.
‘In our role in protecting and
improving the environment, we are committed to
progressive reductions in radioactive discharges
and discharge limits from sites such as Aldermaston
and Burghfield, and their impact on sites that
receive such wastes.
‘We have put forward our proposals
for the two sites, and the public now has a vital
role to play in helping us set out the conditions
of the company’s authorisation.’
Details of the proposals can
be seen in the Environment Agency consultation
pack available on their website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Copies of the consultation pack have also been
sent to local libraries near the Foulness site,
to Rochford District Council and to Essex County
Council.
All responses will be logged,
acknowledged and considered as part of the process,
and could influence changes to the considerations.
‘We hope the public will take this opportunity
to look at our proposals and have their say,’
Mr Griffiths added.
All comments should be sent
to: AWE plc Review, Environment Agency, Nuclear
Regulatory Group (South), Red Kite House, Howbery
Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BD or by
e-mail to: nrg.south@environment-agency.gov.uk
and should not be received any later than 1 October
2006.
Libraries who will hold
a copy of the consultation package are: Rochford,
Hullbridge, Great Wakering, Hockley and Rayleigh.
