AceNewsDesk – Nuclear waste storage facility told to take action after breach
Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.25: 2024: Federica Bedendo: BBC News North East and Cumbria: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/YouMeUs2
Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), which manages LLWR, said the delays did not have an impact on the surrounding area and that they had taken the time to ensure the right solutions were created for the safe disposal of nuclear waste. The EA said it could not comment on the matter due to impartiality rules during election periods.
It comes after LLWR failed to make sufficient progress on operations to secure the radioactive waste – known as capping – meaning it breached the terms of its environmental permit.
Missed deadline
Martin Walkingshaw, chief operating officer at NWS, said: “Placing the engineered cap over the legacy radioactive waste disposal facilities at the UK’s LLWR is a first of its kind activity for the UK.” He said Nuclear Waste Services were engaged with the Environment Agency on a regular basis about progress. He added: “Capping is a key part of the disposal, and we are currently implementing the required design by procuring, importing and emplacing thousands of tonnes of capping materials in line with our planning conditions and stringent quality requirements.”
While the plan was delivered, there were delays in implementing it.
An initial date of completion of 2028 had been agreed with the EA, but discussions are now under way to extend the deadline as LLWR believes more time is needed.
“Throughout the design phase a number of assumptions were tested, as is common practice. Not all of these assumptions held true, and one in particular, caused a significant change in design.”