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NUCLEAR WASTE - Coming soon to a site near you?

(This report was first published in the Safe Energy E-Journal and is reproduced with permission.
See the end of the article for contact details)

Britain's nuclear waste disposal company Nirex was refused planning permission for the first phase of Britain's underground nuclear waste dump in March 1997, following a four month planning inquiry. The Government will soon be deciding whether to begin the search for a nuclear dump site again.

Over time, Nirex expected its nuclear waste dump to contaminate local drinking water, milk, crops, and the Irish Sea. Evidence presented at the inquiry proved that Nirex did not know enough about the science of how waste would leak from the dump to be able to predict the impacts on future generations. If a new dump site is chosen, nuclear waste will also have to be transported to the site, bringing the risk of nuclear transport accidents.

Two attempts to identify suitable geology for a deep nuclear waste dump have taken place in the past. Initially areas were identified by geologists in 1979 and different areas were later identified by Nirex later. From these sites Nirex made a secret shortlist of 12 sites, which have never been made public. The following list gives some sites that might be considered if the search begins again.

SELLAFIELD

Nirex's chosen site in Gosforth, Cumbria near Sellafield has never been formally ruled out, in spite of all the evidence about poor geology that was presented at the inquiry. Planning law might be changed simply to force an application through.

LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK

Former BNFL Director Harold Bolter has identified fells to the east of Sellafield, in the Lake District National Park, as "the most suitable geology".

DOUNREAY

The only site, other than Sellafield, on Nirex's list which has been named is the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness. Another site in Caithness was also on the shortlist.

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

Three sites on Nirex's shortlist are known to be in the type of geology found in East Anglia. Evidence presented at the Nirex inquiry suggested one of these sites may be near Norwich, and another near the Sizewell nuclear power station. There has never been official confirmation or denial of this.

THE WESTERN ISLES OR ANGLESEY

Two sites on Nirex's shortlist are known to be on an island or islands, in either Angleseay or the Western Isles.

WIDMERPOOL GULF, SOMERSET BASIN, WORCESTER BASIN

In 1980/81 the Natural Environment Research Council and Institute of Geological Sciences submitted applications to drill in these areas as part of exploration for a nuclear dump site. The Government stopped these applications in 1981, but never ruled out the sites.

TRECWN

Trecwn in Pembrokeshire was recently proposed as a nuclear waste site by the company Omega Pacific, which owns the land.

HARWELL

The UK Atomic Energy Authority undertook research work for a deep nuclear waste dump at Harwell in Oxfordshire, including drilling 3 boreholes in 1981. At the time the site was used purely for research, but it remains unknown whether it later appeared on Nirex's shortlist for a dump.

BILLINGHAM

Nirex identified a disused mine owned by ICI in Billingham, Cleveland as a dump site in 1983. The following year ICI pulled out as a result of public opposition. It is not clear whether the site would ever be considered again.

ELSTOW, FULBECK, BRADWELL, SOUTH KILLINGHOLME

Elstow in Bedfordshire was named by Nirex in 1983 as a possible location for a shallow nuclear waste dump. Fulbeck in Lincolnshire, Bradwell in Essex and South Killingholme in Humberside were added in 1986. Geological investigations took place but were abandoned by the Conservative Government in 1987, six weeks before the election. All the sites were in Conservative constituencies. It is unknown whether these sites would ever be considered again.

Contacts for further information:

Friends of the Earth 26-28 Underwood St, LONDON N1 7JQ Tel: 0171 490 0881 e-mail info@foe.co.uk, website www.foe.co.uk
Dr Patrick Green, Senior Energy, Nuclear and Climate Campaiger (Tel: 0171 490 0224 Email: padg@foe.co.uk and Dr Rachel Western, Senior Nuclear Research Officer (Tel: 0171 566 1690 Email: rachelw@foe.co.uk)

Greenpeace UK Canonbury Villas, London N1 2PN
Pete Roche, Campaigner, (Direct Line +44 171 865 8229 Fax: +44 171 865 8201 Email: Pete.Roche@uk.greenpeace.org)

Safe Energy E-Journal can be found at http://www.enviroweb.org/kare/ or contact Pete Roche (see above for details)