Photograph: Drill pipe for deep borehole site characterisation © Steve Barlow

 

FINDING A suitable site

In making the case for safe disposal of higher-activity radioactive waste, the delivery body (in the UK this is Radioactive Waste Management Ltd) will be tasked, according to UK government policy, to find a suitable site and a willing host-community, since the government has determined that the siting process, if to be successful, will require the delivery body to work in partnership with a community in a consent-based process. A similar policy exists for GDF siting in Wales. 

The UK and Welsh governments have undertaken public consultation (see here for example) on the role of and meaning of community within the consent-based process and are expected to publish their final policies in 2018. But what then is meant by a "suitable site"?

A suitable site is one that has host geology which can contribute to the geological component of the multi-barrier containment system. The National Geological Screening (NGS) undertaken by Radioactive Waste Management has identified five geological attributes that indicate the prospects for long-term safety. These are:

  • Rock type

  • Rock structure

  • Groundwater

  • Natural processes

  • Resources

When published, the NGS will provide regional-scale maps showing for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where potentially suitable rocks may be located. A first check for any community wishing to find out more about the prospects of hosting a GDF, will be to consider whether there is likely to be suitable geology for hosting a GDF within their boundaries.

Suitable geology is important but it is not the only consideration. To be suitable a site must also exhibit these additional characteristics:

  • possible to construct and operate a GDF in a manner that minimises environmental impacts (or enables impacts to be mitigated).

  • possible to transport wastes and materials to the facility

  • ability to be able to engineer the facility so that it can be safely and economically constructed within the available rock volume

  • ability to contribute to the overall well-being of the host community

  • provide a cost-effective solution - spending tax-payer's money wisely

Radioactive Waste Management will in due course (when the GDF siting process commences) set out its rationale for recommending particular sites and ultimately, will need to develop a safety case demonstrating disposal safety at that site.