radioactive waste management Sean Morris, National Secretary UK - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NFLA and its engagement on radioactive waste management Sean Morris, National Secretary UK & Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities

Contents • Overview of the NFLA – 35 years young Radwaste debate –  - formation of NuLEAF and SCCORS - engagement with NDA - views on UK, Welsh, Scottish policy - MRWS process - NFLA Radwaste Briefings Other NFLA workstreams  A new local energy revolution?  Fukushima / Chernobyl anniversary conference  Conclusions 

Who are the NFLA? Originated in 1980 – 35 th anniversary • • Over 40 members in 4 NFLA National Forums • Campaigns and researches on all aspects of nuclear policy (nuclear power & weapons) • Key local government voice on all nuclear issues in UK & Ireland (reps from 12 political parties) • Strong interaction with UK, Irish and devolved governments, regulators & NGOs NFLA SC FILMED BY JAPAN TV • http://www.nuclearpolicy.info NFLA 35 TH ANNIVERSARY, DEC 2015 PARLIAMENTARY MEETING WITH FORMER JAPANESE PM NAOTO KAN

Why our members are in the NFLA 60+ years of nuclear – Nuclear transport by no community road / rail / sea Statement of intent untouched / new build Public cost - £84bn legacy / £18bn per new Radioactive Health concerns reactor / £35bn+ waste legacy Trident

The aims of the NFLA? advise on practical steps • identify local government • to minimise nuclear and community interests hazards and safeguard affected by national public health and safety nuclear policy development make the case against • • open up decision making new nuclear build and and increasing public deep geological disposal accountability of the of radioactive waste nuclear industry support developments of the • alternatives to nuclear power – renewables, energy efficiency, LA energy, community energy

How does NFLA achieve its aims? • Direct involvement with Direct involvement in • Government and nuclear international nuclear bodies industry stakeholder events e.g. partnerships with the e.g. DECC NGO Forum Mayors for Peace, KIMO Scottish Government International and Cities for a Radioactive Waste Board, Nuclear Free Europe (CNFE) MOD Submarine Advisory • Produce NFLA Policy Group, NDA Stakeholder Briefings, Newsletters, Dialogue, ONR NGO Forum Conferences, Media • Direct involvement & Releases, Seminars and interaction with SCORRS & business meetings for NFLA NuLEAF members NFLA members attend both meetings

The emotiveness of nuclear Nuclear – like peace – means different things to  different people To some – electricity, security, safety, jobs, low  carbon, medical help for cancer To others – destruction, accidents, insecurity,  radiation illnesses, contamination All know of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl,  Fukushima NFLA is clearly sceptical of some of the benefits  of nuclear and worried about the risks NFLA strongly supports safe radwaste  management and decommissioning It supports NuLEAF and SCCORS in this role 

Formation of NuLEAF / SCCORS Manchester helped to form NuLEAF with  Cumbria – NFLA is supportive of it Manchester been a Chair and Vice Chair of  the group and a contributing member Wants to retain broad consensus on  radwaste and decommissioning NFLA assisted Dundee and now Edinburgh  in development of SCCORS with COSLA Many NFLA members are corresponding  NuLEAF or SCCORS full members

Engagement with NDA NFLA attended every NDA Stakeholder Dialogue meeting  Respond to all consultations / strategy documents  Recent meeting on Dounreay / transports of nuclear waste  Concern around some NDA ‘dilute and disperse’ policies  Oppose plutonium reprocessing  A ‘critical friend’ – perhaps at times v critical!  Engage as well through NuLEAF / SCCORS with NDA  as a second point of contact

NFLA’s environmental principles The idea that radwaste be ‘disposed’ of be rejected in favour  of radwaste management New or additional activities involving radioactive discharges  into the environment be opposed ‘Dilute and dispose’ of waste be rejected in favour of  ‘concentrate and contain’ Principle of waste minimisation be supported  Unnecessary transport of radwaste be opposed  Waste ideally be managed on-site (or as near as possible) in  facilities that allow monitoring and retrieval of wastes

Views on UK / Welsh Policy Support process to ensure safe waste management / nuclear  decommissioning Have real reservations over the development of a GDF  Support an open and transparent voluntarist approach  Support appropriate socio-economic development  Oppose new build, partially for the creation of new waste streams  Welcome strong financial support for NDA  Concerned about £1 billion efficiency savings to NDA 

Views on Scottish Policy Broadly support ‘near site, near surface’  Require more detail on timings / facilities  On HAW Policy Project Board as observer  Dismayed over Dounreay transports  Welcome no new build in Scotland  Support Scottish renewables policy and  urge it to be even bolder

MRWS process Welcome Government establishing a process after several  attempts Have reservations over deep geological ‘disposal’ – geological,  scientific and technical, retrievability (NWAA 102 issues) Welcome an open and transparent process  Welcome voluntarism as long as its genuine and inclusive  Will constructively engage with RWM, UKG and Councils  Welcome NuLEAF’s involvement but ask it to be aware of the  different views over deep waste repository

NFLA Radwaste Briefings • Respond to all radwaste consultations  Worth reading whatever your nuclear focus  Edition 61 – NDA Strategy & Business Plan  Edition 60 – RWM Geological Screening  Edition 59 – NDA Draft Strategy  Edition 58 – Welsh GDF volunteerist process  Edition 57 – Scottish HAW policy progress  Edition 56 – UK LLW policy  Developed by NFLA Secretary and NFLA SC Policy Advisor

Other NFLA workstreams Challenge the need for new nuclear build C  N Call for a nuclear weapon free world F  E Manchester is Vice President of Mayors for C  i t Peace (7000 members) i e s Concern over radiation discharges – work f  o r a with KIMO at the OSPAR RSC N u c Support independent research on effects of l  e a low level radiation on health (NFLA on Irish r F r Radiation Issues body) e e E u Research nuclear safety, security, transport  r o p and EP regimes (UK / global) e • P Work internationally with Vienna led CNFE  a Seminars with expert speakers in England,  r Scotland, Wales, N Ireland, Rep Ireland t CNFE n LA watchdog for those concerned about the  Cities for a Nuclear Free risks and hazards of nuclear e Europe r s • c

Renewable alternatives to nuclear? Strongly support wide renewable energy mix  - wind, solar, tidal, hydro, geothermal, AD, biomass, CHP, district heating Support the development of decentralised  energy with LA / community involvement Support LA energy efficiency schemes to  assist fight against fuel poverty Support new moves towards energy battery  storage to reduce intermittency Urge UK and Ireland to learn from others –  Germany, Denmark, Sweden etc Renewables growing fast all over the globe 

Local authority / community energy • UK Councils keen to get into energy  Promote renewables, energy efficiency and microgeneration  Nottingham and Bristol launched energy companies in 2015  Others will follow across the UK  Linked to many community energy coop start- ups  Germany’s ‘Energiewende’ an inspiration to NFLA as a model

Fukushima 5 Chernobyl 30 in 2016 MAIN CONFERENCE 19/3 WESTMINSTER NFLA SEMINAR 17/3 SEMINAR 18/3 KEITH BARNHAM REINHARD UHRIG ANGELIKA CLAUSSEN 1. International nuclear debate TIM MOUSSEAU IAN FAIRLIE KEITH 2. Impacts of Chernobyl & Fukushima BAVERSTOCK 3. Can renewables step up to the mark? Registration open DAVID REINBERGER PEER DE RIJK LINDA PENTZ GUNTER

Conclusions Nuclear has, and will remain, a divisive issue  NFLA works consensually where possible on radwaste &  decommissioning Happy to cooperate with NuLEAF / SCCORS where it can  Continue to represent the views of its members  Nuclear power is in flux nationally and internationally  Our energy and low carbon future matters to all of us  Where we agree let’s agree, where not let’s understand each  other’s viewpoint

Thank you for listening.