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Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS)

Overview of MRWS

MRWS is the process to identify and implement long-term management solutions for the UK’s higher-activity radioactive waste. The process has four phases and has now entered the fourth of these:

1. (2001-2002) – Government consulted on the MRWS process.
2. (2002-2006) – the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) carried out a review of options for managing higher-activity radioactive wastes and published their recommendations.
3. (2007-08) – Government consulted on the framework for implementing geological disposal.
4. (2008 onwards) – Government publishes a White Paper setting out the framework for implementing geological disposal and an invitation to communities to enter discussions about hosting a geological disposal facility.

Framework for managing the UK’s higher-activity radioactive wastes

On 25 June 2007, UK Government, in conjunction with the devolved administrations for Wales and Northern Ireland, published a MRWS consultation document covering:

• the technical programme and aspects of design and delivery of a geological disposal facility for the long-term management of higher-activity radioactive waste
• the process and criteria to be used to decide the siting of that facility, including:
  • development of a voluntarism/partnership approach; and
  • the assessment and evaluation of potential disposal sites including the initial screening-out of areas unlikely to be suitable for geological disposal

On 12 June 2008, UK Government, in conjunction with the devolved administrations for Wales and Northern Ireland, published a White Paper setting out the framework for managing higher-activity radioactive waste in the long-term through geological disposal, coupled with safe and secure interim storage and ongoing research and development to support its optimised implementation. It also invited communities to express an interest in opening up without commitment discussions with Government on the possibility of hosting a geological disposal facility at some point in the future.

The White Paper sets out the framework for the future implementation of geological disposal, including:

• the approach to compiling and updating the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (UKRWI) and using it as a basis for discussion with potential host communities
• the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA’s) technical approach for developing a geological disposal facility, including the use of a staged implementation approach and ongoing research and development to support delivery
• the arrangements to ensure sound regulation, scrutiny and control of the geological disposal facility development
• how relevant planning processes might be addressed as the programme proceeds
• the definition of ‘community’ for the purposes of the site selection process
• the process for issuing invitations and providing information to communities
• how a partnership arrangement can be used to support a voluntarism approach
• the use of affordable and value for money Engagement and Community Benefits Packages as part of the voluntarism and partnership approach
• the initial sub-surface screening criteria and the way in which Government will apply these criteria
• a refined set of criteria for assessing and evaluating candidate sites and details of further consultation on the way in which these criteria should be applied

More information can be found on the Defra: Managing Radioactive Waste Safely website.

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management

As part of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme the Government set up the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) in 2003 to examine options for managing higher activity radioactive waste in the UK.

In 2006, CoRWM presented the Government with their recommendations. The CoRWM process followed an extensive and rigorous consultation and analysis programme to reach their conclusions.

The Government accepted the Committee’s recommendations that, within the current state of knowledge, geological disposal, preceded by a robust programme of interim storage, is the best approach for managing the UK’s inventory of higher activity radioactive waste.

In 2007 CoRWM was reconstituted with new terms of reference. The role of the reconstituted CoRWM is to provide independent scrutiny and advice to UK Government and devolved administration Ministers on the long-term management, including storage and disposal, of radioactive waste. CoRWM’s primary task is to provide independent scrutiny on the Government’s and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) proposals, plans and programmes to deliver geological disposal, together with robust interim storage, as the long-term management option for the UK’s higher activity wastes.