Potential nuclear waste sites identified

Three areas have been shortlisted to host a nuclear waste disposal site.

Communities in Mid Copeland and South Copeland in Cumbria and east Lincolnshire have become "Areas of Focus" for Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) to help consider their potential to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).

NWS said construction would only start when a suitable site was identified and a potential community had confirmed its "willingness" to host the facility.

Community events will be held to talk about "what this means for each area", it added.

The locations have been identified using geological data, areas of environmental protection and consideration of built-up areas.

Each needed the right sub-surface geological environment deep underground, a suitable surface location and the ability to connect the two with accessways.

Two surface Areas of Focus have been identified in Mid Copeland, east of Sellafield and east of Seascale.

In South Copeland, land west of Haverigg has been chosen.

The sub-surface level in the sea off the coast of Cumbria would be the same for both.

In East Lincolnshire, land between Gayton Le Marsh and Great Carlton, near Louth, is being considered.

This could see existing proposals to bury the nuclear waste at the old gas terminal in Theddlethorpe scrapped.

NWS will now evaluate the sites and carry out investigations to consider the potential for each area to "safely" host a GDF.

Corhyn Parr, chief executive officer at NWS, said it was "delivering a GDF as the safe, secure and long-term solution for the most hazardous radioactive waste".

"A GDF requires a suitable site and a willing community and will only be developed when both are in place," she said.

NWS is hosting a series of webinars and local drop-in events to explain Areas of Focus.

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