Disposal Infrastructure March 2018 OFFICIAL Aims/ Objectives of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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NuLeaf Steering Group Meeting: National Policy Statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure

March 2018

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Aims/ Objectives of this session

• To update participants on history, context and current

proposals in the National Policy Statement.

• To allow participants to explore and understand the

implications of the National Policy Statement (for themselves and other stakeholders) and raise questions and take part in discussions.

• For BEIS to understand common issues and questions
• n the National Policy Statement arising from any

discussions following this session

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Background

• The GDF has now been made a ‘nationally

significant infrastructure project’ in law. Legislation was passed in March 2015 to bring development of a GDF and associated deep boreholes within the coverage of the Planning Act 2008.

• BEIS will bring forward a National Policy Statement

and accompanying Appraisal of Sustainability and Habitats Regulation Assessment for public consultation.

• The Planning Inspectorate will examine the

eventual development consent application before recommending to the Secretary of State whether or not to grant development consent.

• As part of this process, the developer is obliged to

consult various bodies – including the local community.

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What are National Policy Statements (NPSs)?

• The primary purpose of NPSs is to guide the Planning Inspectorate

and the Secretary of State when examining and making decisions

• n applications for development consent; it will also aid the

developer in their application for development consent.

• It gives clear and unambiguous guidance as to whether

development consent will be granted or not.

• It provides faster and more transparent delivery of planning
• decisions. Since the introduction of the Planning Act and NPSs, the

average length of planning applications for energy infrastructure has reduced from 3 years to 18 months.

• NPSs undergo a process of public consultation and parliamentary

scrutiny, before being published

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NPS for Geological Disposal Infrastructure

Scope

• GDFs and deep boreholes
• Generic (i.e. not site specific)
• England only
• Subject to an Appraisal of Sustainability (compliant with

the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) Directive) and Habitats Regulations Assessment

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NPS for Geological Disposal Infrastructure for Radioactive Waste

Content

• Introduction (purpose and scope)
• Policy background
• Summary of need
• Assessment principles
• Impacts (environmental and socio-economic)

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• Waste is presently stored at 30+ sites across the UK. Some of the higher

activity wastes will remain hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years; new interim stores currently being built typically have a design life of one hundred years. Therefore long-term storage is not a viable option as stores would have to be rebuilt and the waste packages within them repacked.

• GDF is an enabler for the new nuclear plants. New nuclear power is

required for the UK to meet its energy and climate change objectives and is part of the Government’s strategy for moving towards a decarbonised, diverse electricity sector by 2050.

• As one of the generations that has benefitted from medical treatments,

research, electricity and defence activities that have all produced radioactive waste, we should dispose of the waste and not pass on the problem to

future generations.

• There is overwhelming international consensus that the best means of

disposal is in a GDF; this is backed up by CoRWM’s review in 2006 (and statement in 2013) and accepted in the Government’s response to CoRWM’s recommendations.

Need for a GDF

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Need for a GDF

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Radioactive waste

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Example potential impacts of a GDF

Visual/Landscape Construction Noise Traffic (congestion) Influx of workers increasing demand on services

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Supporting documents

NPS

AoS

(Appraisal of Sustainability) The main purpose of an AoS is to ensure that the likely environmental and socioeconomic effects of the NPS, at a national level, are identified, described and evaluated. As well as to propose mitigation or enhancement measures where appropriate.

HRA

(Habitats and Regulations Assessment) Identifies and assesses the likely significant effects of NPS on European nature conservation sites such as:

• Ramsar sites
• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
• Special Protected Areas (SPAs)

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The key stages towards designation

• f the NPS – anticipated timeline

Select Committee Scrutiny of the NPS

GDF and boreholes become ‘nationally significant infrastruct ure projects’ Outcome of scoping consultation

• n AoS and

HRA Public consultation

• n

NPS/AoS/H RA Select Committee scrutinise draft NPS and publish report (Option of) Parliamentary debate

March 2015 February 2016 January 2018 - April 2018 May - July 2018 Sept 2018

Lay final NPS (and response to consultation and response to Parliamentary scrutiny) in Parliament Lay draft NPS in Parliament

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ANY QUESTIONS ?