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.
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