N E W S F E E D S >>>
Dounreay Index

 

    

15 September 05
UKAEA ANNOUNCE CONSULTANCY CONTRACT FOR PROPOSED NEW LOW LEVEL WASTE
DISPOSAL FACILITY
UKAEA, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, has awarded a contract to Jacobs Babtie as prime consultants for the next stage of the proposed new low level waste disposal facility at Dounreay.

The contract involves working with UKAEA and stakeholders to prepare the planning application which will be submitted to the Highland Council, applications that will be required by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and documents that may be required to comply with the terms of a nuclear site licence. Jacobs Babtie will be assisted in producing these comprehensive documents by Galson Sciences Ltd.

Extensive consultation carried out by UKAEA recently identified the construction of a new disposal facility at Dounreay as the Best Practicable Environmental Option for managing low-level waste from the site clean-up.  Subject to consents, the new facility is expected to be available around 2011.


Left to Right: David Baird, Managing Director of Facilities
Business Centre , Jacobs Babtie and Simon Middlemas, Dounreay Deputy Director, Standing: Michael Tait, Senior Project Manager

Simon Middlemas, Dounreay Deputy Director, said: “This is an important stage in this project, building on the constructive relationships with stakeholders that were built during the BPEO process. It is important for stakeholders to know how and when their contributions can be taken into account.

“UKAEA is pleased to be working with Jacobs Babtie on this contract as its strengths in the areas of planning and design complement UKAEA’s knowledge of radioactive waste management and nuclear site operations, and have allowed us to pull together a strong team to progress the implementation of the low level waste BPEO.”

 

Ian Williamson, Divisional Director with Jacobs Babtie, said: “Having been involved in the development of the BPEO, Jacobs Babtie is delighted to have been awarded the contract to take this important project forward through the planning process and beyond. The low level waste project requires an integrated team approach, which will see our planning, environmental, engineering and safety personnel working very closely with the UKAEA project team and with our specialist sub-consultants. We particularly welcome the opportunity to deliver much of the project from our local office in Scrabster.”

Measuring The Problems In Double Decker Buses
Historically, when Dounreay was an experimental reactor establishment, approximately 33,000 cubic metres of solid low-level radioactive waste (equivalent in volume to 240 double-decker buses) was disposed of to a series of shallow pits. These pits are now full.

Decommissioning of Dounreay is expected to generate between 64,000 cubic metres and 109,000 cubic metres of new solid low level radioactive waste (which is equivalent in volume to between 450 and 750 double-decker buses).

In March 2005, following extensive public participation in the long-term options, UKAEA concluded that the Best Practicable Environmental Option for Dounreay’s LLW was the construction of a new disposal facility at Dounreay. More information about low-level waste at Dounreay, the views of stakeholders and UKAEA’s strategy can be found at http://www.ukaea.org.uk/dounreay/low_level_waste.htm

In Spring 2002, in accordance with the 1998 Safety Audit by regulators, UKAEA applied to SEPA for consent to dispose of some LLW arisings to the national disposal facility at Drigg, Cumbria, as an interim measure pending agreement and implementation of a long-term strategy. In May 2005 Scottish Executive ruled out this option.