WiredGov Newswire (news from other organisations)
Printable version E-mail this to a friend

Environment Agency - Consultation into assessment of new nuclear power stations opens

The Environment Agency has yesterday released detailed assessments of two new nuclear power station designs, and is inviting all interested parties to comment.

There are 10 sites in England and Wales potentially suitable for the next generation of new nuclear power stations. The Environment Agency, working closely with the Health and Safety Executive, has conducted assessments of the acceptability of two new nuclear power station designs in a process called Generic Design Assessment. This process was designed to ensure that any new nuclear power station will meet high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management.
 
There are two designs being considered in the GDA process; EDF/Areva’s EPR™ and the AP1000™ designed by Westinghouse Electric Company. Both are modern designs of Pressurised Water Reactors, which is the type of nuclear power reactor in use at Sizewell B in Suffolk.
 
The Environment Agency has found that:

  • A Statement of Design Acceptability could be issued for Westinghouse’s AP1000 subject to further work being undertaken on: 
    • Decommissioning arrangements for the AP1000, including wastes;
    • HEPA filtration of certain plant ventilation systems;
    • Disposability of spent fuel;
    • Monitoring of gaseous, aqueous and solid discharges and disposals of radioactive waste.
  • A Statement of Design Acceptability could be issued for EDF/AREVA’s UK EPR subject to further work being undertaken on:
     
    • Decommissioning arrangements for the UK EPR, including wastes;
    • Sizing of filters and the demineralisation system in the liquid waste processing system;
    • Disposability of spent fuel;
    • Monitoring of gaseous, aqueous and solid discharges and disposals of radioactive waste.

The Environment Agency is now consulting on its findings. The consultation can be found at https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/nuclear/gda and will run for 12 weeks.
 
Joe McHugh, Head of Radioactive Substances Regulation at the Environment Agency said:

“As the leading environmental regulator in England and Wales it is our job to ensure that any new nuclear power station will meet high standards of environmental protection and waste management.
 
 “We believe that our decision-making is better by being properly informed by other’s views. We are setting out our findings so far on each of the designs, by identifying where we see further work is required and by asking for peoples comments on those views.
 
“We will carefully consider all the responses before coming to a final decision on the acceptability of the designs”
 
National media enquiries please contact the press office on 020 7863 8744 or email
. Outside normal office hours, please contact the National Duty Press Officer on 07798 882 092.


Facing the Future...find out more