§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from individuals and groups in Cleveland concerning the proposed site for disposal of nuclear waste at Billingham, Cleveland; and if any of these supports the scheme.
§ Mr. WaldegraveUp to 20 December my Department had received 80 letters about the site at Billingham identified for further investigation by the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive (NIREX). No representations have been received supporting the use of the site for this purpose.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from commercial and industrial companies in the proximity of the proposed site for disposal of nuclear waste at Billingham, Cleveland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOne such representation has been received in my Department.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the surface radiation dose rate registered at the Cowpen Bewley tip in Billingham when last visited by the Radiochemical Inspectorate; when this visit took place; and in all the waste monitored on that visit what gigabecquerel level of thulium 170 was recorded.
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§ Mr. WaldegraveThe visit took place on 23 November. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible about the other points raised in his question.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the acreage of the ICI anhydrite mine in Billingham, Cleveland, the area designated for nuclear waste disposal, the depth of this location, and the known position of the water table at present.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe ICI anhydrite mine at Billingham extends over approximately 1,000 acres and its depth varies between 140 and 280m below ground. I understand that, if a waste repository is eventually developed there by NIREX, about 10 per cent. of the area would be needed to provide for disposals well into the next century. The position of the water table is one of the factors that would have to be confirmed as part of any site investigation undertaken by the executive.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which radioactive substances, stating their chemical names and half-lives, in the intermediate level waste category, the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has assessed as suitable for disposal at Billingham in Cleveland;
(2) which radioactive substances, stating their chemical names and half-lives, in the high level waste category, the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has assessed are suitable for disposal at Billingham in Cleveland;
(3) which radioactive substances, stating their chemical names and half-lives, in the low-level waste category, the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has assessed are suitable for disposal at Billingham in Cleveland.
§ Mr. WaldegraveNIREX has no responsibilities for high-level wastes, and no wastes of that kind will be disposed of anywhere for at least 50 years. My Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food would specify under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 the characteristics of the wastes that would be acceptable in a deep disposal facility like the anhydrite mine at Billingham. This cannot be done in detail until the geology and other characteristics of a potential site have been thoroughly examined; but the wastes could include metal cladding from spent nuclear fuel elements, long-lived material from research activities and solidified sludges and ion-exchange resins.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive has made any assessment of the number of full-time employees who would be required at the proposed nuclear waste disposal site at Billingham; when it envisages the site becoming operational; and for how long it assesses that the site would be used for such disposal.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI understand the executive has estimated that about 300 people might be employed in the construction phase of a deep repository, and up to 100 in the operating phase. Subject to the relevant statutory requirements the executive aim to have such a repository in operation by the end of the decade, to accommodate wastes arising into the next century.