§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the safety of the current storage of corroded radioactive metal canisters 1055W arising from the reprocessing of Magnox fuel at Sellafield; and what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., over the future management of this radioactive waste.
§ Mr. EggarI have been asked to reply.
Before 1991, metal cladding from the reprocessing of Magnox spent fuel at Sellafield was placed by British Nuclear Fuels plc under water in storage silos at the site.
1056WThis intermediate-level waste is subject to continuous surveillance and monitoring to ensure its safe storage pending retrieval and treatment.
As part of the company's ongoing programme to improve its storage and handling of radioactive wastes, BN FL has built new facilities for the safe encapsulation of' this material. The Magnox encapsulation plant for solid waste started operation in 1991 and a second facility, which includes the capability for sludges, is expected to come on stream early next year.