HC Deb 30 November 1988 vol 142 cc279-80W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the environmental advantages and disadvantages of reprocessing in regard to the production of volumes of radioactive waste.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government's position on reprocessing is contained in the Government's response to the House of Commons Environment Committee's report (Cmnd. 9852, paragraphs 75–82).

The following reports of research commissioned by DOE address the environmental implications of different approaches to spent fuel management.

  1. (i) Management of Spent Oxide Fuel from Thermal Reactors: the Environmental and Radiological Effects of Alternative Approaches—Associated Nuclear Services. Ref. DOE/RW/83–086.
  2. (ii) Direct Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel: the Current Status of Technology, January 1987—National Nuclear Corporation Ltd. Ref. DOE/RW/87–021.
  3. (iii) Magnox Fuel Dry Storage and Direct Disposal: Assessment of CEGB/SSEB Reports—Ove Arup and Partners. Ref. DOE/RW/87–125.

These reports are publicly available through the British Lending Library.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if there are any technical problems remaining to be solved in the disposal of(a) low level radioactive waste, (b) intermediate level radioactive waste, (c) high level heat generated radioactive waste and (d) unreprocessed spent nuclear fuel.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

There are no fundamental technical problems to be solved in the disposal of radioactive waste. Work is continuing in order to demonstrate the safety of disposal.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are the current estimated costs(a) per cubic metre and (b) per mile of transporting radioactive wastes in each of the low, intermediate and high level categories;

(2) what are the current estimated costs per cubic metre of packaging radioactive wastes in the low, intermediate and high level categories;

(3) what are the current costs per cubic metre of storing radioactive wastes in each of the low, intermediate and high level categories.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The costs of transporting, packaging and storing radioactive wastes are matters for the waste producers.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, under current or planned European Commission research programmes, the option of subseabed emplacement or disposal of(a) low, (b) intermediate and (c) high level radioactive wastes has been examined.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Seabed disposal of radioactive wastes forms part of the current programme of research at the European joint research centre, Ispra, Italy. The future EC research programme on radioactive waste management has not yet been defined.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current and future estimated costs per cubic metre of the disposal of radioactive wastes in each of the low, intermediate and high level categories.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Nirex estimates the costs of disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes as:

Intermediate level wastes

  • —Land based deep repository: £2,000 to £7,000 per cubic metre.
  • —Offshore deep repository: up to £14,000 per cubic metre.

Low level wastes

  • —Deep repository: £750 to £2,000 per cubic metre.

For high level wastes accurate cost estimates are not possible as waste in this category will not be disposed of for at least 50 years. An indicative estimate is £500 per litre.

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