§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many test boreholes British Nuclear Fuels plc will investigate to prove the suitability and acceptability of the geology at Sellafield for a deep repository for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe numer of test boreholes that will have to be drilled, either to prove the suitability of the geology at Sellafield for a deep radioactive waste repository or to reject the site as unacceptable, depends on the results of the current investigations. The full extent of the drilling that will be required will only become clear as the programme of work proceeds.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to why British Nuclear Fuels plc is applying for planning permission to sink a second test borehole at the Sellafield site; what results were obtained from the first test borehole; what was the cost of the investigations surrounding the first test borehole; to whose budget this cost will be charged; what is expected to be the cost of the second test borehole; and if any further test boreholes are envisaged.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryBritish Nuclear Fuels plc has applied for planning permission to drill a second test borehole at their Sellafield site as part of a programme of work it is undertaking on behalf of UK Nirex Ltd., which is the organisation responsible for developing a deep repository in the United Kingdom for radioactive waste. The boreholes are required to confirm the geological suitability of the site. Although the first borehole is still incomplete, the results so far confirm the geological prognosis. The cost of drilling the boreholes is a matter for UK Nirex Ltd. The cost of all site investigations will be borne by the company. If the outcome of the first phase of investigations is favourable, further test boreholes would need to be drilled as part of the next phase of geological investigations.