HC Deb 05 February 1990 vol 166 cc435-6W
Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has as to the(a) quantities and (b) locations of low-level radioactive waste dumped in England outside of Nirex sites; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is his policy on allowing the dumping of radioactive wastes on sites overlying major aquifers;

(3) what is his policy on permitting the dumping of radioactive waste in ordinary sites close to centres of population;

(4) what mechanism of public consultation is available before dumping of radioactive wastes can proceed on sites which have been given planning permission for domestic landfill.

Mr. Trippier

Any waste disposal site licensed by a waste disposal authority under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 may receive low-level radioactive waste where such a disposal method is authorised by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. Such authorisations impose strict conditions and activity limits and are issued only after careful assessment is made of the environmental impact of proposed disposals, including any possible impact on water supplies, to ensure that doses to the public are below the maximum permissible limits as recommended by the International Committee on Radiological Protection. Consultation with local and other public authorities is required by the Act before authorisations are issued to non-nuclear premises where the disposal requires special precautions to be taken by any local or public authority.

The Department does not maintain a central record of the quantities of low-level radioactive waste disposed of through local disposal routes nor of specific disposal locations. However, a condition of authorisation requires waste producers to keep proper and detailed records relating to their disposals. These records as well as the premises or sites concerned are subject to scrutiny by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution inspectors and in cases where a disposal requires special precautions to be taken, both Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and local waste disposal authorities are notified by the operator of the nature and destination of individual consignments of radioactive waste due for disposal.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what notification he has received as to the quantities of radioactive waste to be dumped at Arpley Meadows, Warrington.

Mr. Trippier

The quantities of low-level solid radioactive wastes proposed to be disposed of at Walton Arpley landfill site are as follows:—

  1. i less than 3.5 gigabecquerels per annum of radionuclides of a half-life not exceeding one year; and
  2. ii. less than 1.0 gigabequerels per annum of carbon 14 and tritium.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received over the disposal of low-level radioactive waste at Arpley Meadows, near Warrington.

Mr. Trippier

There have been four representations made to Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution of my Department on the proposals to authorise the disposal of low-level solid radioactive waste at Walton Arpley landfill site. No technical objections have been raised and my Department is fully satisfied that the proposals are sound.