HC Deb 14 October 1996 vol 282 c823W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what notification he has received from British Nuclear Fuels in respect of proposals to apply for a variation in its discharge consents under the Environment Act 1995, the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 and Nuclear Installations Act 1965 for the Thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield. [40396]

Mr. Clappison

Applications for disposal authorisations, or for variations to existing authorisations, under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993—as amended by the Environment Act 1995—are made to the Environment Agency. I understand that British Nuclear Fuels plc is considering applying for a variation to the current authorisation for disposal of waste gases, mists and dusts from its Sellafield site. The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 does not apply to discharge consents.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the inspector's report into the rock characterisation facility at Sellafield. [40504]

Sir Paul Beresford

In accordance with usual procedures, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will publish the report when he has reached his decision on the matter. Until he has received and considered the report, I cannot say when that might be.

Mr. Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the timetable for issuing a full safety certificate for large scale reprocessing at THORP at Sellafield. [40514]

Sir Paul Beresford

The THORP plant at BNFL Sellafield is currently being commissioned, and will eventually operate, under the requirements of the existing Sellafield site licence issued by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate. HSE intends to issue a consent for THORP when commissioning has been satisfactorily completed and it has received the appropriate documentation. This has not been received from BNFL.

Some reprocessing activity has been taking place as part of the active commissioning programme which started in January 1994, but full operation will only be undertaken when the consent to operation is issued.