§ Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who decided which depleted uranium should be held as a national asset and which should be regarded as waste; and when the decision was made; and [HL4538]
What uses are projected for the 59,860 tonnes of depleted uranium held as a national asset; and [HL4539]
What body holds the 59,860 tonnes of depleted uranium that are held as a national asset; and what value is assigned to this asset; and [HL4540]
Whether the 59,860 tonnes of depleted uranium that are held as a national asset appear on the national asset register; and, if so, at what value; and [HL4541]
Whether depleted uranium waste is held (a) as a discrete material; or (b) mixed with other material; and, if the latter, what is the total tonnage of the waste material. [HL4542]
§ Lord WhittyDetails of the quantities, uses and storage of depleted uranium for civil purposes is contained in a report produced by the EnvironmentAgency Depleted Uranium: a Study of its Uses within the UK and Disposal Issues. The Environment Agency report also describes the safeguard arrangements for depleted uranium.
Ultimately, it is for the owner or operator to decide which depleted uranium should be held as a national asset. The depleted uranium held by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) is considered a "zero value" asset; that is, it is determined to be an asset but holds no value in the company accounts. BNFL regards depleted uranium as a strategic asset and does not intend to declare it as a waste while there is the prospect of future economic reworking. In the past, around 15,000 tonnes of depleted uranium was recycled to produce the initial fuel for the UK's AGR reactor fleet.
Issues relating to the disposal of radioactive materials, including waste depleted uranium metal and its undiluted compounds, are a matter for the Environment Agency.