Framework for a Radioactive Waste Quality Checking Service

The objective of this work is to support the Environment Agencies throughout the UK (Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Environment Protection Agency) in the business critical area of regulation of radioactive substances activities (including discharges and disposals of radioactive wastes) under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations (EPR-16) in England and Wales and the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EASR) in Scotland. The Environment Agency will normally represent Natural Resources Wales as it undertakes nuclear regulation on their behalf.

There is a need to carry out verification checks on the existing wastes and new waste forms, which are suitable for surface disposal, being generated by the nuclear industry. Our waste quality checking service must be able to check all the anticipated forms of waste (lower activity wastes (e.g., LLW and short lived ILW) suitable for near surface disposal) effectively and efficiently at all locations where wastes arise, are treated or to which they are disposed. These will allow us to be confident that wastes are properly understood, and that consignors are using Best Available Techniques (BAT) to characterise their radioactive waste arisings.