Caithness.org News Bulletins

DOUNREAY SEEKS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAMME

The UK Atomic Energy Authority today unveiled proposals to improve public understanding and participation in the Dounreay Site Restoration Plan.    The proposals include a public information campaign to raise awareness about the key decommissioning issues at Dounreay over the next few years and an undertaking to consult the public where options exist for dealing with particular wastes at the site.

Mr Brian Wilson, Minister for Industry, Energy and the Environment, said: "I very much welcome the UKAEA initiative to further involve the public in consultations on the Dounreay Site Restoration Plan. Restoration of Dounreay has important environmental dimensions. It's also vital to take advantage of the major business opportunities presented by the proposed programme of work, and I have emphasised my desire to see as much of this work carried out as close to Dounreay as is practical."

An advertisement in Scottish local and national newspapers today invites individuals and organisations to express an interest in the site restoration plan. UKAEA has also written to its existing stakeholders, including all Scottish MPs and MSPs, local authorities, community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a known interest in Dounreay, and posted details on its website.

This will be followed by the publication of more detailed information about the Dounreay Site Restoration Plan (DSRP), focussing on the key tasks over the next few years and communications with stakeholders.  The response will assist the site to design the first public consultation - what it should do with radioactive solvents and oils that are a legacy of previous operations at Dounreay.

UKAEA Site Director Peter Welsh said: "The site restoration plan is an opportunity for Dounreay to lead the world in the decommissioning of complex nuclear sites. We also want to be at forefront of public information and consultation, and I would invite anyone with an interest in the environment and its restoration to take up the opportunity of today's announcement.

"We led the way when we published the site restoration plan on the Internet, the first time any nuclear site had published its entire programme of work, and we are committed to implementing that plan in a way that is safe, efficient and publicly acceptable. But we recognise it is difficult for anyone outside the industry to comment in any meaningful way on the plan, given its scope and timescale, so we are committed to a communications strategy that improves public understanding and participation in the plan.

'The first step in that process is to elicit interest from organisations and individuals who want to play a part in the process.'

Notes

1. Dounreay was the UK centre for fast reactor research and development from 1955 until 1994. Three nuclear reactors and specialist fuel and waste facilities were developed on the site, which is now being decommissioned.

2. The Dounreay Site Restoration Plan describes some 1500 activities costing in the region of £4 billion that will need to be carried out over the next 50-60 years. Up to 20 major new plants may need to be built over the next two decades to manage legacies of past operations. The DSRP can be viewed at www.ukaea.org.uk

3. The wastes include approximately 150m3 of radioactive solvents and oils. Public acceptability is an important issue to be considered as part of a Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) study. UKAEA wants stakeholders to participate in the preparation of the BPEO through a period of public consultation on the options.

How To Participate
To register your interest as a stakeholder in the Dounreay site restoration plan
June Love of Dounreay's Communications Department is the contact for individuals and organisations to express an interest, by telephone on 01847 802561, fax 01847 802236 by email at june.love@ukaea.org.uk or in writing to Dounreay Communications, D8538/6, Dounreay, Caithness, KW14 7TZ.

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