Allerdale GDF Community Partnership

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NWS decides not to take Allerdale further in GDF siting process due to limited suitable geology

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) has been engaging with the Allerdale community about the potential for hosting a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) to dispose of the UK’s most radioactive waste.

As part of this process NWS obtained existing data and undertook assessments to understand if six siting factors, safety and security, community, environment, engineering feasibility, transport, and value for money, could be supported if a GDF were sited in Allerdale.

Following a comprehensive and robust evaluation of information it was concluded only a limited volume of suitable rock was identifiable and the geology in the area was unlikely to support a post closure safety case. NWS has therefore taken the decision not to take Allerdale further in the search for a suitable site to host a GDF.

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What is a GDF?

A Geological Disposal Facility, or GDF, is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of our radioactive waste – specifically ‘higher-activity’ waste (the most radioactive kind).

It involves building a series of specially designed and engineered vaults and tunnels deep underground. It could potentially be three times deeper than the height of the Shard in London, Britain’s tallest building.

Once the waste is placed inside a GDF, the facility will eventually be permanently sealed. The way the facility is designed and engineered means it can be sealed to protect people and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years, without needing any maintenance, while the radioactivity fades away naturally.

Making sure it is safe

Scientists and other authorities all over the world agree that a GDF is the safest way to deal with ‘higher-activity’ radioactive waste (the most radioactive kind) for the long term. This international consensus comes after decades of scientific research.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency will review the designs for a GDF, the proposed site, and the science that informs them, to make sure it protects people and the environment. A GDF will only be built if it can be shown to be safe for both people and the environment. As soon as construction starts on a GDF, the site will have to meet strict safety standards.

Who is part of the Community Partnership?

The Allerdale GDF Community Partnership currently comprises of an independent, Interim Chair and representatives from Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC), Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Inspira.

For more about our Community Partnership members, click here.

What is a GDF?

A Geological Disposal Facility, or GDF, is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of our radioactive waste – specifically ‘higher-activity’ waste (the most radioactive kind).

It involves building a series of specially designed and engineered vaults and tunnels deep underground. It could potentially be three times deeper than the height of the Shard in London, Britain’s tallest building.

Once the waste is placed inside a GDF, the facility will eventually be permanently sealed. The way the facility is designed and engineered means it can be sealed to protect people and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years, without needing any maintenance, while the radioactivity fades away naturally.

Making sure it is safe

Scientists and other authorities all over the world agree that a GDF is the safest way to deal with ‘higher-activity’ radioactive waste (the most radioactive kind) for the long term. This international consensus comes after decades of scientific research.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency will review the designs for a GDF, the proposed site, and the science that informs them, to make sure it protects people and the environment. A GDF will only be built if it can be shown to be safe for both people and the environment. As soon as construction starts on a GDF, the site will have to meet strict safety standards.

Who is part of the Community Partnership?

The Allerdale GDF Community Partnership currently comprises of an independent, Interim Chair and representatives from Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC), Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Inspira.

For more about our Community Partnership members, click here.

Overview of siting process

This interactive diagram explains more about the GDF siting process.

Overview of siting process
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Overview of siting process

This interactive diagram explains more about the GDF siting process.

Overview of siting process
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Your Community Partnership will:

Agree a programme of activities

Agree a programme of activities

A Programme of Activities is the work that will be carried out by the Community Partnership in order to learn more about a GDF and what this may mean for this community.

Provide guidance for access to Community Investment Funding

Provide guidance for access to Community Investment Funding

Community Investment Funding recognises the long-term nature of the GDF project, and that the benefits associated with jobs, infrastructure and major investment may not materialise until the project has been running for several years. The Allerdale community will initially have access to £1 million per year, rising to £2.5 million per year if the project progresses to technical investigations requiring deep boreholes.

Share information, listen to and address community questions

Share information, listen to and address community questions

The Partnership is primarily here to be the key vehicle for dialogue with the Allerdale local community and the GDF developer, in a process that will take several years. We are here to continue the conversation with local people and enable them to find out more, explore the issues, and continue to have their questions answered.

Advise on community Right of Withdrawal and Test of Public Support

Advise on community Right of Withdrawal and Test of Public Support

The residents of the area around any proposed GDF site would have the final say on whether they want to host a facility, in what is known as a Test of Public Support, and the Community Partnership will oversee this. The elected local authorities on the Partnership can also withdraw the area at any point in this process, right up until the Test of Public Support.