Book Description

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) acts as an independent body to advise and scrutinize the work of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), responsible for implementing the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) strategy for the long-term management of radioactive waste: disposal in a deep geological repository, along with a robust interim storage strategy. This report focuses on how CoRWM has performed since 2007 and considers whether its remit has proved appropriate. CoRWM has produced three reports, covering the main strands of the MRWS programme: geological disposal, interim storage, and research and development. The Government has responded positively to many of CoRWM's recommendations. But the Committee is concerned that neither the Government nor CoRWM give the impression of having any sense of urgency. CoRWM could play a more active role in driving forward the MRWS programme through scrutinising, and if necessary reporting on, the Government's progress.The Government should publish clear policy milestones for all aspects of the MRWS programme, include an assessment of their progress against these milestones in an annual report which should also set out the progress the Government has made in meeting the recommendations made by CoRWM in their reports. CoRWM should also provide advice to Government on any draft (as well as established) policies that have implications for the management of radioactive waste. CoRWM's current membership includes an appropriate range of scientific expertise, but it should contain more members with experience of business and practical on-site operations and engineering.