Executive Summary
Scottish Government is consulting on the Detailed Statement of Policy for Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste (the Policy). The Consultation Document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Environmental Report and Supplementary Information document.
The Policy is needed to enable waste owners and producers to plan for the management of their higher activity radioactive waste (the Waste) now and in the longer term. It is also needed to provide the Policy framework to enable regulators to regulate the management of the Waste. The vast majority of the Waste covered by the Policy is the result of nuclear power generation or research by the nuclear industry in Scotland.
Chapters 1 to 5 explain:
- the scope of the Policy;
- how we have developed the Detailed Statement, the Environmental Report and the Supplementary Information;
- the Waste covered by the Policy;
- implications of the Policy for waste owners and producers; and
- implementation of the Policy.
Chapter 6 contains the Proposed Detailed Statement of Policy which, in summary, is to:
support long-term near surface, near site storage and disposal facilities so that the Waste is monitorable and retrievable and the need for transporting it over long distances is minimal.
The consultation and supporting documents have been developed with input from stakeholders whose assistance has been very helpful. We will continue to engage with stakeholders during the consultation period. The intention is that, following this consultation, the Scottish Government will publish the Detailed Statement of Policy and the Environmental Report.