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Allerdale is one of four locations in the U.K. that were being evaluated for siting a geological disposal repository for spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste. It has just been announced by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) that Allerdale has been removed from the list of possible sites because of limited suitable geology. It is expected that a final site selection could be a process that requires ten to fifteen years to complete.
A geological disposal facility (GDF) contains a network of highly-engineered underground vaults and tunnels built to permanently dispose of highly radioactive waste so that no harmful levels of radiation ever reach the surface environment. Countries including Finland, Sweden, France, Canada and the U.S. are also pursuing this option.
Four localities formed Community Partnerships interested in hosting the GDF. These included Allerdale, South Copeland and Mid Copeland in Cumbria in northwest England, and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire, in eastern England. The Allerdale GDF Community Partnership was the third such partnership to form, in January 2022. It followed Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership and South Copeland GDF Community Partnership which were formed in late-202. The final partnership to form was at Theddlethorpe in June 2022.
Allerdale GDF Community Partnership focused its siting activities in a 124 square mile search area covering 13 electoral wards including Aspatria, Broughton St Bridgets, Dalton, Ellen & Gilcrux, Flimby, Harrington & Salterbeck, Maryport North, Maryport South, Moorclose & Moss Bay, Seaton & Northside, St John's, St Michael's, and Stainburn & Clifton.
In a process that started in June of this year, each of the potential locations is being assessed by the NWS against a number of siting factors. These include safety and security, the environment, engineering feasibility, geology, transport and value for money. The overall goal is to ensure that a GDF can be constructed, operated, and closed safely. The initial stage of the process will involve geological surveys and desk-based studies of existing data on local geology and things such as transport infrastructure.
NWS has now said that “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 [Allerdale] 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.”
Corhyn Parr is the CEO of NWS. He said, “We need enough suitable geology to accommodate a GDF and to support safety cases to build, operate, and close the facility. Our assessments show evidence of limited volume of suitable rock for a GDF in the Allerdale search area, including the adjacent inshore area.”
NWS stated that initial assessments of existing data and information for the other three communities in the siting process have indicated potentially suitable geology. Parr said that “The door also remains open for new communities to join the process.”
When a site is ultimately selected, NWS said that a decision to construct a GDF would be taken only if the “potential host community has had a say and given consent through a Test of Public Support. The GDF requires both a suitable site and a willing community”.
The U.K. has used nuclear technology for more than sixty years for such things as power generation, industry, medicine and defense. These activities have created a great deal of radioactive waste that must be managed safely. This waste is currently being stored at over thirty surface facilities across the U.K. These facilities must be replaced every fifty to one hundred years.