New Low Level Waste Facilities
A new disposal facility is needed for low-level waste from the decommissioning of Dounreay and Vulcan.
Consultation on the best practicable environmental option for this waste took place in 2003. The final BPEO study was completed and sent to Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).
The location of the facility is on land belonging to Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, adjacent to the eastern corner of the existing Dounreay site.
The disposal facilities will consist of a series of shallow engineered vaults to be built in phases, up to a maximum of six, a grouting plant constructed within the existing site and an administration block.
This facility is required for disposal of up to a maximum of 175,000 cubic metres of solid low-level waste which is expected to be generated during the decommissioning of the site. This figure includes waste that will be retrieved from a series of historical low-level waste pits at the site.
DSRL will apply the "waste hierarchy" principles to keep to a minimum the actual amount of waste that needs to be disposed of.
A planning application accompanied by an Environmental Statement - a comprehensive document covering environmental issues relating to the project - was submitted to the Highland Council in June 2006. These submissions were supported by a best practicable means report and site selection reports.
In early January 2007 UKAEA requested an extension to the planning application determination period to enable the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to undertake a detailed assessment of the first issue of the environmental safety case prior to responding to the Highland Council.
On May 23 2008, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd asked Highland Council to restart the planning application process. The area planning committee of Highland Council held a hearing on January 13, 2009, to consider the application. The committee granted conditional planning consent.
See: Council approves £110m waste plan for Dounreay
In March 2010, DSRL issued a contract notice for the design and build of the first two vaults, with options for later phases. Tenders sought for new waste disposal site.
GRAHAM Construction won the design and build contract following competitive tender, and construction started in November 2011.
Work begins to bury the Dounreay experiment.
Demolition brings £4m windfall for local community.
DSRL recognises the importance of effective engagement with stakeholders throughout this project.
A liaison group with local residents is a condition of the planning consent and Buldoo Liaison Group is now meeting on a quarterly basis. The group allows residents and the site to communicate about the project and protect the amenity of Buldoo residents.
Dounreay's experience of stakeholder engagement during the development of this project is highlighted in Pointers of Good Practice in Communication and Stakeholder Engagement in the Implementation of LLW strategy, published by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
2010 Environmental Safety Case non-technical summary
Potential use of blasting - non-technical summary
Overall strategy (March 2005)
Environmental Statement:
Environmental Safety Case
Environmental Safety Case 2008
Environmental Safety Case 2010
Best Practicable Means Report
Best Practicable Means Report 2006
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
Best Practicable Means Report 2007
Best Practicable Means Report 2008
Environmental Statement Addendum
Summary Reports:
Climate Change and Coastal Erosion
Selection of Proposed Location
Why proposed facilities are not on existing site
Environmental impact mitigation measures
Summary of the Environmental Safety Case
Site selection summary report:
Site selection paper (in detail):
Site selection workshop record (in detail):
Position paper on proposed development changes - October 2011
Drums containing low level radioactive waste from decommissioning the site
Rob Gibson, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, cuts the first turf to mark the beginning of construction in November 2011.
Compacted drums are stored meantime in half-height ISO containers
Typical contents of low level waste drum
Drums of low level solid waste are reduced to a fraction of their size using a supercompactor
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