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UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) flip flops in its plans for Trawsfynydd wastes

BBC 25th April 2018 , Plans to remove every scrap of radioactive waste from a former nuclear
plant are under review, it has emerged. The former Trawsfynydd site in
Gwynedd has been undergoing decommissioning since it ended generation in
1991.

Originally, the power station was due to be left in a state of “care
and repair” by 2030 and finally cleared entirely by the 2090s. But the
review could see the remaining structures continue to be removed and
low-risk waste left on site. The details were revealed in presentations to
the Snowdonia National Park Authority by the body responsible for
cleaning-up the UK’s old nuclear plants.

At the moment, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) plans to mothball the Trawsfynydd site by
about 2029, leaving any existing radioactive material there to decay
naturally over time, before clearing everything. But the park authority was
told that a case is now being developed for continuous decommissioning and
for some low-level radioactive waste to be left there permanently.

Officials said the concrete reactor buildings were decaying structurally,
and work should get underway to remove them. But a suggestion that
low-level radioactive waste might remain on site has been met with
criticism by some in the anti-nuclear lobby.

Robat Idris, from the campaign group People Against Wylfa B, told BBC Radio Cymru: “Once again, we are
seeing the nuclear industry changing what they say about this process.
“Originally, the promise was that they would clear the entire site of
radioactive material, but now it looks like they are considering keeping
some of that material there for a very long time, if indeed they will
remove it at all.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-43898737

April 27, 2018 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, wastes