Where we are
On June 25, 2007 the Scottish Government announced that its policy for the long-term management of Higher Activity Radioactive Waste would be:
"to support long-term "near surface, near site" storage facilities so that the waste is monitorable and retrievable and the need for transporting it over long distances is minimal. We will be progressing this in conjunction with the regulators and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority."
The full statement is here
The June 2007 announcement was followed by discussions with representatives of nuclear site operators, waste producers and regulators, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Scottish Local Authorities and other stakeholders.
It became clear from these discussions that all parties needed greater clarity on the implications of the policy to enable them to undertake the work, and duties, for which they are responsible.
The Scottish Government is now developing a more detailed policy statement which is intended to enable waste producers to manage Higher Activity Radioactivity Waste arising from operations at, or decommissioning of, nuclear sites in Scotland. The intention is to publish a consultation in late summer 2009.
Dounreay - one of the sites with wastes which the new policy will cover.