THE British government-owned company tasked with finding sites for disposing of radioactive waste has said it cannot progress any plans for a nuclear dump in Northern Ireland while Stormont is suspended. Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) said the north is the “region least likely” to house a nuclear waste disposal facility because the project requires the approval of the devolved administration, as well as those living near a potential site. Concern about the company’s plans was triggered by an online video showing prospective locations for a nuclear dump. The video shows Amy Shelton, a senior research manager with RWM, outlining the geological conditions that make certain areas suitable for the disposal of radioactive waste. The presentation, which divides the north into four geological areas – or sub-regions – is similar to corresponding videos produced by RWM that cover England and Wales. Scotland does not feature as its devolved government adopted a policy of ‘near surface disposal’, according to RWM. The video sparked a response from political representatives in south Down after the granite-rich area around Newry was earmarked by Ms Shelton as a potential location for a “geological disposal facility”. She said more work was needed to establish whether conditions are suitable. But Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard said any proposal to locate a site in parts of Co Down and Co Armagh was “totally unacceptable”.
Irish News 5th Feb 2019 read more »
Nuclear waste is piling up around the world even as countries struggle to dispose of spent fuel that will remain highly toxic for many thousands of years, Greenpeace detailed in a report Wednesday. An analysis of waste storage facilities in seven countries with nuclear power revealed that several were near saturation, the anti-nuclear nongovernmental organization said. All these nations also confronted other problems that have yet to be fully contained: fire risk, venting of radioactive gases, environmental contamination, failure of containers, terrorist attacks and escalating costs.
Japan Times 31st Jan 2019 read more »