Seventeenth annual report of: the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

The Seventeenth Annual Report of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) is published. The Report focuses on the major issues addressed by the Committee during the period from 1 June 1996 to 31 May 1997. At a briefing, the RWMAC Chairman, Sir Gordon Beveridge said that the period covered by the Report had witnessed the role of the RWMAC, as a source of authoritative and independent advice to Ministers on radioactive waste management, being closely reviewed by the Government. The review was in two parts. Sir Gordon was pleased to note that the conclusion of the first phase of the review in November 1996, was that the RWMAC would continue to operate at least for another five years; and there remained a need for Government action to be guided by independent expert advice, specifically relating to radioactive waste management. The Chairman welcomed this commitment to the RWMAC's continued existence, but noted that the second phase of the Government review, initiated in November 1996 to consider the structure and method of operation of the committee, was still outstanding. He hoped that Government would address these issues in the near future. Sir Gordon then focused on the extensive programme of work carried out by the Committee during the course of the year. Studies had been completed: on openness and transparency in relation to publication of Nirex's scientific work; on a possible revision to the present system used in the UK for the categorisation of solid radioactive waste; and on draft guidance for the regulators (the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) on considering applications to import and export radioactive wastes. The Committee had also published a study on radioactive waste management practices in Sweden and Finland, and had continued to respond to consultations undertaken by the regulators in connection with their proposals to grant authorisations for the discharge of radioactive waste from nuclear sites. (Author)