Guidance

Accumulating radioactive waste that you cannot transfer because of COVID-19: RPS C13

When you cannot transfer radioactive waste because of coronavirus (COVID-19) business disruption.

This publication was withdrawn on

The Environment Agency has withdrawn the regulatory position statement ‘Accumulating radioactive waste that you cannot transfer because of COVID-19: RPS C13’.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

You need a permit to accumulate radioactive waste under regulation 13 and Schedule 23 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR). Your permit limits how long you can accumulate radioactive waste, and the amount of radioactive waste you can accumulate.

If you are using the exemption in Schedule 23, Part 6, paragraph 4(7) of EPR, you normally need to comply with the maximum accumulation period of 26 weeks.

This COVID-19 regulatory position statement (RPS) does not alter your legal obligations under your permit or the relevant legislation about accumulating radioactive waste. However, if you follow the conditions in this COVID-19 RPS, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you accumulate radioactive waste:

  • above the limits in your permit
  • for longer than allowed in your permit or under the exemption

This COVID-19 RPS only applies where you accumulate radioactive waste that you are unable to transfer to destinations in the UK and overseas as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) business disruption.

It applies to waste sealed sources and to other radioactive waste that you transfer for recycling, treatment or disposal. However, this only includes waste types that you are authorised to accumulate under your permit or the exemption.

You must tell the Environment Agency before you use this COVID-19 RPS. This COVID-19 RPS explains how you should contact us.

You must continue to comply with the other requirements in your permit or the exemption and with the conditions in this COVID-19 RPS.

Published 27 April 2020
Last updated 22 December 2021 + show all updates
  1. We have extended the expiry date of this COVID-19 RPS to 31 March 2022. We have clarified that using this RPS does not alter your legal obligations under the relevant legislation but that the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if the conditions in the RPS are met.

  2. We have extended the expiry date to 31 December 2021.

  3. We have extended the expiry date to 30 June 2021.

  4. We have extended the expiry date of this COVID-19 RPS from 30 September 2020 to 31 March 2021.

  5. First published.