Transboundary impacts of radioactive waste disposal: reporting and notification obligations
What operators need to do in terms of submitting plans for radioactive waste disposal following our exit from Euratom and requirements under Article 37.
From 1 January 2021 the requirement for the UK to submit information to the European Commission on plans for the disposal of radioactive waste no longer applies.
The process
When an operator submits an environmental permit / environmental permit variation application which involves a plan to dispose of radioactive waste:
- the relevant agency will consider whether the planned disposal could result in transboundary radioactive contamination
- they will invite views through public consultation
- BEIS will notify EU member states and Norway of the permit application so they can participate in the public consultation
The relevant agencies are:
- in England, the Environment Agency
- in Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- in Wales, Natural Resource Wales
What operators need to do
Operators should contact the relevant environmental regulator for further information regarding the new requirements.
England
The Environment Agency is preparing guidance on how to provide the necessary transboundary impact assessment in relevant environmental permit applications and environmental permit variation applications.
Further information
- The Transboundary Radioactive Contamination (England) Direction
- The Transboundary Radioactive Contamination (Scotland) Direction 2021
- The Transboundary Radioactive Contamination (Wales) Direction 2021
- Cyfarwyddyd Halogiad Ymbelydrol Trawsffiniol (Cymru) 2021
- Radioactive substances regulation (RSR) for non-nuclear sites
- Radioactive substances regulation for nuclear sites
Last updated 14 September 2021 + show all updates
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Natural Resource Wales confirmed as the relevant environmental regulator for Wales.
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First published.