MRWS Partnership

Disposal will happen - in Cumbria!

The impression given is that disposal in Cumbria is a 'done deal'Transcripts of meetings around the country present a relatively rosy view of the situationDiscussions by MRWS partnership e.g. re. operation of a GDF – are they too preemptive?

Fixed Unit Price & Funding issues

What could Fixed Unit Price tie the MRWS into? Is it Pre-emptive of MRWS process?

Once decided it is 'fixed' for all time

Public and local authorities locked out of final discussions

Forces co-disposal of legacy and new build wastes

No benefits package included in modelling - yet it will add to burden in terms of (unknown) inventory and over time

Funding overall seems a little discussed issue – yet not certain either for R&D or GDF development or MRWS processes and communities

Planning – who has the final say?

To date – voluntarism as the basis of involvement

Planning in hands of Cumbria and local councils

Changes being proposed – National Policy Statement and IPC process

Clear from questions and answers to Energy and Climate Change Committee and PQ that views changing

Involvement of environmental NGOs ?

Questions about what the Partnership process really is:

Requirement for new build

Could be a case of ‘policy drift’

Dominated by a view favourable to the nuclear industry

Involvement of environmental NGOs?

What would be the purpose of NGO involvement?

What different models of involvement already exist?

How open is the Partnership to critique?

Rigour of argument is not the same as public acceptance