The 2014 White Paper ‘Implementing Geological Disposal’, sets out a process whereby Government (and ultimately, the developer, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd) will work with a willing community in a consent-based process to identify potential suitable sites for development of a geological disposal facility. We have a general idea how the “willing community” part may work from Government’s proposals on Working with Communities, but Government and Radioactive Waste Management have yet to describe what constitutes a “suitable site”.

Land-owners, local authorities or others interested in questioning whether their area or community could be suitable for geological disposal, should read my brief on the topic (here).