HSE POLICY ON DECOMMISSIONING AND RADIOACTIVE-WASTE MANAGEMENT AT LICENSED NUCLEAR SITES

In the UK, radioactive waste management and decommissioning on a licen sed nuclear site is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive. The same legislative framework used for operating nuclear power stations i s also applied to radioactive waste management and decommissioning act ivities. This provides a continuous but flexible safety regime until t here is no danger from ionizing radiations. The regulatory policy is d iscussed, taking into account the implications of the 1995 White Paper reviewing radioactive waste management policy. For both radioactive w aste management and decommissioning the key element of HSE policy is t he need for strategic planning. This should ensure that problems are n ot allowed to build up and to demonstrate that, taking into account al l factors, the proposed actions are the optimum in terms of safety The re is a presumption in HSE's policy towards disposal of radioactive wa ste as soon as possible where disposal routes exist. Where long-term s torage is necessary passively safe forms are preferred over those requ iring continuous monitoring or frequent intervention.