Defra

Dear Consultee,

Consultation on the draft UK strategy for radioactive discharges 2006 – 2030

1. I am writing to invite views on the Government’s revised UK Strategy for radioactive discharges 2006 to 2030. This is an updated version of the Government’s first strategy for radioactive discharges 2001 to 2020, which was published in 2002, and continues to demonstrate how the Government is implementing the OSPAR Strategy for radioactive substances. This revised strategy covers liquid discharges as well as aerial discharges from both the UK’s nuclear and non-nuclear industries, including discharges resulting from the UK’s nuclear defence activities.

2. Please note that simultaneous consultations are being undertaken on related documents, namely Defra’s Statutory Guidance to the Environment Agency and the Environment Agency’s environmental principles guidance. The statutory guidance will be the primary vehicle through which the Environment Agency will implement the Strategy in England and Wales.  The consultation document can be accessed at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rad-discharges-eaguidance/ The Environment Agency’s environmental principles document underpins the statutory guidance setting out a framework for technical assessments and judgements that the Environment Agency will use in making decisions on radioactive substances regulation. The Environment Agency consultation can be found at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/consultations/current_consultations/

3. The following documents in relation to the discharges strategy consultation may be found on Defra’s website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rad-discharges-ukstrategy/

• List of consultees
• Consultation document
• Appendix A: Summary of consultation questions
• Appendix B: List of acronyms and radionuclides used in the draft strategy
• Appendix C: Impact Assessment

4. We welcome responses on the specific questions that are asked in the body of the consultation document. If you would like a hard copy of this consultation document please contact Tony Brown via our shared mailbox at radioactivedischargesstrategy@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

5. Please send responses to:

Dr Martin Hum
Radioactive Waste & Preparedness Division
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 4C Ergon House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

or
email: radioactivedischargesstrategy@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7238 1726

6. Responses should be received by 30 September 2008.

Consultation Criteria

7. This consultation is in line with the Code of practice on Consultations. This can be found at http://www.berr.gov.uk/bre/.

8. When this consultation ends, we intend to put a copy of the responses in the Defra library at Ergon House, London. This is so that the public can see them. Also, members of the public may ask for a copy of responses under freedom of information legislation.

9. If you do not want your response - including your name, contact details and any other personal information – to be publicly available, please say so clearly in writing when you send your response to the consultation.  Please note, if your computer automatically includes a confidentiality disclaimer, that won’t count as a confidentiality request.

10. Please explain why you need to keep details confidential. We will take your reasons into account if someone asks for this information under freedom of information legislation. But, because of the law, we cannot promise that we will always be able to keep those details confidential. We will summarise all responses and place this summary on our website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rad-discharges-ukstrategy/. This summary will include a list of names of organisations that responded but not people’s personal names, addresses or other contact details.

To see consultation responses and summaries, please contact the library at:

          Defra
          Information Resource Centre
          Lower Ground Floor
          Ergon House
          17 Smith Square
          London
          SW1P 3JR

          Telephone: 020-7238-6575
          Email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Please give the library 24 hours’ notice. There is a charge for photocopying and postage.

11. If you have any comments or complaints about the consultation process, please address them to Marjorie Addo, Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7C Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, or email consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

12. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any queries please contact us as above.

Yours faithfully

Dr Martin Hum
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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