RWMAC report on MoD radioactive waste practices

2. READING THIS REPORT

2.1 MoD is a major user of radioactive materials and, consequently, produces large and diverse amounts of radioactive waste. The 1998 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory indicates that three to four per cent of all solid intermediate level and low level radioactive waste arisings are of MoD origin (reference), although the question is raised, later in this report, as to whether MoD's arrangements for accounting for all future defence waste arisings are sufficiently robust. There are also discharges of liquid and gaseous wastes to the environment associated with MoD's handling of radioactive materials and its management of the resulting wastes.

2.2 A considerable volume of information concerning MoD's management of defence wastes was collected during the course of the RWMAC study. This is reflected in the form of presentation adopted for the report which presents the information at three levels. The Executive Summary sets out the report's major conclusions and recommendations with reference to relevant paragraphs in the main text. The main body of the report contains summary and associated discussion material, of this, section 10 provides a synopsis of the main points contained in the report. More detailed descriptions of MoD activities, mainly site related, are contained in a series of annexes. This form of presentation is intended to allow the reader to choose the general level at which he or she wishes to read the report.

2.3 Within the main body of the report, section 3 describes the process by which this study has been undertaken. Section 4 discusses the need for a MoD strategy for radioactive wastes and associated issues, particularly the reasons for RWMAC's proposal that a centralised MoD "assurance" and regulatory body be established. Section 5 considers the application of contractorisation and privatisation to some MoD operations and the civil regulation that is, as a consequence, required. Sections 6 and 7 deal, respectively, with waste management issues relating to the naval nuclear propulsion programme and the handling of nuclear weapons, and associated activities, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Section 8 discusses the Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright firing ranges. Section 9 briefly describes a number of smaller sites that produce solid defence wastes. Lastly, section 10 provides the synopsis of main conclusions and recommendations. As already indicated, the various annexes contain detailed information.