Theddlethorpe GDF Working Group formed to discuss United Kingdom geological disposal of radioactive waste
As part of the process to identify a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) with a willing community in the United Kingdom, Radioactive Waste management (RWM)* has undertaken initial discussions with Lincolnshire County Council. As a result of these discussions, the focus has been to consider whether the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal Site (TGT) and surrounding area located within the administrative area of East Lindsey District Council, including the adjacent inshore area off the coast, has potential to host a GDF.
*: RWM is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) of the United Kingdom
Theddlethorpe Working Group
In a recent report, RWM has concluded there may be potential to host a GDF in the proposed area of interest. Therefore, RWM and Lincolnshire County Council have agreed to open discussion more widely in the community and formed the Theddlethorpe GDF Working Group.
The Working Group will initially consider the TGT Site and surrounding area within East Lindsey and the adjacent inshore area up to 22km from the coastline. In time, the Working Group will propose an area for further investigation.
The Working Group has three main jobs to do. Firstly, it will start the conversation with local communities about what the GDF siting process involves. Secondly it will identify a Search Area, which will be the area within which RWM could subsequently undertake feasibility studies. The final task is to set up the longer-term partnership of local authorities, local organisations, community groups and RWM, called a Community Partnership.
The Working Group members include independent Chair Jon Collins, an independent facilitator, Lincolnshire County Council, Theddlethorpe Parish Council and Radioactive Waste Management (RWM – a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority). East Lindsey District Council has also been invited to join the group and is currently considering this.
The Working Group will now start a programme of engagement with local people on this website with information about the GDF project, details of local engagement events and how to get in touch.
How much of a say does my community have over whether a GDF is built here?
Unlike other big infrastructure projects, the process of choosing a site for a GDF requires the explicit consent of a community willing to host the facility.
Forming the GDF Working Group is not a commitment to agree to a GDF in Theddlethorpe. Neither is studying potential sites or planning how the community could potentially benefit from the project. The community can be withdrawn from the process at any time.
What is a Working Group?
A Working Group is formed early in the GDF siting process to begin local discussions and fact-finding with the community.
An early task for the Working Group will be to identify and propose a Search Area for further consideration by RWM. It will speak with citizens across the community to begin to understand issues or questions they might have about geological disposal. The Working Group will also recruit initial members for a Community Partnership (see below) that may be established in due course to take the process further forward.
The Working Group comprises of Lincolnshire County Council, Theddlethorpe Parish Council and Radioactive Waste Management (RWM – a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority).
What is the process for siting a GDF?
Now that a Working Group has been formed in Theddlethorpe, they we will identify an initial ‘Search Area’. This is the geographical area or areas within which RWM will seek potentially suitable sites for a GDF. RWM’s role is very much one of information gathering, ahead of a Community Partnership being formed.
A Community Partnership will include community members and organisations, seeking to be reflective of our local community. It will provide a vehicle for sharing information and for finding answers to the questions you might have about geological disposal, the siting process and how we, as a community, could benefit.
Once a Community Partnership has been formed, a series of studies will be undertaken to assess which areas might be suitable to site a GDF. Once identified, boreholes could be drilled to examine the local geology and see if it may be suitable for a GDF.
Only once all studies have been conducted, and a community has given its consent, could the construction of the GDF begin.
The Theddlethorpe GDF Working Group has been established in October 2021 in east Lincolnshire to start the process of finding out if a multi-billion-pound national infrastructure project to safely manage some of the UK’s radioactive waste in a Geological Disposal Facility (known as a GDF) could be feasible and provide benefits to the area.
GDF WG website: https://theddlethorpe.workinginpartnership.org.uk/