The Government publishes final policy document and consultation response on the geological disposal of radioactive waste

On 19 December 2018, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published its final policy document on the proposed geological disposal facility (GDF) for high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The policy document sets out the Government’s policy framework for managing HLW in the GDF, a proposed consent-based approach to working in partnership with communities to find a suitable location for the GDF, and context for the siting process, the planning regime and regulatory landscape for the GDF.

Radioactive Waste Management, the body that will implement the GDF, simultaneously published Guidance on how it will work with communities to select the GDF and aconsultation on how it will evaluate sites in England (which closes on 31 March 2019).