First International Forum on theDecommissioning of the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
10th/11th April 2016
Session V
Sellafield Waste Management Strategy
Phil Hallington – Sellafield Ltd

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Background• 2 Square Miles• >200 nuclear
facilities• Significant inventory• Supporting nuclear
generation• Major national
priority2

Sellafield has more than 60 years of history…

1940s/50s•

Nuclear build
begins•

Initially a military
programme•

1960s/70s••

Later civil
programme
begins••Waste storedsafely –pending
treatment
Storage
capacity
extendedincrementallyCoarsesegregation ofwaste arisingfrom process

1980s
•

Main expansionof site•

Major waste
treatment focus•

Environmental
impactsubstantiallyreduced

1990s
•

2000s

Commercialisationof reprocessing —Thorp comes
online•NDA formed•

Stop start progressin Decommissioning•

Waste arisingfrom processes
treated in ‘realtime’•

Calder Hall ceased
generating power
after 47 years inoperation•

Product waste
forms compatible
with disposal
concepts

2010s•

Decision taken toend Thorp
reprocessing•

Vitrification of all
overseas Highly
Active Waste
complete•

Decommissioning
gathering pace•

First sludge exports
from FGMSP

Magnoxreprocessing
starts3

Decommissioning Challenges• Material at risk
• Large and uncertain inventories• Uncertain material conditions; original and current• Characterisation ranges from difficult to extremely challenging• Inadequate storage facilities• Uncertain design• Aging (~half-century or older)• Current condition and future service life unclear• Extended (decades) hazard removal terms• Complex and unprecedented tasks• Variable confidence in schedule4

Recent successes – Pile Fuel Storage Pond
Last skip of metal fuelremoved

Decanner removalOver 70% of the inventory safely retrieved in the past year

5

IWM Principles – links with Government policy
Integrated Waste Management Objective:• To ensure that wastes are managed in a manner that
protects people and the environment, now and in thefuture, and in ways that comply with government
policies and provides value for money.

6

UK Waste Categories

7

Safety & Risk Reduction
Avoid

Managing Radioactive Waste

Minimise
ReduceRe-useRecycleEnergy RecoverAbateDispose

8

Waste Management Strategy• Understand the arisings and therefore the options• Consider the impacts on••••High hazard and risk reduction
Environment
ALARP/BATCosts• 10- 50 year look ahead• Geological Disposal Facility••

2040 for intermediate level waste
2075 for high level waste• Legacy waste retrievals• We have continued to seek the best available approach• Spent fuel is not categorised as waste in the UK• Reprocessing waste handled in near real time

• Potential for significant and targeted innovation• Challenge the paradigm• Technically rigorous solutions• Commanding broad support from Regulators and keystakeholders9Challenging the paradigm – an example

Baseline plan

Alternative ILW Approach

10Innovative technologies

11PP14 Data - Cumulative ILW Arisings to 2120 Prior to Rework(excluding PCM)

Understanding and planning

100000
90000
80000
70000

Packages

60000
50000
40000

30000
20000
10000
0

Financial Year
MBGWS
Operations (MEP/WEP/WPEP)
Low Order Decom & Windscale Piles
Current Decommissioning (no route)

AGR Graphite/St Steel
LP&S (incl. SWR)
Windscale (WAGR boxes)
Contaminated Land

AGR Graphite to Class 2
High Order Decom & Windscale ILW
Decommissioning direct to GDF
CalderPackage = 4 drum
stillage or 3m3 box

12Strategy enabling End State delivery
GDF Available for
ILW

Broadfront
decommissioning

SR&DP
Decommissioning

GDF Available for
HLW/SFDILWEP2

DILWEP1

FILWEP2

PFSP

FGMSP

MSSS

Site Remediation
High hazard &risk reduction

BEP

BUFT

SPP1 P&E

SDP
PFCS

PFCS TP
THORP

Broadfront
decommissioning

Operations
Broadfront
decommissioning

Calder

SIXEP

SWR

WTC2

OthersIncludes Waste Treatment, Storage and Effluent Management

Lead time for
POCOplanning

2120

2110

2100

2090

2080

2070

2060

2050

2040

Stores
2030

2020

BEPPS-DIF

2013OperationsMAGNOXLead time for wasteroute development

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Risk Based Management Framework14Regulation at Sellafield• Robust, independent regulation – ENFORCEMENT• Collaborative working to deliver hazard and risk reduction –ENGAGEMENT & ENCOURAGEMENT• Demanding and effective Internal Regulatory function• Efficient delivery through “Engagement Week” model• Regulatory Interface Meeting• Transparency and Publication

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What next?
• Unrelenting focus on maintaining nuclear safety and security• Successful transition completed – now wholly owned NDAsubsidiary• Driving fit for purpose solutions, such as- Pile Fuel Cladding Silo
- Removal of ventilation stacks- Completion of Magnox reprocessing- Start-up of new HA Evaporator• Effective and Efficient spend of public money, delivering
lasting value• Integrated waste strategy is key to effective delivery

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