The Regulation of a Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal Facility in England and Wales

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) 2016 radioactive waste inventory reported a total UK volume of radioactive waste of 132,000 m3 or 3,700 tonnes, projected to reach 4,490,000 m3 by 2125.3-4 Of this, 0.03% is categorised as high level waste, materials that contains the majority of actinides and fission products present in spent fuel. 5 Whilst current figures emphasize the relative small scale of the current waste inventory, high level waste corresponds to 95% of the total activity of the inventory. With the imminent closure and decommissioning of the UK's nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities, now more than ever the UK requires a permanent waste management solution.
Following the formation of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) in 2003, multiple frameworks for the management of higher activity radioactive wastes by geological disposal in the UK have been produced.6-7 Despite this, little progress has been made in the processes of GDF design and siting.
Of the many challenges the UK government needs to overcome, one the most crucial in inciting public confidence and crucially community voluntarism, is a clear and transparent scientific demonstration of the safety, security and safeguarding capabilities of a GDF. Previous efforts to undertake investigations into the suitability of potential host sites have been halted due to a lack of thoroughness and fallen victim to a level of technocracy amongst responsible parties.
The focus of this research project is to support the realisation of a GDF by investigating how such a facility could be regulated.

The number of PhD level nuclear graduates in the UK remains small and despite the creation of a Nuclear EngD programme in 2008 it is considerably lower than the industry's need. The Imperial Cambridge Open Centre for Doctoral Training (ICO CDT) will deliver high impact research of enormous value to a range of companies while at the same time producing nuclear researchers trained to be internationally excellent and global thinking who can eventually assume leadership positions in industry, regulatory bodies, academia or Government. The aim of the ICO CDT is to train a cohort of PhDs of international quality prepared to operate in the global nuclear business and technology arena, and to deliver high-impact research. The ICO CDT will build on current industrial links including with larger companies such as EdF, EdF Energy, Horizon, AWE, Rolls-Royce, Westinghouse and Atkins and SME's such as Tokamak Solutions. We will look to develop new and improved links with other companies including in civil construction such as Laing O'Rourke, mining companies who may build any UK repository and component manufacturing companies through the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC). In addition, involvement of SME's down the supply chain in envisaged. Successful outcomes of the student research projects will ensure the UK is able to build the reactors to retain its nuclear capability providing baseload electricity to UK industry and domestic markets ensuring UK plc stays open for business! These projects will also enable the UKs nuclear industry to remain at the forefront of the global nuclear renaissance and to contribute key technologies in areas which offer potentially lucrative international opportunities including in Small Modular Reactors, lifetime extensive, decommissioning and clean up, and waste disposal technology.

In particular, we will aim at increasing our already strong international collaborations with e.g. universities and research centres in the USA (MIT, Florida, Berkeley, Michigan universities, Idaho National Lab, PNNL, SRNL), France (Limoges U, Ecole Centrale Paris, CEA, Areva), China (Tsinghua) and India (Bhabha ARC). All of these international links will benefit the UK by providing potential leaders with vision and knowledge of world leading research. In addition, we plan to be inclusive of other UK universities with a nuclear interest, involving non ICO academics in mentoring students, serving on the Management Board, in joint PhD projects and in Summer Schools, Workshops and other events.

Other beneficiaries will include the regulators such as the Office of Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency and various policy making Government departments including DECC, the FCO and BIS who are in dire need of nuclear-trained employees. Having the DECC and FCO Chief Scientific Advisor's (Dave Mackay and Robin Grimes) on the Advisory Board will help in this respect.

A key aspect of the research training will be that of communicating nuclear topics to the public and media and making sure that the nuclear debate is sensible and underpinned by sound science. All students will receive media training and as a result the wider public will benefit from improved communication and understanding of nuclear issues.