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| Cumbria nuclear waste dump: What are councils considering? | Cumbria nuclear waste dump: What are councils considering? |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| By Francesca Williams BBC News | By Francesca Williams BBC News |
| Britain needs to find a site for the long-term underground disposal of high-level radioactive waste. | Britain needs to find a site for the long-term underground disposal of high-level radioactive waste. |
| With some of it staying dangerous for up to 100,000 years, the government's agreed solution is to bury it - permanently. | With some of it staying dangerous for up to 100,000 years, the government's agreed solution is to bury it - permanently. |
| Three Cumbria councils are due to vote on Wednesday on whether to proceed to the next stage in the process of investigating whether such a facility would be possible - and safe - in the county. | Three Cumbria councils are due to vote on Wednesday on whether to proceed to the next stage in the process of investigating whether such a facility would be possible - and safe - in the county. |
What does the government want to build? | What does the government want to build? |
| The underground storage facility would be up to four times the size of Sellafield - between 6 sq km and 23 sq km (2.5 and 9 sq miles). | The underground storage facility would be up to four times the size of Sellafield - between 6 sq km and 23 sq km (2.5 and 9 sq miles). |
| At its smallest, it would be about the size of Workington or Whitehaven; at its biggest, larger than Carlisle. | At its smallest, it would be about the size of Workington or Whitehaven; at its biggest, larger than Carlisle. |
| However above ground the footprint would be about 1 sq km (0.4 sq miles). | However above ground the footprint would be about 1 sq km (0.4 sq miles). |
| Waste would be stored in underground vaults at a depth of between 200m (656ft) and 1,000m (3,280ft) and there would be some buildings on the surface. | Waste would be stored in underground vaults at a depth of between 200m (656ft) and 1,000m (3,280ft) and there would be some buildings on the surface. |
| The Department of Energy and Climate Change said that over the 100-year lifetime of the £12bn facility an average of 550 workers would be employed on construction. | |
| This would peak at 1,000 workers in the busiest times. | This would peak at 1,000 workers in the busiest times. |
| Currently, radioactive waste is stored above ground in various "long-term temporary" sites around the UK, mostly at Sellafield. | Currently, radioactive waste is stored above ground in various "long-term temporary" sites around the UK, mostly at Sellafield. |
| In its final report, the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership - set up to coordinate discussions - said there could be "positive and negative impacts". | In its final report, the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) Partnership - set up to coordinate discussions - said there could be "positive and negative impacts". |
| Concerns include the noise and traffic caused by construction and possible effects on landscape, tourism, investment and jobs, the report said. | Concerns include the noise and traffic caused by construction and possible effects on landscape, tourism, investment and jobs, the report said. |
| But the partnership said: "Our overall opinion is that, at this stage, we are fairly confident that an acceptable process can be put in place to assess and mitigate negative impacts, and maximise positive impacts." | But the partnership said: "Our overall opinion is that, at this stage, we are fairly confident that an acceptable process can be put in place to assess and mitigate negative impacts, and maximise positive impacts." |
Benefits and positive opinion | Benefits and positive opinion |
| The waste needs to go somewhere and Cumbria is the only area still considering an underground storage facility. | The waste needs to go somewhere and Cumbria is the only area still considering an underground storage facility. |
| Dungeness in Kent, who had initially shown interest, withdrew at the end of 2012 in the face of opposition from residents. | Dungeness in Kent, who had initially shown interest, withdrew at the end of 2012 in the face of opposition from residents. |
| The government, keen to attract volunteers, rather than impose the proposal on an unwilling area, has promised certain benefits, such as money for transport, public service infrastructure and housing, for any council which agreed to accept the storage facility. | The government, keen to attract volunteers, rather than impose the proposal on an unwilling area, has promised certain benefits, such as money for transport, public service infrastructure and housing, for any council which agreed to accept the storage facility. |
| Advocates of the plans say it will protect, and create, nuclear industry jobs, with more than 9,000 people already working at Sellafield. | Advocates of the plans say it will protect, and create, nuclear industry jobs, with more than 9,000 people already working at Sellafield. |
| Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, which encompasses the plant, said: "Cumbria stands to benefit hugely, in a genuinely unprecedented fashion, should a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) ever be sited here." | Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, which encompasses the plant, said: "Cumbria stands to benefit hugely, in a genuinely unprecedented fashion, should a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) ever be sited here." |
| He stressed the "investment package" must be suitable, the final decision must "rest with a local referendum not politicians" and unsuitable geology would put paid to the whole scheme. | He stressed the "investment package" must be suitable, the final decision must "rest with a local referendum not politicians" and unsuitable geology would put paid to the whole scheme. |
| Lynn Berger, who runs the Woolpack Inn near Boot in the Eskdale Valley, is more concerned about the effect of "scaremongering" on tourism than the facility itself. | Lynn Berger, who runs the Woolpack Inn near Boot in the Eskdale Valley, is more concerned about the effect of "scaremongering" on tourism than the facility itself. |
| "It's not going to make any difference to us from a radiation point of view," she said. | "It's not going to make any difference to us from a radiation point of view," she said. |
| "And, if anything, everything is so much more controlled because it [Sellafield] is there. The house isn't going to fall down, we're not going to bash a hole in the cellar wall and find the beer turns green." | "And, if anything, everything is so much more controlled because it [Sellafield] is there. The house isn't going to fall down, we're not going to bash a hole in the cellar wall and find the beer turns green." |
| John Rowlands, of Romar Innovate in Whitehaven, is also positive: "We've had waste stores at Sellafield before and it hasn't affected the industry. | John Rowlands, of Romar Innovate in Whitehaven, is also positive: "We've had waste stores at Sellafield before and it hasn't affected the industry. |
| "The nuclear industry has worked alongside tourism for as long as I can remember." | "The nuclear industry has worked alongside tourism for as long as I can remember." |
Arguments against | Arguments against |
| There are concerns about safety and, particularly, the perception of safety among tourists and investors. | There are concerns about safety and, particularly, the perception of safety among tourists and investors. |
| Critics are also concerned about visual damage to the landscape and the effect on farming. | Critics are also concerned about visual damage to the landscape and the effect on farming. |
| Some point out the research is pointlessly going over old ground, citing a plan by Nirex, the agency then responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste, to build an underground waste laboratory in the 1990s which was scrapped after a planning inspector ruled the area's geology made it unsafe. | Some point out the research is pointlessly going over old ground, citing a plan by Nirex, the agency then responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste, to build an underground waste laboratory in the 1990s which was scrapped after a planning inspector ruled the area's geology made it unsafe. |
| Former Nirex inspector, Chris McDonald, has said he was "very surprised" West Cumbria was again being suggested as a potential site and "the probability of their finding a suitable site is low". | Former Nirex inspector, Chris McDonald, has said he was "very surprised" West Cumbria was again being suggested as a potential site and "the probability of their finding a suitable site is low". |
| The Lake District National Park Authority has already told the government that a repository "would not be in the long-term interests of the Lake District" and would risk the area's "brand image". | The Lake District National Park Authority has already told the government that a repository "would not be in the long-term interests of the Lake District" and would risk the area's "brand image". |
| Its chairman, Bill Jefferson, has said the effects on the landscape and tourism could be disastrous and that tourism brings more income to the area than the nuclear industry. | Its chairman, Bill Jefferson, has said the effects on the landscape and tourism could be disastrous and that tourism brings more income to the area than the nuclear industry. |
| Campaigner Harry Marsland, from Keswick, has said a "nuclear dump will do significant damage" to the area's image. | Campaigner Harry Marsland, from Keswick, has said a "nuclear dump will do significant damage" to the area's image. |
| "In Cumbria tourism is worth £2bn per annum, and employs 56,000 people directly, plus it provides the work for countless trades people, suppliers and retailers. Let's be clear, it depends upon the Lake District," he said. | "In Cumbria tourism is worth £2bn per annum, and employs 56,000 people directly, plus it provides the work for countless trades people, suppliers and retailers. Let's be clear, it depends upon the Lake District," he said. |
What next? | What next? |
| Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council and Allerdale Borough Council will decide whether to move to the next stage of a process that is still decades away from completion, even if approved. | Cumbria County Council, Copeland Borough Council and Allerdale Borough Council will decide whether to move to the next stage of a process that is still decades away from completion, even if approved. |
| They have sought further assurances from the government, including clarification on when, exactly, they could legally withdraw from the process should they want to. | They have sought further assurances from the government, including clarification on when, exactly, they could legally withdraw from the process should they want to. |
| "Stage 4" would involve undertaking vast geological investigations, properly testing theories for and against, and holding formal talks with the government over any "community benefits package". | "Stage 4" would involve undertaking vast geological investigations, properly testing theories for and against, and holding formal talks with the government over any "community benefits package". |
| Unsuitable sites will be ruled out and, if any remain, further tests will be carried out, including seismic surveys. | Unsuitable sites will be ruled out and, if any remain, further tests will be carried out, including seismic surveys. |
| If any site is ultimately deemed acceptable construction could begin as soon as 2025. | If any site is ultimately deemed acceptable construction could begin as soon as 2025. |
| For more on this story watch Inside Out at 19:30 GMT on BBC One on Monday 28 January. | For more on this story watch Inside Out at 19:30 GMT on BBC One on Monday 28 January. |