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Radioactive waste 'to be buried' Radioactive waste 'to be buried'
(30 minutes later)
Britain is to bury its radioactive waste, Environment Secretary David Miliband has told the House of Commons.Britain is to bury its radioactive waste, Environment Secretary David Miliband has told the House of Commons.
Disposal sites would only be built "in a geologically suitable area" and take account of social considerations.Disposal sites would only be built "in a geologically suitable area" and take account of social considerations.
There have been decades of debate on the best way to store waste - now held in various forms on several sites.There have been decades of debate on the best way to store waste - now held in various forms on several sites.
Local councils are to be invited to volunteer to have a nuclear dump in their area. Those chosen will benefit from multi-million pound investment.Local councils are to be invited to volunteer to have a nuclear dump in their area. Those chosen will benefit from multi-million pound investment.
Mr Miliband said they would work in partnership with local authorities which volunteered to house sites - as recommended by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.Mr Miliband said they would work in partnership with local authorities which volunteered to house sites - as recommended by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.
'Not imposing' name="story"> href="#map" class="bodl">See how radioactive waste might be buried
"We have made it clear that we are not seeking to impose radioactive waste on any community," he told MPs."We have made it clear that we are not seeking to impose radioactive waste on any community," he told MPs.
The process is likely to take a long time - some predict that constructing a multi-billion pound repository could take 40 years.The process is likely to take a long time - some predict that constructing a multi-billion pound repository could take 40 years.
Mr Miliband said the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, accountable to independent regulators and the government, would be responsible for the process.Mr Miliband said the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, accountable to independent regulators and the government, would be responsible for the process.
But shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said there was a potential conflict of interest in giving responsibility to an authority which owns nuclear facilities.But shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said there was a potential conflict of interest in giving responsibility to an authority which owns nuclear facilities.
The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, appointed by the government, recommended burying radioactive waste deep underground as the best option.The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, appointed by the government, recommended burying radioactive waste deep underground as the best option.
Its report, published in July, said waste would need to be buried at least 500m (1,640ft) below the surface.Its report, published in July, said waste would need to be buried at least 500m (1,640ft) below the surface.
But it recognised that public resistance would be an obstacle - as it had in proposals for deep disposal in the 1980s, which were abandoned.But it recognised that public resistance would be an obstacle - as it had in proposals for deep disposal in the 1980s, which were abandoned.
"We believe there must be a willingness on the part of communities to participate," said committee member Andrew Blowers in April."We believe there must be a willingness on the part of communities to participate," said committee member Andrew Blowers in April.
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