1 SAFEGROUNDS SAFety and Environmental Guidance for the Remediation of UK Nuclear and Defence Sites

2 SAFEGROUNDS: background During 1998 the network begun as increased openness was emerging in the nuclear sector Industry committees were discussing difficulties in estimating and managing the liabilities posed by contaminated land on nuclear sites Need identified for best practice guidance CIRIA was invited to share its long experience of developing consensus-based guidance production Preparation of Site Characterisation guidance in 2000 using trail-blazing stakeholder events convened by the Environment Council

3 Purpose of Presentation provides awareness of SAFEGROUNDS gives overview of guidance documents

4 SAFEGROUNDS mission: 'A forum for developing and disseminating good practice guidance on the management of radioactively and chemically contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites in the UK.'

5 SAFEGROUNDS aims: Maintain and promote SAFEGROUNDS guidance Provide a forum for debate and encourage stakeholder participation Provide information on policy, regulatory and technical issues Develop further SAFEGROUNDS supporting documents

6 SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network reflects the need for broader debate oversees good practice guidance preparation helps drive its implementation raises awareness and guidance take-up annual programme of activities built around the mission and aims e-newsletter three times a year

7 SAFEGROUNDS Network Members non-governmental organisations regulators and other Government agencies nuclear liability owners including NDA MoD including Defence Estates nuclear site licensees community based organisations contractors and consultants local authorities campaign groups independent academics, researchers and analysts

8 SAFEGROUNDS Project Steering Group members AWE British Energy Defence Estates Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd Environment Agency Gloucester City Council Health & Safety Executive Health Protection Agency Low Level Radiation Campaign Magnox North Ltd Magnox South Ltd National Nuclear Laboratory North Highland College Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Oxfordshire County Council Parents Concerned About Hinkley Research Sites Restoration Ltd Sellafield Ltd Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Executive Sellafield Ltd UK Nuclear Free Local Authorities University of Warwick

9 SAFEGROUNDS Key Principles five key principles for the management of all contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites integral part of the SAFEGROUNDS guidance documents established through a consultative process they are non-overlapping and complementary they should be applied together, and form a central part of the SAFEGROUNDS ethos

10 SAFEGROUNDS: Key Principle 1 Protection of people and the environment The fundamental objective of managing contaminated land on nuclear-licensed sites and defence sites should be to achieve a high level of protection of people and the environment, now and in the future.

11 SAFEGROUNDS: Key Principle 2 Stakeholder involvement Site owners/operators should involve stakeholders in the management of contaminated land, particularly to inform decision-making.

12 SAFEGROUNDS: Key Principle 3 Identifying the preferred land management option Site owners/operators should identify their preferred management option (or options) for contaminated land by carrying out a comprehensive, systematic and consultative assessment of all possible options. The assessment should be based on a range of factors that are of concern to stakeholders, including health, safety and environmental impacts and various technical, social and financial factors.

13 SAFEGROUNDS: Key Principle 4 Immediate action Site owners/operators should assess both potential and known areas of land contamination and where appropriate implement a prioritised programme of investigation and any appropriate monitoring. On confirmation of areas of land contamination being present, control measures should be instigated until an appropriate management option has been identified and implemented.

14 SAFEGROUNDS: Key Principle 5 Record-keeping Site owners/operators should make comprehensive records of the nature and extent of contamination, the process of deciding on the management option for the contaminated land and the findings during the implementation and validation of the option. All records should be kept and updated as necessary.

15 SAFEGROUNDS GUIDANCE

16 Hierarchy of guidance documents Approach to Managing Contaminated Land on Nuclear-licensed and Defence Sites – An Introduction Good Practice Guidance for the Management of Contaminated Land on Nuclear-licensed and Defence Sites Good Practice Guidance for Site Characterisation Guide to the Comparison of Contaminated Land Management Options Good Practice Guidance for Land Quality Records Management for Nuclear- licensed and Defence Sites Regulatory Framework Paper UNDER REVIEW : Stakeholder Involvement UNDER REVIEW : Assessment of Health and Environmental Risks

17 “SAFEGROUNDS Approach to Managing Contaminated Land on Nuclear-Licensed and Defence Sites – An Introduction” AUDIENCE – all stakeholders New for 2009 Top level document

18 “An Introduction” document - Scope Non-technical Introduction to principles and process Stakeholder involvement Involvement opportunities Contacts and information Glossary and acronyms

19 SAFEGROUNDS LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE Version 2, 2009 AUDIENCE: primarily decision-making stakeholders

20 Land Management Guidance (LMG) This guidance sets out an approach and process for land quality management on nuclear-licensed sites where legacy radioactive, and/or mixed radioactive and non-radioactive contamination is present, and those defence sites on which there is legacy radioactive contamination and/or mixed radioactive and non-radioactive contamination.

21 LMG: Status The guidance represents good practice in accordance with regulatory requirements, but does not in itself ensure regulatory compliance. It is not binding on site owners/operators and has no legal standing. Site specific requirements should always be discussed and negotiated with the appropriate regulators.

22 LMG: Scope –Part 1 - introduction, scope, structure and definitions. –Part 2 - expands on SAFEGROUNDS Key Principles –Part 3 contains an overview of the process of managing contaminated land and further guidance on specific areas of the process related to the Decision Flow Diagram. –Part 4 contains a list of references, and a glossary, including a key to acronyms.

23 Summary Decision Flow Diagram

24 SAFEGROUNDS Good Practice Guidance for Site Characterisation Version 2, Updated 2009 AUDIENCE: primarily technical

25 Good Practice Guidance for Site Characterisation – Scope 1 types and characteristics of contaminated land commonly encountered key health, safety, security and environment issues in site investigations reasons and aims for carrying out investigation of potentially contaminated land good practice planning of site investigations for a systematic approach

26 Good Practice Guidance for Site Characterisation – Scope 2 available site characterisation methods issues associated with radioactive waste arising from characterisation, and the transport of radioactive samples how stakeholders should be involved at the various stages of characterisation work; how site characterisation works should be recorded signposts and references to other relevant documentation

27 SAFEGROUNDS Guide to the Comparison of Contaminated Land Management Options New for 2009 AUDIENCE: primarily technical

28 Guide to the Comparison of Contaminated Land Management Options - Scope Introduction Guidelines Methods Selecting a method Appendix of examples

29 SAFEGROUNDS Good Practice Guidance for Land Quality Records Management for Nuclear- licensed and Defence Sites First issued 2007 AUDIENCE: primarily technical

30 Guidance for Land Quality Records Management - Scope why it is important that land quality information should be recorded ( drivers, existing initiatives, regulatory requirements and site owner requirements ) what land quality information should be recorded and in what form ( introduction of Land Quality File ) how a record keeping system should be set up and maintained ( management, organisation, active records in physical or electronic form, archiving, GIS )

31 SAFEGROUNDS The Regulatory Framework for Contaminated Land on Nuclear- licensed Sites & Defence Sites Updated 2007 (v5) & 2009 (v6) AUDIENCE: all stakeholders

32 Regulatory Framework Paper v5 sites included summary of regulatory regimes, including devolved administrations definitions of radioactively and non- radioactively contaminated land management of contaminated land under the different regulatory regimes for different types of site Possible future developments

33 SAFEGROUNDS Community Stakeholder Involvement Paper First issued 2005, UNDER REVIEW AUDIENCE: all stakeholders

34 SAFEGROUNDS Assessment of Health & Environmental Risks of Management Options for Contaminated Land First issued 2005, UNDER REVIEW AUDIENCE: all stakeholders

35 SAFEGROUNDS SAFety and Environmental Guidance for the Remediation of UK Nuclear and Defence Sites