ContentsPage Number

  • Background3
  • About Radioactive Waste Management Limited6
  • Advisory Council Members
  • Role Description6
  • Person Specification8
  • How to Apply12

Background

Higher-activity radioactive wastes are produced as a result of the generation of electricity in nuclear power stations, from the associated production and processing of the nuclear fuel, from the use of radioactive materials in industry, medicine and research, and from military nuclear programmes.

As one of the pioneers of nuclear technology, the UK has accumulated a substantial legacy of higher activity radioactive materials. Some of it has already been processed and placed in safe and secure interim storage on nuclear sites. However, most will only become waste over the next century or so as existing facilities reach the end of their lifetime and are decommissioned and cleaned up safely and securely.

These higher-activity wastes can remain radioactive, and thus potentially harmful, for hundreds of thousands of years. Modern, safe and secure interim storage can contain all this material – but this method of storage requires on-going human intervention to monitor the material and to ensure that it does not pose any risk to human or environmental health. While the Government believes that safe and secure interim storage is an effective method of managing waste in the short to medium term, the Government is committed to delivering a permanent disposal solution.

In October 2006, following recommendations made by the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), the Government announced its policy of geological disposal, preceded by safe and secure interim storage. The Government subsequently announced that it would pursue a policy of geological disposal with a community consent-based siting process working in partnership with potential host communities. This remains Government policy.

Geological Disposal

Geological disposal involves isolating radioactive waste in an engineered facility deep below ground inside a suitable rock formation to ensure that no harmful quantities of radioactivity ever reach the surface environment. It is a multi-barrier approach, based on placing packaged wastes in engineered tunnels at a depth of between 200 and 1000m underground, protected from disruption by man-made or natural events.

Geological disposal is internationally recognised as the preferred approach for the long-term management of higher-activity radioactive waste. It provides a long-term, safe solution to radioactive waste management that does not depend on on-going human intervention

2014 White Paper

In line with the Secretary of State’s written Ministerial statement of 31 January 2013, Government considered what lessons can be learned from the experiences of aprevious programme in West Cumbria and elsewhere and invited views on the site selection aspects of the ongoing Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme.

The White Paper released on 25th July 2014 set out the UK Government’s framework for managing higher-activity radioactive waste in the long term through geological disposal. This will be implemented alongside ongoing interim storage and supporting research. This White Paper updated (and replaced in England and Northern Ireland) the 2008 White Paper by the UK Government and the devolved administrations of Wales and Northern Ireland, Managing Radioactive Waste Safely – A Framework for Implementing Geological Disposal.

A GDF is a highly-engineered facility capable of isolating radioactive waste within multiple protective barriers, deep underground, to ensure that no harmful quantities of radioactivity ever reach the surface environment. The development of a GDF will be a major infrastructure project of national significance. It will provide a permanent solution for the UK’s existing higher activity radioactive waste (including anticipated waste from a new build programme.

To identify potential sites where a GDF could be located, the UK Government favours a community consent-based approach working in partnership with communities that are willing to participate in the siting process. A GDF is likely to bring significant economic benefits to a community that hosts it, in the form of long-term employment and infrastructure investment, and in the form of additional community investment that the UK Government has committed to provide.

The White Paper set out a number of initial actions to be undertaken by the UK Government and by the developer (Radioactive Waste Management Limited) to help implement geological disposal. It also set out a number of key principles and commitments that will shape the subsequent process of working with communities to identify and assess potential sites. It has been informed by a previous siting process that operated from 2008 to 2013, and the subsequent review of that process, including a Call for Evidence and formal public consultation, which took place in 2013.

This White Paper provides background information in relation to:

  • The radioactive waste (and other nuclear materials that may be declared as waste in the future) that will be disposed of in a GDF, and how it is currently managed;
  • How geological disposal became UK Government policy – a process informed by the recommendations of the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), and in line with the preferred approach internationally;
  • Information on what geological disposal is, including aspects of its design, how it is constructed and regulated, and the roles and responsibilities of those organisations involved in its implementation.

It then set out the current policy framework for implementation of geological disposal in the UK, including:

  • Establishing an upfront process of national screening, based on known geological information. This process will be led by the developer, drafting national screening guidance that will be evaluated by an independent review panel, in an open and transparent manner, before being applied across the UK (excluding Scotland);
  • In England, bringing GDFs, and the borehole investigations that support their development, within the statutory definition of ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ within the Planning Act 2008. This provides an appropriate process for planning decisions, making public consultation an integral part of this process. The UK Government is developing a generic (i.e. non-site specific) National Policy Statement to support the planning process, providing the framework within which the decision to construct will be taken, and further upfront information to inform discussions with communities;
  • Developing the policyfor working with communities, including:
  • Deciding on an approach to community representation, which has been informed by a community representation working group convened following publication of this White Paper;
  • Providing high level information on community investment, including the process for deciding how and when this money will be invested, in relation to:

- Communities engaging in the siting process; and

- The community or communities that decide to host a GDF;

  • Establishing a mechanism by which communities, the developer and Government can openly access independent, third party advice on key technical issues during the siting process.

The siting process will provide more information to communities before they are asked to get involved. With greater clarity on issues like geology and development impacts, community investment and community representation, communities will be able to engage with more confidence in the process to deliver this nationally significant infrastructure project.

To download the July 2014 White Paper, please follow the link:

About Radioactive Waste Management Limited

RWM was established as a wholly–owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on the 1 April 2014. It is the delivery organisation for a GDF and for the provision of other waste management solutions.

RWM has extensive and proven expertise in higher activity radioactive waste management and planning for a GDF. On behalf of Government and NDA we are running the geological disposal programme and have significant experience of specification, design, assessments and research.

We offer our waste producer customers disposability assessments of proposals for packaging intermediate level waste. This is done within the regulatory framework described in “The Management of Higher Activity Waste on Nuclear Licensed Sites”.

RWM provides support to NDA through upstream optioneering initiatives. This involves working proactively with waste owners to realise opportunities for the optimisation of the geological disposal system in combination with earlier phases of the waste management lifecycle in order to minimise factors such as safety and environmental impacts, hazard, cost, risk and volume of waste to be managed in a geological disposal facility.

We operate under a Services Agreement and Client Specification between NDA and RWM to deliver our mission, objectives and plans.

Our mission is to:

Deliver a geological disposal facility and provide radioactive waste management solutions.

Our objectives are to:

  • Engage with national and local governments and communities to identify a geological disposal facility site.
  • Develop the specification, design, safety case and environmental and sustainability assessments for the disposal system and obtain regulatory support.
  • In conjunction with waste producers, identify and deliver solutions to optimise the management of higher activity waste.
  • Develop and maintain an effective organisation and secure resources to deliver the geological disposal facility programme.
  • Obtain and maintain stakeholder support for our activities.
  • Deliver a focused R&D programme to support geological disposal and optimised packaging solutions.

Governance

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of NDA, RWM has a board of directors and is chaired by an NDA Director. This is the primary mechanism for NDA’s governance of RWM and its performance through monthly performance reports against its agreed business plan. Sanctioning of RWM’s funding is carried out by the NDA.

Role Description - Advisory Council

Primary purpose of an Advisory Council Member

The Advisory Council's role is to assist RWM, providing specialist expertise, knowledge, understanding and strategic direction, from outside of the organisation, in the delivery of its mission. Acting as a sounding board, it seeks to enhance the process andapproach of RWM to deliver thorough, sound, decision making, backed by high quality judgement and expertise. The function is to help RWM to access, interpret and understand issues relating to its work on delivering the GDF, making judgements about its relevance, potential and application. The Advisory Council is strictly an advisory body, and has no executive powers.

To act as an expert advisor and provide good quality advice, sound judgement and expert opinion in order to maximise impact. You will contribute, enhance and add value to the quality of decision making of RWM. The role of the Advisory Council is to bring a balance of expertise, perspectives and views to provide advice to the RWM MD.

Responsibilities

  • Broadening an understanding of the delivery of a major radioactive waste disposal programme and working with people and communities on difficult public policyissues;
  • Provide unbiased insights and ideas from a third party point-of-view (not involved in the operation of the business);
  • Provide “wise counsel” on issues raised by RWM Executive /Board and act as a “sounding board;”
  • To monitor the progress of the GDF against its objectives, providingqualitative judgement andrecommendingappropriate action;
  • To make recommendations for how RWM can maximise its role as a developer of the GDF Programme;
  • To act as Expert Advisors and provide quality advice and make recommendations for how best practice is adopted and used across the entire

Programme;

  • To inform the overall direction and priorities of the GDF Programme by providingadvice on how best to reach short, medium and long term priorities;
  • To provide the RWM Executive/Board with additional expertise, specifically relating to Programme critical areas/issues;

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  • To receive and review reports from the Executive/Board and use these to inform theprovision of good advice and expert opinion;
  • Encourage and support the exploration of innovative ideas that can help frame better understanding and decision-making in the delivery of a major radioactive waste disposal system.
  • Act as a resource for executives or other stakeholders that may use a lead advisor as a filter or “reality checker;”
  • Augment the effectiveness, and extend the “bandwidth” of the Executive/Board of Radioactive Waste Management Limited;
  • Initiate challenges to other members, including executive, with a view to improving understanding in the delivery of the GDFprogramme.

Person Specification

A balance of expertise and experience from a range of specified backgrounds will be sought. Applications are therefore invited from individuals with broad range of specialisms and interests.Advisory Council members will be required to demonstrate the ability to provide an appreciation and understanding of the 'big picture' perspective and can collectively cover the range of political, economic, social and technical skills required for the delivery of a radioactive geological disposalfacility. Members should be of sufficient stature to command the confidence of Ministers, Board and Executiveand individuals working at the highest levels.

Skills and Experience

The Advisory Council as a whole needs the following skills, knowledge andexperience:-

Membership

To address its wide remit it will be required that the Advisory Committee as a whole will have access to expertise and experience to ensure a broad coverage of relevant interests. The Committee will comprise up to 10 members, including the Chair.

Membership of the Advisory Board will comprise:

  • Direct and relevant experience of complex major infrastructure projects;
  • Experience and understanding of radioactive waste management disposal systems;
  • Experience and understanding of the geological challenges in delivering the GDF programme;
  • Extensive stakeholder and community engagement experience;
  • Experience of construction costs, contingency allocation, management and risks;
  • Experience of community liaison, having worked closely with local groups; with extensive networking experience and strong local networks;
  • Relevant experience of working with or for national or Local Government at a senior level;
  • Experience of strategic procurement of comparable programmes;
  • A leading representative of one of the built environment professions with expert understanding of environmental impact issues;
  • Experience of planning and economic development issues linked to the delivery of major national projects.
  • Experience of site assembly processes, and planning permissions;
  • Solid understanding of the key political issues and the ability to offer sound advice on communication strategies;
  • Stakeholder management experience, especially in relation to utilities and land

Issues;

  • Direct experience of working with central government and lobbyists;
  • Extensive financial and business experience, preferably gained through senior (e.g. CEO level or partner in a major accountancy) experience in both the public and private sector

Experience and Background

Appointment of individuals will be based on merit. Candidates must meet all or most of the following criteria:

  • Hold, or have recently held, a position of responsibility in a relevant area of expertise as outlined above;
  • Widely respected and active in one/more of the specified areas above;
  • Through relevant experience be able to contribute to the evolving work programme of RWM;
  • Have an outstanding track record which will help shape the delivery of a major radioactive geological disposal programme;
  • Have the leadership experience to act as an ambassador for RWM and more generally to be committed to its mission and objectives;
  • Be willing to devote up to 12 working days to RWM business each year.

Abilities, Skills and Knowledge

All potential members of the Advisory Council need to demonstrate the following competencies to become a member:

  1. Ability to think and apply knowledge strategically;
  1. Ability to think creatively;
  1. Ability to keep mission-focused;
  1. Ability to work effectively within a committee framework;
  1. Ability and confidence to deliver clear advice;
  1. Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively and to take part in discussions;
  1. Ability to influence and engage;
  1. Willingness to listen and learn;
  1. Able to manage difficult and/or challenging situations;
  1. Able to challenge constructively and ask questions appropriately;
  1. Able to maintain confidentiality on confidential and/or sensitive information;
  1. Ability to analyse information;
  1. Willingness to make and stand by collective advice;
  1. Willing to express own opinion.

In addition to the above, specific experience, skills & abilities will be required for individual member roles.

Overarching Contribution

We recognise that some people will have a combination of the above skill/experience sets and may not fit neatly into one of the above categories. However, they may have a very valuable contribution to make on the Advisory Council as a whole. We therefore invite applications from such people.

It is likely that one of the members will be selected by the Chairman to act as his Deputy. That is a decision for the Chairman and the Council.

Expectations

AllCouncil members must also have the following essential skills/experience:

  • A commitment to public service values and the principles of public life, particularly integrity and probity;
  • Experience of management or governance at senior level in a significant public, voluntary or private sector organisation;
  • Understanding of the public policy context and the role of Government;
  • Working in partnership and/or committee work;
  • To attend 4 Advisory Council meetings and commit to around 12 days to read minutes and papers/attend meetings in preparation;
  • Members will be expected to remain in their positions up to 3 years, subject to renewal;
  • To act in good faith with due care and diligence for the best interests of RWMworking within its core values and principles;
  • To contribute to forging consensus, working in mutual respect for the benefitof RWM mission, objectives and programme;
  • To participate in meetings – with a strong commitment to adding value and providing contribution;
  • Some work outside these meetings, for example, conducted through sub-groups/working groups, visits, occasional workshops and events on specific issues, may also be expected;
  • To respect confidentiality of matters discussed at Advisory Council, Executive and Board;
  • Members will be expected to attend meetings (up to 8 per year) usually held in Harwell./London;
  • Membership is remunerated, with reasonable travel and subsistence costs;
  • Under the leadership of the Committee Chair, members will be encouraged to contribute to RWM activities, bringing specific knowledge and experience to identify issues for discussion, consideration and contribution to its overall work programme.

Relationship and Reporting to the RWMMD