LLW Repository Ltd Plan 2013-2018

LLW Repository Ltd

Plan2013-2018

LLW Repository Ltd Plan 2013-20182

1. LLW Repository Ltd

04

12

18

28

36

38

40

General overview of the LLWR Plan and details key activities for the lifetime of operations.

Section 1 – LLW Repository Ltd

Covers the work of the National Waste Programme and the importance of implementing the Waste Management Hierarchy.

Section 2 – National Waste Programme

Covers the various waste treatment and disposal options available.

Section 3 – Waste Management Services

Provides a detailed look at Repository operations including decommissioning and final closure works.

Section 4 – Repository Operations

Captures all those functions that support the business needs of the organisation.

Section 5 – Business Support

Activities that help generate and/or sustain socio-economic support.

Section 6 – Socio-economic

Provides oversight of both actual and forecasted savings across the Nuclear Industry.

Section 7 – Strategic Benefits

LLW Repository Ltd Plan 2013-2018 3

Contents

Managing Director’s Foreword 04

NDA’s Role 06

PBO’s Role 07

Plan Overview 08

Key Site Activities 10

National Waste Programme Overview 12

Strategy 14

Programme Management and Coordination 15

Inventory and Forecasting 16

Waste Management Services and

Assurance Overview 18

– Supercompactable Waste 20

– Metallic Waste 21

– Combustible Waste 22

– Very Low Level Waste 23

– Low Level Waste 24

– Waste Characterisation 25

– Packaging Services 26

– Transport Services 27

Repository Operations Overview 28

Decommissioning Historical Facilities 30

Repository Development Programme 32

Repository Closure 34

Business Support Overview 36

Socio-economic Overview 38

Strategic Benefits 40

Glossary 42



LLW Repository Ltd Overview

“It is with a great deal of pride that I present the LLWR Plan.Low Level Waste Repository Ltd (LLWR Ltd) is an organisation with an ambitious mission. We see it as our job to extend the life of the Repository by a century and save the UK taxpayer billions of pounds by not having to worry about finding and constructing a second Low Level Waste (LLW) site. Ambitious? Yes. Attainable? Absolutely. As you will see in the pages ahead we have set a series of programmes into motion, all designed to deliver this ambitious outcome.”

Managing Director’s ForewordDennis Thompson


If you have been an astute observer of the nuclear industry in West Cumbria, you will have noticed that LLWR Ltd has come a very long way in a short period of time. Just six years ago the LLWR site was a waste disposal facility that was receiving LLW at an unsustainable rate and facing a serious waste capacity shortage.

Fast forward to 2014 and LLWR Ltd is a totally different organisation. The business has almost doubled in size and we have completely changed the way LLW is managed in the UK. Today, as a direct result of the hard work of our employees, the nuclear industry now has a full range of viable and cost-effective options to reduce and recycle their nuclear wastes. And the results are beginning to really show.

As we begin year two of the second 5-year term of our contract, we have already witnessed a reduction in LLW containers disposed at the site of almost 25% during financial year (FY) 2013/14. In the same year, we have calculated savings to the nuclear estate of more than £67 million from waste diversion. £58 million of this was achieved directly through our treatment and diversion commercial framework contracts with the remainder diverted by the waste producers themselves.

But there is so much more to do. We have made good progress in setting up the new treatment routes in the first term of the contract, and are now committed to embedding the use of these routes across the entire country.

In addition to this, we have set for ourselves ambitious goals for cleaning up the legacy Plutonium Contaminated Materials (PCM) that is on our site, and want to quickly move toward long term closure of the trenches and Vault 8. This plan lays out these ambitions and can be used to both understand what we are up to and to hold us accountable to our commitments.

As you can tell, I am excited about our success and the progress we have made to date. The credit, of course, goes to our employees. LLWR Ltd is blessed with an abundance of talented, dedicated people who share the vision, believe in the mission and are prepared to do what it takes to get the job done.

Calculated savings to the nuclear estate in just one year.

£67 million

Location of the LLWR site in the UKAerial view of the LLWR site



Headline 1

It was the first time the NDA secured a Parent Body Organisation to manage a Site Licence Company, bringing additional expertise and innovation to the UK decommissioning industry.

As well as the management and operation of the LLWR site, the contract originally awarded to UK Nuclear Waste Management (UKNWM) also covered the implementation of a national strategy for low level waste. Implementing a national strategy as part of its contract was a unique challenge and one which is crucial in delivering the NDA’s mission.

The LLW Strategy was developed within the framework of the principles set out in the UK Government Policy for the long term management of low level waste and we worked with LLWR Ltd and other key stakeholders to ensure that the strategy addressed the need for greater flexibility in managing LLW in order to take account of the large-scale decommissioning activities taking place across the NDA estate.

We recognised that the majority of LLW continues to be consigned to the LLWR site and the Facility is rightly recognised as a key strategic asset for the UK’s nuclear industry. Therefore, preservation of capacity at the Repository through deployment of alternative management options are considered vital by both nuclear industry and non-nuclear industry LLW producers.

During the first contract term we have seen a consistent level of good performance both at the LLWR site itself and across the broader low level waste management agenda. In those five years the contract has realised around £30 million in savings, extended the operational life of the Repository, reduced volumes of waste bound for the Repository by a factor of three and seen the opening of a new vault at the Repository.

For those reasons we took the decision in March 2013 to let UKNWM continue with their oversight of LLWR Ltd for the next 5-year contract term.

With real advances made on the decommissioning mission at the site, a valuable role in implementation of the LLW Strategy plus innovative ways of working that secure real cost savings to the UK taxpayer, we have together shown that a competitive decommissioning industry can reap real dividends for all concerned.

In the second contract term we will see how progress will continue to be made for these key activities and provide clarity on the eventual closure of the Repository. This plan will set out the key programmes which will be undertaken during this contract term and beyond, and we will continue to work with LLWR Ltd, UKNWM and other stakeholders to oversee their delivery in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

The competition to manage the Low Level Waste Repository was the first to be launched by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) under its obligations provided by the Energy Act 2004.

NDA’s Role

John Clarke, CEO, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

LLWR Ltd, NDA, UKNWM at the signing of the second contract term, March 2013

John Clarke, CEO, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority


The Parent Body Organisation (PBO) brings world class expertise and over 50 years of nuclear industry experience to the low level radioactive waste management arena.

PBO’s Role

LLWR Ltd is the Site Licence Company (SLC) with the legal responsibility for operating the LLWR site, which is owned by the NDA. LLWR Ltd is directly accountable to the relevant regulators for compliance with the conditions of the Site Licence and with all other applicable legislation and regulations.

LLWR Ltd is owned by UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd (UKNWM) the PBO, responsible for ensuring delivery of the contract in accordance with the NDA’s strategy and business objectives in a safe and reliable manner.

UKNWM is an international consortium of URS, Studsvik and Areva. Together the PBO brings the expertise, resources, innovation and experience necessary to deliver the NDA Strategy. This is achieved through the secondment of key individuals into the SLC to provide the vision, leadership and necessary expertise to deliver LLWR Ltd’s mission.

In 2008 UKNWM won a 17-year Management and Operations (M&O) contract to operate the Low Level Waste Repository on behalf of the NDA.

The contract is segregated into periods of 5+5+5+2 years with the onus being on successful delivery of the objectives laid out in the contract.

The successful implementation and delivery of these commitments has resulted in the award of the second 5-year term contract which commenced on 1 April 2013.

This plan captures the detail of how it is intended to realise the vision and provides the metrics to measure success.

Contract term one objectives Contract term two objectives

Actual work delivered

2008 2013

Strategy developed and endorsed by UK Government August 2010.

Waste treatment and alternative disposal routes for Very Low Level Waste (VLLW) established by 2012.

Working with consignor sites and Joint Waste Management Plans (JWMP) have removed conservatism and improved inventory forecasting.

Vault 9 constructed and open for business July 2010.

Develop and implement the UK LLW Strategy on behalf of the NDA.

Submit the LLWR 2011 Environmental Safety Case (ESC).

Open up a series of new treatment and alternative disposal routes.

Improve accuracy of the LLW Inventory forecasts.

Eliminate the short term capacity gap for LLW.

Improve accuracy of the LLW Inventory forecasts.

Tailor the role of LLWR Ltd to reflect the maturity of its customers and the supply chain.

Eliminate the requirement for a second LLW Repository.

Optimise the site development plan to secure future cost savings.

Deliver over £200M of estate-wide savings through LLWR Ltd’s services.

Significantly reduce historical liabilities at the LLWR site.

Extend the life of the LLW Repository to 2129.

The NDA estate will be operating under an efficient low level waste system.

ESC developed and submitted to the Environment Agency May 2011.



Many of the support activities for LLWR Ltd are based at Pelham House, around six miles from the LLWR site

Tracking metrics on how LLW is managed across the nuclear industry

Plan Overview

Plan sectionsThis second 5-year term of a 17-year contract is proving to be just as challenging and exciting as the first term. The objectives for 2013-2018 are all about implementation of the National LLW Strategy, embedding principles that lay the foundation for decades of waste management operations to come.

This plan is split into seven sections, each section is colour coded for ease of reference and laid out in a practical and logical format.

Each section provides a timeline detailing key project or activity milestones and the costs associated with delivering those milestones.

Section 1 includes introductions from the Site Licence Company, LLW Repository Ltd; the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the role of the Parent Body Organisation, UK Nuclear Waste Management. It also provides a general overview of the LLWR Plan and details key activities for the lifetime of operations.

Section 2 covers the implementation of the UK’s Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste Strategy through the National Waste Programme.

Section 3 describes the various waste treatment and disposal options available through LLWR Ltd’s Waste Treatment Services Framework. It supports the key tenets of the National Waste Programme by demonstrating effective use of the supply chain to assist in the implementation of the Waste Management Hierarchy and preserve valuable capacity at the LLWR site.

Royal Ordnance Factory Site UKAEA BNFL NDA

1939 1943 1948 1953 1958 1963 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003/09

The Low Level Waste Repository site was a Royal Ordnance Factory used to manufacture explosives during the Second World War.

In the mid-1940s the ordnance factory was closed, but the activities left a legacy of contaminated land that we continue to manage today.

In 1958 the first Certificate of Authorisation for disposal of low level waste was granted under the terms of the Atomic Energy Act. In 1959 disposal operations commenced in lined trenches.

Ownership of the site passed to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and planning consent for the disposal of low level waste was granted.

Responsibility for the site transferred to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd when the company was formed.

Vault 8, an engineered disposal facility, was opened and

low level waste began to be containerised prior to disposal.

Low Level Waste Repository was the first

NDA site to go through the PBO competition process.

LLW Repository Ltd became a

standalone Site Licence Company.

The NDA took ownership of the Low Level Waste

Repository site under the Energy Act 2004.

The Grouting Facility was opened completing the transformation

of low level waste disposal practices at the site.

1939

1944 1959 2006 20071988

1957 1971 20051995

1958


Operational buildings at the LLWR siteAerial view of Vaults 8 & 9 and trenches

The history of the Low Level Waste Repository is varied and interesting. From its early days as a Royal Ordnance Factory to present day, the LLWR site continues to provide a crucial service to the nation.

Section 4 provides a detailed look at Repository operations including decommissioning of historical facilities, future proposed developments and the final closure of the LLWR site.

Section 5 captures all those business functions that support the business needs of the organisation allowing it to operate safely and legally.

Section 6 describes activities and practices adopted by LLWR Ltd that help generate and/or sustain socio-economic support for our local communities.

Section 7 provides oversight of both actual and forecasted savings across the nuclear industry including the NDA estate and non-NDA low level radioactive waste producers.

Key programmes under developmentThere are two significant pieces of work that will commence during this second contract term period (2013-2018) that have not yet been captured in the base line costs; namely the Security Enhancement Programme and the Repository Development Programme.

The Repository Development Programme business case has been developed and is subject to the necessary permit and permissions being in place. For the purpose of transparency we have adjusted the schedule of work table on pages 10, 11 and 32 to reflect the Site Optimisation and Closure Works Planning Application. The business case for the Security Enhancement Programme is under way.

The next revision to this LLWR Plan will capture the detail of these two important programmes of work including the extended operational life of the Repository and associated costs.

Manufacture of explosives on site LLW Disposal commenced in lined trenches Waste Management Services Planned Repository Development Ongoing Business Support

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 & 4 Remaining years – up to 2079/80

2008/09 2013/14 2018/19 2025/26 2030/31 2035/36 2040/41 2045/46 2050/51 2055/56 2060/61 2065/66 2070/71 2075/76

LLW Repository Ltd celebrates 50 years of safely managing the UK’s low level waste whilst securing continued operations with the opening of Vault 9.

The National Low Level Waste Strategy was established to preserve capacity at the site by implementing new treatment and disposal options.

The Environmental Safety Case was submitted to the Environment Agency on 1 May 2011. It establishes the approach we take to manage legacy and future disposals at the Low Level Waste Repository.

The remediation of all LLW facilities are planned to be

completed by 2074 and the area returned to a condition suitable for

the next planned use of the site.

UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd, a consortium led by URS including Studsvik, Areva and Serco, was appointed as the Parent Body Organisation responsible for the management and operations of the company.

LLW disposal operations are

currently planned to cease in 2070.

Final proposed vault construction.

Post-operational management works will be ongoing until site closure in 2079.

2009 207620742010 2011

2008 207920702050



Key Site ActivitiesKey Work Programmes

Contract term 2 Contract terms 3 and 4 Remaining years

2013-2017 2018-2024 2025-2029 2030-2034 2035-2039

Dec

omm

issi

onin

g H

isto

ric F

acili

ties

Magazine 4

Magazine 5

Magazine 9

Magazine 10

Magazine 3

Legacy Drums

Generated PCM Drums

Drum Facility

Store

Service Building

Rep

osito

ry D

evel

opm

ent

Pro

gram

me

Site Preparation

Capping Vault 8 and adjacent Trenches, Construct Vault 10




Capping Vault 12 and adjacent Trenches


Capping Vault 14 and adjacent Trenches

Rep

osito

ry C

losu

re LLW Facilities Remediation

Sealine Removal

Site Infrastructure Remediation

Delicensing

Bus

ines

s S

upp

ort

EHS&Q

Business Support

Business Management

Regulatory Costs

Information Technology Support and Projects

Engineering

Commercial, Contracts and Procurement


Remaining years

2040-2044 2045-2049 2050-2054 2055-2059 2060-2064 2065-2069 2070-2074 2075-2079

The chart below provides a high-level overview of the key activities taking place at the LLWR site. Further detail on each activity can be found in the relevant section of this document.


2. National Waste Programme

The National Waste Programme has a robust mission statement to deliver this vision:A national programme that achieves a self-sustaining culture for optimised LLW management across the UK. This will be delivered through collaborative participation in:

A resilient governance framework that drives change

Effective programme coordination and reporting arrangements

The sharing of best practice and continuous improvement

Efficient arrangements to access a sustainable supply chain delivering value for money.

To deliver this mission and inform the path to delivering the Strategy across the UK, the National Waste Programme has identified eight target outcomes:

1. Requirement for a second national repository eliminated.

2. A reduction in the Nuclear Provision for LLW management and cost savings through diversion.

3. Sustainable treatment and disposal routes available for all waste types.

4. Demonstrably more accurate inventory datasets and reliable waste forecasts.

5. Reduced environmental impact from the management of LLW.

6. Opportunities are provided to accelerate hazard reduction, operational and site restoration programmes.

7. Stakeholder recognition of excellence in waste management.

8. The right skills and behaviours are embedded to deliver optimised waste management.

LLWR Ltd provides governance and programme oversight through a series of programme management arrangements, working collaboratively with customers across all consigning organisations to influence the embedding of LLW management best practice to deliver the Strategy.

The vision for LLW management across the UK is:

“Optimised management of LLW across the UK which delivers a reduction to the multi-billion pound Nuclear Provision and avoids the necessity for a second LLWR site.”

National Waste Programme OverviewLLWR Ltd is responsible for leading the implementation of the UK Solid LLW Strategy on behalf of the NDA. It does this through the application of the National Waste Programme.

Involving key stakeholders is crucial to delivering the national waste programme

Waste arriving at LLWR rail sidings


An overview of all low level waste producers in the UK

32

31

30

29

28

27

26

Ministry of Defence

Vulcan

Clyde

Rosyth

Barrow

Devonport

Portsmouth

Aldermaston/Burghfield

34

33 Stafford

Derby

36

35

GE Healthcare

Cardiff

Amersham



Strategy

Following a review of the long term management of the UK’s solid LLW, the UK Government published a revised policy statement in March 2007, in order to set out principles for the long term management of LLW. The policy statement required the NDA to develop a UK-wide strategy for the management of solid LLW arising from the nuclear industry.

LLW is defined as radioactive waste with a radioactive content not exceeding four gigabecquerels per tonne (GBq/te) of alpha or 12 GBq/te of beta/gamma activity. This is predominantly made up of building rubble, soil, metallic waste and organic materials from operations and clean-up activities in the nuclear industry.

The NDA consulted on a draft strategy and in August 2010 the UK Strategy for the Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste from the Nuclear Industry was approved by the UK Government and devolved administrations.

The strategy was developed by the NDA in conjunction with LLWR Ltd and has three themes:

The application of the waste hierarchy

Making best use of existing assets

Opening of fit-for-purpose waste management routes.

These provide a high level framework within which LLW management decisions can be taken to ensure safe, environmentally acceptable and cost-effective solutions.

The implementation of the LLW Strategy will lead to continued capability and capacity to manage the treatment and disposal of LLW in the UK for both nuclear and non-nuclear organisations. LLWR Ltd ensures that the LLW Strategy is implemented. This includes the effective operation and enhancement of the Repository and assisting waste generating sites to apply the Waste Management Hierarchy by providing a range of waste management services.

During 2014/15 LLWR Ltd will be supporting NDA’s review of the 2010 UK Strategy for the Management of Solid LLW. This review will look at how that strategy has been implemented and whether any changes are required. Waste Management Hierarchy

The LLW Strategy provides the framework for low level waste management across the UK nuclear industry.

Policy Strategy Implementation

Avoid

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Treat

Dispose

Increasing environmental

impact

tion


NWP Governance Structure

NDA QuarterlyGovernance Meetings(National Programme

Steering Group and Quarterly Business

Reviews (QBRs)

National WasteProgramme Board

Six-monthly DeliveryOverview Group

Regulator Liaison Meeting

Frameworksuppliers

Day-to-Dayinteraction

Weekly LLWR Planning and Prioritisation

Meeting

LLWR and Consignor

Central Meetings

SLC Governance

Day-to-DayInteraction

Six-monthly LLWPractitioner’s

Forum Programme ManagersMonthly Meeting

LLWR Services Programme

Delivery Meeting

Life Time Plan and Contract Governance

Best practice

Customerissues

Improvementproposals

Stakeholderprogresssharing

Regulatoryissues

Supplierdelivery

Servicerequirements

Service programme

Progress reporting

Progress reporting

Programme Management and CoordinationLLWR Ltd ensures robust oversight of the National Waste Programme through a set of governance arrangements and underpinning procedures.

By coordinating the management of LLW across the UK, the effort required to deliver desired outcomes can be minimised, duplication of effort can be avoided, best practices and lessons learned can be shared and benefits realised.

Governance arrangements include a framework of monthly, quarterly and six-monthly meetings with various stakeholders to the National Waste Programme. These provide the opportunity not only for stakeholders to receive updates on the progress of the programme but to also influence the direction and priorities of the programme to achieve its strategic outcomes.

Programme delivery is monitored through a schedule that details the transformational activities and opportunities listed in the individual SLC Joint Waste Management Plans (JWMPs) and which is updated monthly. It is also monitored through the reporting of key metrics – such as waste diversion volumes, waste disposal volumes, transport, safety, environment and cost – on a monthly basis through the Waste Metric Dashboard.

Strategic risks, which could impact the delivery of the Strategy, are identified in the programme strategic risk register. This is formally reviewed on an annual basis; or when an event occurs which could affect the Strategy.

To improve LLW management skills across the industry a training programme is being developed and rolled out to waste producers. This includes classroom and ‘e-learning’ modules covering a range of waste management topics. A series of peer reviews will be undertaken across the industry that will be used to benchmark performance, share good practices, and identify areas for improvement.

These programme management activities are aimed at bringing about a cultural change across the estate by fully embedding the Waste Management Hierarchy in projects and operations by 2018.



Inventory and ForecastingCentral to the effective implementation of the UK Strategy for the Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste is a good understanding of future arisings of LLW, which then informs the infrastructure needed to manage the forecast volumes.

The UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (UKRWI) is the UK’s reference dataset for radioactive waste and the NDA manage this dataset on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). It is updated on a three-yearly cycle by collating information from the UK’s major radioactive waste producers.

The current published dataset is UKRWI 2013 and LLWR Ltd has worked with NDA and waste producers to develop and improve this dataset. Inventory data are important inputs to the LLWR’s Environmental Safety Case and the Repository Development Programme.

The total forecast raw volume arisings of LLW between 2013 and 2120 is 4.2 million m3; consisting of 1.4 million m3 of LLW and 2.8 million m3 of Very Low Level Waste (VLLW). These figures are taken from the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (UKRWI) 2013. This inventory does not include the volume of waste arising from land contamination or naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), which is not managed through the National Programme.

Shorter term, 5-year forecasts are provided by waste producers through their JWMPs, which are reviewed on a six-monthly basis. These provide more detailed information on volumes of waste forecast to be sent to the LLW Repository and through the waste routes available using the Waste Services commercial frameworks.

LLWR Ltd will continue to work with waste producers to improve the accuracy of their inventory datasets and waste forecasting.

Metallic , Combustible and Very Low Level WasteYTD Totals (m3) * FY2013/14 Summary - Period 11**

LLW disposedMetallic divertedCombust. divertedVLLW diverted

SLC

SL

MX te

RSRL

LLWR

Total:

via framework

SLC

Metallic Recycling: Metallic Recycling: SL

MX m3

RSRL

Onsite treatment te Onsite treatment te LLWR

Via framework Via framework Total:

Out of Scope Out of Scope via framework

Total: Total:

Combustible Recycling: Combustible Recycling:

SL

Onsite treatment m3 Onsite treatment MX m3

Via framework Via framework m3 RSRL

Out of Scope Out of Scope LLWR

Total: Total: Total:

via framework

Onsite treatment m3 Onsite treatment

Via framework Via framework m3

Out of Scope Out of Scope

Total: Total:

* Target only applies to VLLW via the framework 0 71 2 163 0 0 0 0 (te)

0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 (m3)

19 216 0 91 0 0 0 0 (m3)

Totals 236 te 5 m3 326 m3

Metallic Recycling: Metallic Recycling:

Onsite treatment te Onsite treatment te

Via framework Via framework

Out of Scope Out of Scope

Total: Total:

Combustible Recycling: Combustible Recycling:

On site disposal m3 On site disposal

Via framework Via framework

Out of Scope Out of Scope This table gives the no. of containers disposed of at the LLWR facility each Period.

Total: Total:

0 8 20 16 12 20 3 10 18 17 6 -

Footnotes 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 -

Onsite treatment m3 Onsite treatment m3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 -

Via framework Via framework 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 -

Out of Scope Out of Scope 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -

Total: Total: 5 4 3 1 0 3 10 4 0 0 5 -

*Containers stored at DSRL **Others include Non-NDA sites

Page 1 of 2 Last Updated Issue 1

Waste Metric DashboardFebruary 2014

Diversion totals from Non-NDA sites (YTD) ***

Stu

dsvi

k

AW

E

ED

F E

nerg

y

CN

S

Inut

ech

Uni

tech

GE

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

0 0

*Metallic waste hase been converted to raw volume assuming 10te per Half Height Isofreight container (HHISO) and a HHISO volume of 19.5m3. The same volume has been used to convert LLWR container numbers to raw volumes.

**Dashboards generated from Period 7 forwards include the updated targest from SLC's JWMP 5 submissions.

*** Diversion totals from Non NDA include framework and non framework diversions

UK Waste Diversion

The National Waste Programme aims to communicate progress in the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy and the Nuclear Industry Strategy for Low Level Waste Management across the UK. This dashboard shows key metrics that demonstrate the successful diversion of waste away from direct disposal and the optimal use of key national assets, such as LLWR and waste treatment facilities on sites around the UK, based on delivery of Joint Waste Management Plans (JWMPs). The objective is to encourage transparency and communicate progress to all stakeholders.

2013/14These graphs show the cumulative actual waste diverted by Low Level Waste Repository Ltd against their JWMP targets.

NDA sites only - raw volume.

0

Combustible Waste Recycled (m3)

1927

Actual YTD

2424 2715

1281 te

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

These graphs are a summary of the cumulative progress to date against the combined JWMP targets. NB These numbers do not capture VLLW disposed of on site and Non NDA waste diversion. Non NDA waste diversion is captured in the box below.

Metallic Waste Recycled (te)

110

12 4

0

Yearly Target

132

300

1731

2253

2166 m3

1501

779 674

1542

Actual YTD

0 00

2542 2212

0 0

0

TOTAL

Others**

SLC

VLLW Recycling:

1010 860

48261731

275

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

68 69

4646 m3

860

12 0

VLLW Recycling:

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

31 54

101 56

0 0

2013/14These graphs show the cumulative actual waste diverted by Research Sites Restoration Ltd against their JWMP targets.

These graphs show the cumulative actual waste diverted by Sellafield Ltd against their JWMP targets.

These graphs show the cumulative actual waste diverted by Magnox Ltd against their JWMP targets.

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

247

0 0

0 0

0 4

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

3791 01010

264

0 0

Yearly Target

1127

700

03-Mar-14

Oth

ers

Actual YTD

0 0

1191 1574

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

0 0

No. of containers

264

275

2542 2212

60

247

1754

5311

VLLW Waste Recycled (m3)Yearly Target

Actual YTD

1699

0

2106

229

300

801

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

1501 1927

300 275

800

0 0

1474 1644

0 181542

0 0

SL

MX

60 0

0 0

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

DSRL*

RSRL

LLWR

0

VLLW Recycling: VLLW Recycling:

2542 2212 60

Yearly Target

Period 11: 26th January to 22nd February FY 13/14

Yearly Target

Actual YTD

1010 860

132 110

264 247

12 4

2013/14 2013/14

508 180

1699 1754

194 20

585 425

779 674

0

00

MX te

RSRL

LLWR

Total:

via framework

SLC

SL

MX m3

RSRL

LLWR

Total:

via framework

SL

MX m3

RSRL

LLWR

Total:

via framework

Totals

This table gives the no. of con

0 8

4 0

Diversion

3/14itory

NDA sites only - raw volum

0

Com

2424 2715

1281 te

Yearly Target

ActualYTD

110

12 4

0

132

300

1731

2253

2166 m3

779 674

1542

SLC

1010 860

4826

4646 m3

No ofNo. of containers

264

275

2542 2212

60

247

1754

5311

yYearly Target

ActualYTD

1699

0

2106

SL

MX

SRL*

14 Dounreay

2 Hunterston A

3 Chapelcross

1Sellafield15 LLWR

4 Wylfa

5 Trawsfynydd

6Berkeley

7Oldbury

8Hinkley Point A

11Sizewell A

10Bradwell

9Dungeness A

12

13

Harwell

Winfrith

LLWR Ltd 15

JWMP Targets

0

3

5

8

10

13

15

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

010

20

30

4050

60

RSRL 1312

JWMP Targets

0

40

80

120

160

200

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

050

100150200250300

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0102030405060

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

Sellafield Ltd 1

JWMP Targets

Cumulative Target

0250500750

10001250150017502000

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

050

100150200250300

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0200400600800

10001200

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

Magnox Ltd 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

JWMP Targets

0200400600800

10001200

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0250500750

1000125015001750

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0

400

800

1200

1600

2000

Non

ND

A si

tes

0

400

800

1200

1600

2000

2400

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

0400800

12001600200024002800

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12

Cumulative Target

Cumulative TargetCumulative Target

LLW Disposed

ND

A S

ite S

umm

ary

YTD

M

C

V

M C V

M

C

V

M

C

V

M

C

V

M

C

V

M

C

V

16 Torness

17 Aldermaston

18 Studsvik

m3

19 Capenhurst

Capenhurst VLLW

Monthly Waste Metric DashboardThe Waste Metric Dashboard demonstrates progress made in implementing the Waste Hierarchy across the NDA estate. The dashboards are available to view on the LLWR website.

Working with waste producers and the supply

chain to realise efficiencies for the nuclear industry.



3. Waste Management Services

Waste Management Services and Assurance Overview

Contract term 2 Total contract term 2

£ 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

7,342,354 7,770,097 7,142,992 6,768,784 6,716,470 35,740,697

Waste Management Services costs

LLWR Ltd provides a range of Waste Management Services to help customers manage their lower activity wastes at every stage of the Waste Hierarchy.

Waste Management Services overviewThe UK Strategy for the Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive waste requires the availability and use of fit-for-purpose waste routes. LLWR Ltd has implemented this requirement through the development and provision of routes for different types of LLW, to enable them to be diverted from the Repository.

The waste routes include facilities for:

the treatment and recycling of metallic waste

the incineration of suitable soft solid wastes

the diversion of waste to landfill sites which are licensed to accept VLLW

supercompaction of soft waste to ensure that waste which does need to be sent to the Repository has a minimised volume.

These routes are provided by commercial organisations working with LLWR Ltd and more information is provided as you go through this section.

The work undertaken by the National Waste Programme team to facilitate and promote the use of alternative waste management routes is delivering a step change in the behaviours of waste producers.

Waste diversion is becoming ‘business as usual’ for LLW waste management, supporting the preservation of the LLWR site capacity and reducing the need for a second Repository.

Waste Management Services and AssuranceThese services provide effective solutions for lower activity waste management and include access to a dedicated Customer Team, each member of which has the experience and qualifications necessary to deliver practical advice and support on a diverse range of waste related topics.

Supercompactable Waste High-force compaction services to improve the packaging efficiency of waste in disposal containers.

Metallic Waste Segregation, size- reduction, shot-blasting and melting services to treat and recycle metal.

Combustible Waste

Thermal treatment services to burn wastes and reduce waste disposal volume.

Very Low Level Waste Disposal services to manage the diversion and transfer of very low level wastes to suitable facilities.

Low Level Waste

Disposal services to provide long term management of low level waste at the national Low Level Waste Repository.

Treatment Services


Total contract terms 3 and 4

£

Total contract terms 2, 3 and 4

£

Remaining years 2025/26-2079/80

£

Total lifetime

£

25,596,985 61,337,682 199,816,965 261,154,647

Through the provision of Waste Management Services LLWR Ltd aims to preserve capacity at the LLWR site and provide value to the NDA and our customers by delivering safe, compliant and effective options for low level radioactive waste management.

The Characterisation, Packaging, Transport, Treatment and VLLW Disposal Services are provided via our multi-supplier framework agreements managed and controlled by LLWR Ltd. All of these services are available to each customer through their Waste Services Contract.

Logistics ServicesWaste Services

Waste Characterisation Consultancy, sampling, analysis, interpretation, routing and measurement services to support categorisation and segregation activities.

Transport Rail and road logistics services to optimise waste transport across the UK and reduce carbon impact.

Packaging

Container and drum supply services from a fleet of approved Industrial package (IP) type 2 rated designs to support efficient waste packaging.

Fifteen 310te boilers were transported to Sweden for recycling

LLWR coordinate the treatment and disposal of waste for sites across the UK

Waste monitoring and assurance checks prior to dispatch

Avoid Reduce Reuse Treat DisposeRecycle

Increasing environmental impact

By applying the Waste Hierarchy we can ensure that only those wastes that require disposal in engineered vaults come to the repository.



Supercompactable Waste

Waste for supercompaction can be received in loose (bagged) or drummed form.

In early 2014 we brought in additional capability to this service with the inclusion of a supercompactor at the Winfrith site in Dorset. This means that uncompacted waste from waste producers in the South of England no longer has to be transported all the way to Sellafield for compaction. The facility at Winfrith is also the only one in the UK capable of compacting soft asbestos wastes.

Whilst volumes of waste for supercompaction are declining (as some material is being diverted to the combustible service) the ability to treat waste in this way remains an important option for waste generators.

Supercompactable waste treatment employs high-force compaction technology to improve the packaging efficiency of waste in disposal containers.

Soft waste can be reduced in volume by up to

70% through supercompaction.

Supply chain partners


Metallic WasteMetallic waste treatment provides opportunities for our customers to recycle metallic waste whilst reducing the volumes of LLW disposed at the LLWR site.

This is better for the environment, a more efficient use of resources, and gives customers greater flexibility in how to manage low level radioactive waste.

Metallic waste items successfully treated by LLWR Ltd range in size from individual nuts and bolts to large complex assemblies such as reactor steam generators (over 300 Te) and Shielded Transport Flasks.

A range of techniques such as size-reduction, shot-blasting, and melting can be used to treat the metallic waste. Secondary waste arisings from the process, such as shot blast media or slag from metal melting, will then be further treated or disposed of via the most appropriate route.

Materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper and lead as well as other less common metals have been successfully treated using these techniques. Metallic waste treatment can achieve up to a 98% volume reduction of the original waste consigned.

8,877te treated through LLWR Ltd’s

Framework Service.




Combustible Waste

Having the option to treat combustible waste gives our customers greater flexibility in terms of how to manage LLW.

A wide variety of materials are suitable for thermal treatment and can reduce waste volumes disposed at the LLWR site by up to 100%. The list of materials that can be accepted for thermal treatment is extensive, but most commonly includes: paper and cardboard, packaging materials, plastic sheeting, wood, oil, and protective clothing.

Our suppliers utilise advanced high temperature incineration technology and operate under strict limits defined and monitored by the Environment Agency.

Where possible our suppliers will seek to use the heat generated in their processes to generate electricity from waste.

Combustible waste treatment uses thermal treatment to reduce LLW disposal volumes. This gives customers the potential for greater cost efficiencies and results in less waste being disposed of at the LLWR site.

3,519m³ treated through LLWR Ltd’s

Framework Service.



Very Low Level WasteThe Very Low Level Waste (VLLW) Disposal management service employed by LLWR involves the disposal of high-volume low-activity waste at appropriately licensed commercial hazardous waste landfill sites.

This type of lightly contaminated low risk waste does not require the same degree of engineered protection provided by the LLWR site and therefore is suitable for disposal at appropriately licensed commercial landfill sites.

All organisations dealing with radioactive materials produce some waste fitting the definition of VLLW and this typically includes demolition waste – rubble, soil and similar material.

As with all its services, LLWR Ltd undertakes rigorous checks to ensure the right waste types are consigned to the most appropriate routes. In the case of VLLW this includes review and approval of waste characterisation results, confirmation of environmental permitting requirements at both the sending and receiving site as well as approval of transport, packaging and handling arrangements.

This high level of involvement reduces the risk of any inappropriate use of this waste route and also ensures that future opportunities to use VLLW within the nuclear industry (eg to recycle as construction or infill material) are visible.

Waste that is below the VLLW activity category is known as ‘out of scope’ or ‘exempt’ waste. This waste is typically recycled or disposed to conventional landfill facilities by waste producers through their own arrangements with the supply chain.

7,382m³ disposed to landfill through

LLWR Ltd’s Framework Service.




Low Level WasteThe Low Level Waste Disposal Service is for low level waste that cannot be treated or residual wastes resulting from a treatment process.

The Waste Management Services Team undertake a detailed assessment of each consignment to ensure that the contents comply with the LLWR Waste Acceptance Criteria. Once these checks are complete the team will authorise shipment to the site.

Waste is received at the LLWR site by rail or road, generally in Half Height ISO (HHISO) containers.

Following rigorous receipt inspection checks each container is carefully filled with a cement based grout to remove any voids and the container is transported to our engineered vault where it is placed in its final disposal location.

Extensive records are kept on each container, noting the exact contents, the physical, and radiological composition of the waste as well as the container number and the details of the consigning site.

Cum

ulat

ive

was

te v

olum

e (m

³)

FY 17/18FY 16/17FY 15/16FY 14/15FY 13/14FY 12/13FY 11/12FY 10/11FY 09/10FY 08/09

100,0

00

80,00

0

60,00

0

40,00

0

20,00

0

Key Combustibles

Note: Figures include waste diverted through LLWR’s framework contracts and direct diversion by the waste producer.

Metals LLW DisposalLLW Disposal (without diversion)VLLW

Significant volumes of waste have been diverted through the metal, combustible and VLLW routes minimising disposals to LLWR. This is expected to increase in future years as consigning sites continue to implement the Waste Hierarchy.

85%of LLW generated in 2013/14

was diverted from the LLWR site.



Waste Characterisation

By better understanding the nature and composition of their wastes customers are able to identify alternative options to disposal at the LLWR site. For example; detailed analysis and characterisation of a metal pipe can determine whether it can be decontaminated and recycled straight away or if more aggressive treatment (shot blasting or metal melting) is required. In the absence of detailed characterisation data such items can be ‘assumed’ to require disposal at the LLWR site – wasting a finite disposal capacity and missing the opportunity to recycle a valuable resource.

LLWR Ltd and its suppliers are currently delivering waste characterisation advice and support to:

Magnox Ltd sites at Chapelcross, Bradwell, Berkeley, Hunterston(A), Oldbury and Trawsfynydd

RSRL sites at Winfrith and Harwell sites

Her Majesty’s Naval Base, Clyde

UniTech Services, Wales.

Our team have the experience and resources to deploy a wide range of measurement techniques including Portable High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry (HRGS).

Our service extends to include sample analysis for various materials, using several different accredited laboratory services.

Waste Characterisation is an enabling service that allows customers to access advice, sample recovery, analysis, data interpretation, measurement and routing guidance for their waste.

288% increase in Waste

Characterisation Service uptake in 2013/2014.




Headline 1

Packaging Services

All packages are appropriately licensed for radioactive waste transport.

The LLWR Ltd’s packaging fleet consists of multiple types of packages, including Industrial Package – Type 2 (IP2) rated versions suitable for road, rail and sea transport. LLWR Ltd also has the capability to develop bespoke packaging solutions to meet specific customer needs.

Extensive work has been completed to extend the range of containers available to customers. A number of reusable containers are now in service to enable shipment of waste to and from treatment sites.

A packaging services brochure is available in electronic format via the LLWR Ltd Website at http://llwrsite.com/customer-portal/packaging/

Having a supply of fit-for-purpose packages to support LLW transport is a key part of the waste treatment and disposal services provided by LLWR Ltd.

1,785Total number of disposal

containers manufactured in the UK since start of contract in

April 2008.



Transport ServicesLLWR Ltd offers a complete transport service including help and advice on all lower activity waste and dangerous goods transport matters.

The service includes transport and dangerous goods consignment services to support the waste treatment and disposal services offered through the Waste Services Contract. This can include transporting waste consignments to the LLWR site or other facilities in the UK and internationally.

All transport and logistics services are in full compliance with the relevant national and international transport regulations.

All waste consignments under the control of LLWR Ltd benefit from our membership of the nationally recognised Transport Emergency Arrangements scheme known as RADSAFE.

LLWR Ltd now provides all LLW transport for the ten Magnox Ltd sites across the UK and has transported waste to and from an additional thirty locations in 2013/14. All LLWR Ltd customers now use the transport service to some extent.

LLWR Ltd is especially proud of its ability to integrate requirements, such as delivering empty containers and returning with full ones. Approximately 70% of potential ‘empty runs’ are now utilised for waste treatment/disposal shipments.

275%increase in transport service

uptake delivered through LLWR Ltd service in 2013/14.



4. Repository Operations

Repository Operations OverviewThe Low Level Waste Repository is the UK’s national low level radioactive waste disposal facility. Its role is to ensure that low level radioactive waste generated in the UK is disposed of in a way that protects people and the environment.

In order to achieve this, the Repository’s core programmes of work include low level waste operations, management of the trenches and vaults and asset care and maintenance.

Low Level Waste OperationsThrough the National Waste Programme the LLWR site receives solid low level radioactive waste from a range of customers, such as the nuclear industry, the Ministry of Defence, non-nuclear industries, and educational, medical and research establishments. This waste is transported to the LLWR site by road or rail, in large metal containers. These ISO-freight containers are supplied to customers through a Waste Services Contract.

In order to make best use of the available transport networks LLWR Ltd operates its own railway sidings.

To prepare the waste for final disposal a cement based grout is poured into the half height ISO (HHISO) container which immobilises the waste. This operation is carried out at the Grouting Facility, located close to the centre of the LLWR site. Grouting the containers is important for the long term environmental performance of the site.

Trenches & VaultsFrom the late 1950s to the early 1990s waste at LLWR site was disposed of in a series of seven land-fill style trenches. These trenches are now closed and have been covered with an interim engineered cap which provides protection from the elements and reduces the ingress of water.

In the late 1980s a new concrete lined, open top vault was constructed for containerised LLW. This was in line with International best practice for the disposal of these types of waste. The vault walls and floor provide a barrier around the facility to minimise infiltration of groundwater into the waste.

LLWR Ltd currently operates two vaults – 8 and 9 – Vault 8 is almost full and Vault 9 has capacity for approximately 5,500 containers which is expected to last for 10-20 years based on current waste estimates. When Vault 9 is full, further vaults will be constructed in accordance with the National Waste Programme requirements.

Once a vault reaches capacity, a carefully constructed cap will be added. This will create both a physical barrier to the ingress of surface water, and a suitable long term landscaped landform.

Asset Care and MaintenanceLLWR Ltd is implementing an Asset Management (AM) system which identifies physical assets, ranging from buildings, infrastructure elements, process plants and work equipment.

The system incorporates all lifecycle stages; known as a ‘cradle to grave’ approach, covering lifetime operations, maintenance of the assets through to final decommissioning and disposal.

The lifecycle of physical assets is a critical component of an effective AM system, as various assets are at different stages of their lifecycle.

LLWR Ltd has many ageing assets which require refurbishment or replacement to ensure there is no impact on NDA programme delivery. The performance objectives of some facilities have also changed. Where this is the case, an asset enhancement programme is being undertaken to meet these objectives.

The majority of assets are located on the LLWR site. However, some are located off site and elsewhere in the country.


£2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

7,681,991 9,074,055 6,562,596 6,102,286 6,532,348 35,953,277

Repository Operations costs


These include a marine out-fall pipeline and off-site boreholes, mobile assets such as our reusable container fleet supporting the National Waste Programme and Pelham House.

LLWR Ltd will optimally manage its physical assets and their expected performance, risks and expenditure over the lifecycle, for the purpose of achieving its strategic plan.

Leachate ManagementAs groundwater and surface water infiltrate the trenches and vaults, it can come in contact with potentially harmful substances present in the waste material. The run-off liquid produced is referred to as leachate and has to be managed accordingly. A series of drainage channels, pipelines and chambers collect the leachate from around the site. All leachate is routed to holding tanks where it is sampled and discharged to the Irish Sea under LLWR Ltd’s Environmental Permit.

Container Maintenance

LLWR Ltd manages and maintains a fleet of reusable containers. These are used to transport LLW from waste producing sites to treatment facilities around the UK. LLWR Ltd undertakes a programme of inspection and maintenance of this fleet, to ensure the containers continue to be fully compliant with transport regulations.

Asset Management

Principles

Other LLWR Policies

Asset Management

PolicyLLWR Plan

Asset Management

Strategy

Asset Management

Plans

Asset Management

Delivery

LINE OF SIGHT*

*Describes the ability for personnel at all organisational levels to establish the connection between their roles and responsibilities and their alignment to achieving the LLWR Plan.

LLWR Lifecycle


£


£


£

Total lifetime

£

44,048,127 80,001,403 327,454,611 407,456,015

Vault 9Proposed area of future vaults

Vault 8

Trenches 1-7

Rail sidings

Site entrance

Office accommodation

Grout Facility

Drum Facility



Decommissioning Historical Facilities

PCM ProgrammeWhen the site was a Royal Ordnance Factory concrete bunkers (Magazines) were constructed to store munitions such as TNT. During the 1950s and 1960s PCM generated from operations at Sellafield was stored in some of the Magazines. During the 1990s modern facilities were constructed to facilitate the removal, repackaging and transport of the PCM for safe storage in modern purpose-built facilities located at the Sellafield site.

LLWR Ltd commenced a programme of work in 2008 to decommission these Magazines. The objective of this programme is to decommission and demolish the Magazines and to remove all legacy drums and generated PCM

waste drums from the LLWR site in a safe, cost-effective and timely manner. The programme is consistent with the NDA’s strategy for risk and high hazard reduction and is a key enabler to achieve NDA’s key milestone for LLWR Ltd to remove historical liabilities from the LLWR site.

PCM DrumsThe PCM Programme will result in the removal of all legacy drums and generated PCM waste drums from the LLWR site, which will then be transferred to modern purpose-built storage facilities located at Sellafield. The Drum Process Facility located at the LLWR site will continue to function as a working facility to store, assay and transfer PCM drums including legacy drums and secondary wastes to

Sellafield until the last PCM is removed from the Magazines. Once this is completed, the facility will be decontaminated and made available for reuse.

Removal of all PCM drums from the LLWR site is expected to be completed by July 2018 under the current programme.

PCM MaintenanceThe PCM Programme identifies that maintenance of all PCM buildings and associated plant and equipment is required in order to successfully complete the programme. The continued operation and maintenance of the PCM Facilities will give uninterrupted access for decommissioning activities and successful completion of the PCM Programme will lead to a reduction in site maintenance and facility charges.

The decommissioning and demolition of all Plutonium Contaminated Materials (PCM) Facilities is expected to be completed by March 2019 under the current programme.


£2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

9,566,994 13,031,368 12,833,460 11,738,000 10,774,438 57,944,260

Decommissioning Historical Facilities costs

One of the Cells in Magazine 4 prior to decommissioning

An internal view of Magazine 4, which has now been fully decommissioned awaiting demolition


PCM Facilities Decommissioning and DemolitionThe decommissioning of the PCM Facilities will lead to a reduction of the highest radiological hazard on the LLWR site and the eventual demolition of the Magazines will allow the area to be reused for the construction of future vaults.

LLWR Ltd will also prepare and dispose of all wastes generated during the execution of the PCM Programme and maximise the opportunities for recycling and reuse in line with our National Waste Programme.

Key Work Programmes

Contract term 2 Contract term 3

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Magazine 4

Magazine 5

Magazine 9

Magazine 10

Magazine 3

Legacy Drums

Generated PCM Drums

Drum Facility

Store

Service Building

Decommissioning Demolition Mag 3 Restart Project Operations and Maintenance

Key work programmes


£


£


£

Total lifetime

£

4,191,138 62,135,398 – 62,135,398

Local community stakeholders inside Magazine 4 in August 2013 following completion of decommissioning work

Decommissioning work is undertaken in pressurised airfed suits to protect workers from potential radioactive contamination



Repository Development Programme

This has been successfully achieved through establishing waste management services for the characterisation, treatment and diversion of LLW from the LLWR site in addition to the construction and operation of a new £25M LLW vault in 2010 – Vault 9. Combined, this gives LLWR Ltd the capacity for in excess of 10 years. This maintains the LLWR site as the UK’s national facility for the storage and disposal of LLW.

The objective of the M&O second 5-year contract term, awarded in 2013, is to embed the key behaviours to implement the Waste Management Hierarchy throughout the nuclear industry, prepare the LLWR site for constructing more LLW vaults, and start to install the engineering necessary to ultimately close the site when the Repository becomes full. Important enablers to the Repository Development Programme are the approval of the planning application and receipt of a revised Environmental Permit for continued disposal of LLW.

Preparations for Site DevelopmentUpon receipt of the revised permit, enabling works will take place that are needed prior to construction of future vaults (Vaults 9A to 14) and installation of the final cap over the Repository and the associated cut-off wall.

These works include the removal of boundary planting around the north and east of the LLWR site boundaries, the formation of the final cap ‘shoulders’ and installation of a perimeter drain.


£2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

1,822,184 845,877 1,418,117 176,227 – 4,262,404

Repository Development Programme costs

UKNWM has achieved its key objective in transforming the Low Level Waste Repository in to a fully integrated waste management facility with capability to ensure uninterrupted LLW disposal at the Repository.

Key work programmes

DurationContract term 2 Contract term 3

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Site Preparation 2013-2015

Capping Vault 8 and adjacent Trenches, Construct Vault 10 2018-2022




Capping Vault 12 and adjacent Trenches 2035-2036


Capping Vault 14 and adjacent Trenches 2078-2079

Repository Development Programme schedule of work*

*The schedule of work table has been adjusted to reflect the Site Optimisation and Closure Works Planning Application.


Combined with additional planting, the shoulders will provide visual screening and noise abatement for later phases of development works. Installation of the drain will involve the relocation of the Drigg Stream.

Works will also be undertaken in Vault 8 such as infilling between the LLW containers in the vault. These will enable LLW containers to be stacked higher in the vault, maximising the disposal volume of the LLWR site and reducing the amount of imported capping material without changing the height of the finished cap.

A key objective of the M&O third contract term, to be awarded in 2018, is to complete the preparation works remaining from the second contract term and progress to construction of Vaults 9A and 10 and final capping of Vault 8 and the adjacent area of the trenches. The engineering will be monitored to ensure it is performing as expected and to provide data to help further optimise the engineering design for the rest of the site development.

Future VaultsThe construction of future vaults (Vaults 9A and 10 to 14) is required in order to provide continuing disposal capacity for LLW at the LLWR site. The future vaults will accommodate a capacity of greater than 300,000m³ and will allow the LLWR site to receive LLW until late in the 21st Century.

CappingA final cap needs to be constructed over the LLW disposed in the trenches and vaults to minimise the infiltration of rainwater into the wastes, and to reduce the likelihood of animals or humans intruding into the wastes in the future after the LLWR site is closed. The final cap will be built up of layers of different materials. For example, clay will be used to minimise infiltration and stones to reduce the likelihood of intrusion. These layers will be placed over a dome of profiling material – the dome-shape will cause most of the rain water to drain off to the edges of the cap.

The final cap will be constructed in phases working north to south as each vault is filled with wastes and subsequently closed. The construction of the cap will involve the import of large volumes of material, although the use of material excavated during the construction of the vaults will reduce the amount that needs to be imported.

Cut-off wallA cut-off wall will also be constructed in the ground round the trenches and vaults under the edge of the final cap. The cut-off wall will be constructed by digging a trench and filling it with clay soils. There is already a cut-off wall along the north and east sides of the trenches and this will be extended round the whole facility in stages as the final cap is constructed in phases. The purpose of the cut-off wall is to prevent the release of contamination from the facility near to the ground surface around the facility.


£


£


£

Total lifetime

£

67,759,786 72,022,190 115,431,979 187,454,169

Contract term 4 and remaining years

2023-2036 2037-2051 2052-2065 2066-2079



Headline 1

Repository Closure

OverviewIn 2006, the Environment Agency issued the site licence owner with a Permit that only allowed continued disposal of LLW in Vault 8. The subsequently constructed Vault 9, although designed and built for disposal, was not authorised for disposal. A revised permit is required for LLWR Ltd to be allowed to dispose of LLW in Vault 9 and future vaults.

The current permit is based on the Environment Agency’s review of safety cases prepared by the previous site operator and submitted in 2002. The Environment Agency considered that these safety cases, and especially the safety case addressing the safety of the facility in the long term after it closes (the Post-closure Safety Case), had failed to make ‘an adequate or robust argument for continued disposals of LLW’. The Environment Agency placed a requirement on the site operator to present a revised Environmental Safety Case (ESC) by 1 May 2011.

Environmental Safety CaseLLWR Ltd submitted a revised ESC to the Environment Agency on 1 May 2011. The ESC assesses the environmental safety of the LLWR site both now and up to thousands of years in the future long after the facility will have closed.

LLWR Ltd believes that the ESC demonstrates that it is safe to continue to dispose of LLW at the LLWR site. The ESC also provides a sound basis for future management of the site and regulation of the site by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency is currently reviewing the ESC to see if they agree with the conclusions made.

Based on the ESC, LLWR Ltd has submitted an application to the Environment Agency for a revised Permit to allow disposal of LLW in Vault 9 and future vaults and to install the necessary engineering to close the Repository, including the final cap over the facility. The Environment Agency is required to consult with other organisations and the public before reaching a final decision on the suitability of the LLWR site for continued disposals of LLW.

Site Closure ActivitiesA number of activities will need to be completed before the site can be closed.

LLW Facilities Remediation

The purpose of this activity is to safely demolish and remove all LLW Facilities supporting operations (other than the trenches and vaults).

Repository Infrastructure Remediation

The purpose of this activity is the removal of all remaining infrastructure at the LLWR site following the completion of the remediation of the LLW Facilities and final construction of the closure engineering having first explored opportunities for their reuse. The remediation activities include the demolition and removal of the roads, rail siding, and site utility services.

Sealine Removal

The final closure of the LLWR site will also require removal of the off-site sea pipeline.

The disposal of radioactive waste in England and Wales is regulated by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

Key work programmes


£2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

ESC 3,169,974 2,800,548 2,523,873 3,264,271 3,652,019 15,410,686

Repository Closure – – – – – –

Land Quality Management – – – – – –

Total 3,169,974 2,800,548 2,523,873 3,264,271 3,652,019 15,410,686

Repository Closure costs


Project Description

DurationRemaining years

2069 2070 2071 2072 2073 2074 2075 2076 2077 2078 2079 2080

LLW Facilities Remediation 2069-2076

Sealine Removal 2071-2079

Site Infrastructure Remediation 2074-2077

Delicensing 2076-2080

Schedule of Work

Final Closure

LLW disposal operations are currently planned to cease in 2070. The remediation of all LLW Facilities are planned to be completed by 2074 and the area returned to a condition suitable for the next planned use of the site in 2076. Post-operational management works will be ongoing until site closure in 2079. After this time, it is expected that leachate will still need to be pumped from the facility and transported off site.

The nature of the final closure of the LLWR site will depend on the institutional and regulatory arrangements at the time. Currently, it is assumed that the site will be delicensed as a Nuclear Licensed Site soon after the end of LLW disposal operations once the site remediation activities have been completed.

The site will continue to be regulated by the Environment Agency for a long period to ensure that it is properly monitored and controlled. At some point, the site would be released from this ‘active institutional control’. Passive controls, such as land covenants and beneficial ownership by local people, would help to reduce the likelihood of damage to the Facility.


£


£


£

Total lifetime

£

17,078,883 32,489,569 131,751,405 164,240,974

– – 71,190,704 71,190,704

– – 5,485,729 5,485,729

17,078,883 49,568,452 208,427,838 240,917,407

An artist’s impression of before (top image) and after (bottom image) capping

LLWR site undertakes an extensive programme of environmental monitoring activities


5. Support Functions

Support functions at LLWR Ltd include a wide range of services to ensure the organisation operates safely, legally and efficiently – with absolute certainty.

The portfolio includes a number of functional areas that support the operation of LLWR Ltd. These services have been captured under seven main headings which are identified in the Business Support Cost Table.

Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Assurance (EHSS&Q)This function advises, guides, regulates and supports the organisation in:

Environmental Compliance

Radiological Protection

Conventional Safety

Quality Assurance

Protecting Nuclear Materials, Sensitive Nuclear Information and Commercial Assets.

Professional Environmental, Health & Safety and Security Advisors ensure LLWR Ltd goes about its business with due regard for the environment in a safe and secure manner whilst complying with UK legislation and Regulatory requirements.

Business SupportBusiness Support includes various functions such as:

Finance and Project Controls – provide financial corporate governance, develop plans for budgeting and controlling work, carry out financial and performance reporting and ensure adherence to financial and fiscal regulatory requirements

Public Affairs and Public Relations – enhance and protect the reputation of LLWR Ltd through effective communications, stakeholder engagement and Repository visits and events; ensuring that communities have the ability to influence the way LLWR Ltd conducts its business

Human Resources and Training – provide support, advice and guidance on all Human Resources (HR) and Training issues. Ensure an appropriate organisational structure is in place with resources and competencies necessary to deliver nuclear safety whilst meeting the requirements of the Site Licence Condition

Facilities Management and Utilities – are provided for all LLW Repository premises.

Business ManagementBusiness Management provides for the Site Licence Company Board of Directors and Lead Team and includes the activities undertaken to ensure appropriate leadership, site management and governance arrangements are in place to ensure successful delivery of this plan.

Key work programmes


£2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

EHS&Q 3,662,572 3,239,610 3,325,811 3,075,464 3,071,940 16,375,396

Business Support 5,420,612 5,222,750 5,413,986 5,415,533 6,141,204 27,614,085

Business Management 2,176,066 2,227,556 2,227,556 2,227,556 2,227,556 11,086,290

Regulatory Costs 1,286,250 815,005 844,265 815,005 815,005 4,575,531

Information Technology Support and Projects 1,110,542 1,972,921 1,697,138 1,368,833 1,077,470 7,226,904

Engineering 1,119,501 1,154,409 1,154,409 1,154,409 1,154,409 5,737,139

Commercial, Contracts and Procurement 990,426 856,545 856,545 860,683 856,545 4,420,746

Total 15,765,969 15,488,797 15,519,711 14,917,485 15,344,130 77,036,091

Business Support costs

Business Support Overview


Regulatory CostsThe purpose of Regulatory Costs is to provide for those regulatory charges levied upon the SLC from LLWR Ltd’s regulators: primarily the Environment Agency (EA) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

Information Technology Support and ProjectsInformation Technology (IT) support and projects provide the organisation with an IT capability to support the business needs.

EngineeringThe role of the Engineering Capability Department is to provide the organisation with services such as design authority, plant engineering, asset management and project engineering.

Commercial, Contracts and ProcurementThe Commercial and Contract Management Team provide cross-functional support within LLWR Ltd for all commercial, property, procurement and contract management activities. The team’s main objective is to provide effective and proactive services that deliver value for the business and to our customers and suppliers.


£


£


£

Total lifetime

£

22,009,199 38,384,595 169,818,059 208,202,654

38,750,241 66,364,326 298,509,555 364,873,881

15,470,017 26,556,307 119,340,130 145,896,437

4,607,338 9,182,869 35,542,315 44,725,184

8,384,937 15,611,841 64,239,690 79,851,531

7,649,516 13,386,655 59,010,537 72,397,192

6,713,922 11,134,668 51,793,121 62,927,789

103,585,169 180,621,260 798,253,407 978,874,667

Scope of Work

Staff attending a ‘Plan of the Week’ meeting to coordinate activities across the organisation

Environmental monitoring is undertaken at hundreds of boreholes across the LLWR site and surrounding areas


6. Socio-Economic

Our PeopleThe growth from new services over the past five years has resulted in the employment base doubling in size. This growth is across the board and has seen the introduction of a number of new disciplines and an increase in the demand for skilled labour.

LLWR Ltd is committed to providing a comprehensive training programme for the development of its employees and has recently recruited three new trainee/apprenticeship positions with the intention of at least doubling this number by September 2014. Developing the next and subsequent generations of employees is recognised as a crucial component to support successful delivery of LLWR Ltd’s mission over the next 100 years.

LLWR Ltd’s employment costs for FY 2013/14 were just under £18 million.

With the vast majority of employees living in West Cumbria, this represents a potential spend in the local area of around £9 million per annum.

Our SuppliersThe supply chain is critical to successful delivery of the LLWR Plan. For the duration of the plan, LLWR Ltd will spend around £50 million per year with our suppliers on a wide range of works, goods and services.

Strategic relationships are being developed with key suppliers in the following areas to deliver LLWR Ltd’s Acquisition Strategy: radioactive waste treatment and disposal, waste packaging and logistics, decommissioning, engineering design and construction, facilities management and information technology. These suppliers are strategic delivery partners that support LLWR Ltd in delivering the LLWR Plan.

As a publicly funded body LLWR Ltd procures in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations and European Union procurement rules. In line with these requirements, LLWR Ltd competitively tenders contracts through the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). This has resulted in a diverse mix of local, national and international suppliers.

Under the Shared Services Alliance, LLWR Ltd works with other SLCs across the UK nuclear estate to collaborate on a range of supply chain activities. This includes participation in the collaborative procurement programme where requirements are aggregated across the NDA estate to seek more effective and efficient solutions from the supply chain. LLWR Ltd uses a range of UK government contracts provided by the Crown Commercial Service to meet its requirements for common goods and services.

Socio-economic OverviewAs a medium-sized company, LLWR Ltd directly employs around 200 people and provides temporary employment for a further 60 primarily from the West Cumbria area.

Manpower

76% of workforce are long term staff

Workforce geographical area

83% of workforce resident in

West Cumbria

Supply chain spend

40% of supply chain spend

retained in West Cumbria

28% of spend

with SMEs

76%of workforce arelong term staff

7 83%of workforce resident in

West Cumbria

Key

59%

6%4%

7%

24%

AllerdaleCopeland

North West RegionRest of Cumbria

Rest of UK

40%of supply chain spend

retained in West Cumbria

28%of spend

with SMEsKey

40%

7%

20%

13%

6%

Rest of CumbriaWest Cumbria

North West RegionOther small Contracts (<£300k)*

International**

Rest of UK

14%

* – Other contracts include over 100 suppliers with contract values less than £300K throughout Cumbria and the UK** – 75% of International spend represents the Berkeley Boiler Project


Supporting community activities through our sponsorship and donation scheme

Stakeholder presentation prior to visiting decommissioned PCM magazine

LLWR Ltd is a signatory to the NDA’s Supply Chain Charter for Nuclear Decommissioning sites and encourages members of its supply chain to become one as well.

The Supply Chain Charter aims to foster good working relations across the NDA estate’s supply chain, with parties signing up to a set of principles encouraging mutually beneficial and rewarding relationships. LLWR Ltd are seeking to improve opportunities for small to medium enterprises through their SME Action Plan.

LLWR Ltd’s supply chain makes a vital contribution to the local economy with around 40% of spend being retained in West Cumbria. Recognising our role in the socio-economic development of West Cumbria, LLWR Ltd is working with its suppliers to ensure that activities to support the community will provide sustainable socio-economic benefit through coordinated investment of time, skills and funding to support community initiatives. LLWR Ltd actively encourages its key suppliers to recruit locally and invest in trainees and apprentices to grow future skills and talent.

Our CommunityLLWR Ltd seeks to minimise the impact of its activities on the local community and has implemented a number of changes to day-to-day operations in order to honour its commitment to community life. The biggest change has resulted from the reduction in the number of containers coming to the LLWR site for disposal. At its peak the Repository was processing in excess of 700 ISO freight containers a year. At the end of 2013 this number had more than halved with less than 300 container receipts and further reductions anticipated throughout the term of the LLWR Plan. Another significant change has seen the number of HGV road deliveries reduce, with 86% of waste being delivered to the LLWR site by Rail in FY 2013/14.

Through the NDA, LLWR Ltd provides £1.5million per year to the Copeland Community Fund to support community projects in Copeland, recognising the service that Copeland provides to the nation by hosting the Low Level Waste Repository. Of the £1.5 million, £50 thousand is ring-fenced per year for the Parish of Drigg and Carleton to enable development/delivery of community based projects. A further £35 thousand per year is set aside for investment in community initiatives within a 15 mile radius of the LLWR site.

LLWR Ltd place just as much emphasis on their community relationships as their contractual and regulatory relationships. They are mindful that only the community can bestow a ‘social licence to operate’.

LLWR Ltd actively encourages its employees to engage with community/charitable organisations and has participated in a number of sponsored events raising several thousand pounds for local worthy causes. In addition to fundraising events a number of employees volunteer in the community, for example: through mountain rescue, school governors, local councillors, girl guide and local scouting groups. Match funding for the Drigg Bursary Scheme to enable local people to access further education, training or promote the retention of rural skills like dry stone walling is also provided.

LLWR Ltd operates an open door policy and have witnessed a year-on-year increase in the number of visitors to the LLWR site. In 2013 over 500 people visited the Repository to learn about the practices and processes employed to deliver successful implementation of the Waste Management Hierarchy and how that fits into the overall NDA mission.

LLWR Ltd engages a wide range of stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms. They support the NDA’s Stakeholder Engagement Framework and provide secretariat to the LLWR site Working Group which meets quarterly in Drigg Village Hall and is open to members of the general public. Monthly liaison meetings are also held with representatives from Drigg and Carleton Parish Council and the community are invited to an annual open day event.

Recognition from the NDA for collaborative working with the supply chain


7. Strategic Benefits

Headline 1

The achievement of these benefits is monitored through a set of metrics which include the volume of waste diverted from the LLWR site; the use of diversion routes by customers; savings achieved through the use of the diversion routes and the environmental benefits from delivery of the programme. A number of methods are used to make these metrics visible to stakeholders including the monthly waste metric dashboard.

The utilisation of waste diversion routes is a significant contributor to the delivery of cost savings. Through the promotion and facilitation of waste diversion away from disposal at the LLWR site, the National Programme has delivered savings of £67 million in FY 2013/14.

The amount of waste requiring treatment and disposal is expected to sharply rise over the next five years – reflecting

significant decommissioning activity in the NDA estate – and this, combined with increased use of waste diversion, is predicted to deliver a projected saving of £144.2 million between 2013/14 and 2017/18. Our target is to exceed this and deliver a total saving of over £200 million over the second term of the contract.

Strategic BenefitsLLWR is focused on delivering the following strategic benefits:

Support the creation of an efficient LLW system

across the estate

1Deliver over £200 million of estate-wide savings

2Ensuring a mature and robust

supply chain is in place for the nuclear industry

3Improve accuracy of the LLW inventory forecasts

4

VLLW disposal at Licensed Landfill Facility Working with the supply chain to build and ensure a sustainable service


Optimise the site development plan to secure

future cost savings

75Extend the life of the current National Repository to 2129

Eliminate the requirement for a second Repository

6Significantly reduce historical

liabilities at LLWR site

8

Waste volume and cost saving projections over the second term period (2013-2018)

Key Total waste diversion volume (m³)

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/182011/122010/112009/102008/09

Cum

ulat

ive

was

te d

iver

sion

vol

ume

(m³)

Cum

ulat

ive

cost

sav

ing

(£M

)

0

10,00

0

20,00

0

30,00

0

40,00

0

50,00

0

60,00

070

,000

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Projected waste diversion volume (m³)

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/182011/122010/112009/102008/09 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/182011/122010/11

Cost saving (£M)

Note: Figures include diverted through LLWR Ltd’s framework contracts and direct diversion by the waste producers.

Application of the Waste Hierarchy is projected to generate over £200 million of savings for the nuclear estate.

Preserving Repository capacity to meet the nation’s needs

Reducing the Nuclear Liability

LLW Repository Ltd


GlossaryAM Asset Management

ASW Agency Supplied Worker

CCF Copeland Community Fund

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CSW Contract Supplied Worker

D&C PC Drigg and Carleton Parish Council

DECC Department of Energy & Climate Change

EA Environment Agency

EHS&Q Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality

ESC Environmental Safety Case

FM Facilities Management

HHISO Half-Height ISO Container

HR Human Resources

HRGS High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry

IP Industrial Package

IT Information Technology

JWMP Joint Waste Management Plans

LLW Low Level Waste

LLWR Low Level Waste Repository Ltd

M&O Management and Operation

NDA Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

NORM Natural Occurring Radioactive Material

NWP National Waste Programme

OJEU Official Journal of the European Union

ONR Office for Nuclear Regulation

PBO Parent Body Organisation

PCM Plutonium Contaminated Materials

PCSC Post Closure Safety Case

ROF Royal Ordnance Factory

RSRL Research Sites Restoration Ltd

SLC Site Licence Company

SME Small to Medium Enterprises

SSA Shared Services Alliance


TNT Trinitrotolene

UK United Kingdom

UKNWM UK Nuclear Waste Management

UKRW UK Radioactive Waste Inventory

VLLW Very Low Level Waste

WMS Waste Management Services

Pelham HousePelham DriveCalderbridgeSeascale Cumbria CA20 1DBWebsite: www.llwrsite.comTelephone: 019467 70200

Documents

LLW Repository Ltd Plan 2013-2018