{"id":50727,"date":"2020-06-24T14:05:03","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T14:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=50727"},"modified":"2022-02-02T08:14:00","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T08:14:00","slug":"british-geological-survey-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-radioactive-waste-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/british-geological-survey-signs-memorandum-of-understanding-with-radioactive-waste-management\/","title":{"rendered":"BGS signs Memorandum of Understanding with Radioactive Waste Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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BGS has today (24 June 2020) entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) to inform the UK\u2019s geological disposal programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two independent organisations today jointly published a five-year agreement that sets out a framework for collaborative work at strategic, technical and operational levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collaboration between both organisations is intended to support improved environmental outcomes relating to a UK geological disposal facility (GDF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A GDF works by isolating radioactive waste in secure engineered containers, beneath several hundred meters of solid rock deep below the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major long-term environmental and infrastructure project for the UK, planning for a GDF is expected to take between 15 to 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BGS has a long established history of research in the disposal of radioactive waste in the UK and internationally based on years of expertise since the mid-1950s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research BGS undertakes into the disposal of radioactive waste is scientifically independent and impartial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BGS research on this topic is subject to peer review and is intended to better inform debate and decisions about the siting of a GDF for radioactive waste in the UK, and for similar facilities elsewhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Speech\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The agreement with RWM will help to maintain BGS\u2019s impartiality whilst enabling us to provide the high-quality and objective geoscientific knowledge and expertise required for the delivery of a UK geological disposal facility.<\/p>\n

BGS research will help to progress the UK\u2019s understanding about the rocks below its surface, and their suitability for hosting a GDF, as the importance of finding environmentally sound solutions for the issue of radioactive waste disposal grows.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important that communities and their representatives understand how geoscience plays a role in the process of evaluating sites for suitability, and this will form part of our work.<\/p>\n

Dr Karen Hangh\u00f8j, BGS Director.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Speech\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Delivering a geological disposal facility to permanently deal with UK\u2019s higher-activity radioactive waste is the right thing to do.<\/p>\n

BGS will play a key role in ensuring we receive expert impartial advice as we work on this vital national programme.<\/p>\n

Their expertise in UK geoscience is unparalleled and crucially they will help us fully understand the rocks below the surface and their suitability for a GDF.<\/p>\n

Karen Wheeler, chief executive of RWM.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n

The MoU is publicly available to view on the BGS website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about why a geological disposal facility is being considered<\/a> in the UK and answers to other important questions.<\/p>\n\n\n

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