The work of a radioactive waste management watchdog The work of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee

Abstract

This paper traces the origins and development of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC), an independent committee of experts charged with giving advice to Government on issues relating to the management of civil radioactive waste. It focuses on the constitution of the committee and its working methods and the way in which these are arranged to reflect RWMAC's independence. In describing the committee's work, particular attention is paid to the deep disposal strategy for intermediate level waste. There is discussion of RWMAC's advice on the need for openness and transparency and the options available to the Government following rejection of the Nirex planning application for a Rock Characterisation Facility (RCF) at Longlands Farm, near Sellafield. However, as consideration of the committee's 1998 work programme shows, its remit extends much wider than issues associated with the disposal of radioactive waste.