The Environment Agency is seeking feedback from the community and national stakeholders on applications for three environmental permits required for operation of the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station.
EDF SZC Co is looking to build a new nuclear power station next to Sizewell B in Suffolk.
Image: artist's impression of the Sizewell C nuclear power station
The operational permits are being sought for disposal and discharge of radioactive waste, operation of standby power supply systems, and discharges of cooling water and liquid effluent.
As well as regulating the proposed site, through these environmental permits, the Environment Agency also provides advice and information to the Planning Inspectorate on a whole manner of subjects, including the protection of water quality and ecology; and flood and coastal risk management.
The three permits were submitted to the Environment Agency last month. They cover the controls that EDF SZC Co need to put into place to ensure high standards of environmental protection during commissioning, operation and decommissioning.
The three main operational permits sought are for:
- disposals and discharges of radioactive wastes;
- operation of standby power supply systems using diesel generators;
- discharges of cooling water and liquid effluent into the North Sea.
The EA is running the consultations on the three permit applications at the same time in order to give people a clear opportunity to find out about all the relevant information through one process.
The consultation on the applications will run from 6 July 2020 for 12 weeks.
The Environment Agency must decide whether to grant or refuse the issue of the permits. If it grants a permit, the Environment Agency can include conditions to ensure proper protection of people and the environment.
The Environment Agency’s Nuclear New Build Project Manager, Simon Barlow, said:
“These applications represent the culmination of 10 years of pre-application discussions with EDF SZC Co. We welcome people’s views on these permit applications and will carefully consider their comments before we progress to the next stage of our decision making process.
“As these applications relate to the disposal and discharge of radioactive waste; operation of standby power supply systems using diesel generators; and discharges of cooling water and liquid effluent into the North Sea they will all have implications for the environment and should be rigorously examined – hence our consultation.”
After the Agency has reviewed the applications, the next stage will be to conduct a further consultation on its draft decisions, when members of the public will have another opportunity to provide their comments.
During and after the 12 weeks, Environment Agency experts will be carrying out technical assessments of the applications and will consider comments.
The Environment Agency and the Office for Nuclear Regulation have already completed their assessment of the UK EPR reactor design that EDF SZC Co is proposing for its Sizewell C site.
The assessment process ended in December 2012 and the Environment Agency and ONR concluded that the reactor design is ‘acceptable’. This means that people and the environment will be properly protected if this reactor design is constructed and operated in the UK.
Click here to access the environmental permit applications for Sizewell C
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