Public has its say on nuclear stations

Trawsfynydd is now run by British Nuclear Fuels

Members of the public will get the chance to have their say on the future of nuclear power stations in north Wales.

The public consultation is being conducted by the Environment Agency.

It follows an application by British Nuclear Fuels Limited to discharge radioactive waste from eight Magnox power stations including Wylfa on Anglesey and Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd.

Wylfa will also be under discussion

The wide-ranging consultation will subject BNFL's applications to wider national and local scrutiny, said the agency.

Following the transfer of Magnox Electric to BNFL in January 1998, BNFL plans to integrate the two companies further by taking over the operations and staff of the Magnox power stations.

But, under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993, before BNFL can operate the sites itself, it must apply to the Environment Agency for new authorisations to dispose of the radioactive waste produced.

BNFL needs new authorisations before it can operate or decommission the Magnox sites.

It also needs permission to discharge radioactive waste, incinerate low level waste and to transfer waste to other sites.

The aim of the process is to achieve a better standard of environmental protection by pressing BNFL management to reduce radioactive discharges, said the agency.

'Serious discussion'

The consultation will last until 31 August and then the agency will gather all the information together, including public opinion and technical info from BNFL.

The agency said the consultation programme would be far wider than required by law because it "believes BNFL's applications require serious discussion and consideration".

The agency also wants to gain the widest range of opinion from the largest range of people with an interest in the issue.

The consultation documents are being supplied to all public libraries within the county of the site and main libraries within a 25-mile radius of the station.

The documents will also be available on the agency's website.