Today marks the beginning of a four-week public consultation by the Environment Agency.
Uranium fuel will be used by the pressurised water reactors at Hinkley Point C to produce heat and power when they are operational.
Nuclear fuel will be stored locally after use in the reactor before being transported off-site to a geological disposal facility (GDF).
An initial environmental authorization for radioactive chemicals was given to NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited in 2013.
The original plan called for on-site “wet storage,” which involves submerging radioactive waste in water and storing it there.
The operator has now chosen to switch from wet storage to “dry storage” as the method for storing spent nuclear fuel.
Prior to being sent to the GDF, used nuclear fuel will be kept in dry storage, where it will be kept in sealed containers inside a facility.
This indicates that the operator is currently attempting to amend or remove specific conditions related to the previous wet storage technology from its radioactive substances environmental permit.
The expected radiation dose to the general public from discharges or the wider environment, which remains incredibly low, won’t change if the storage method is changed, according to the operator.
Separately, in the fall, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited will apply to amend its Development Consent Order for Hinkley Point C.