Safe, long-term management of nuclear wastes in the UK

This article outlines the position reached as a result of the refusal of planning permission for the Rock Characterisation Facility at Sellafield. It identifies three key areas of activity where important progress is being made, viz: a process of consultation as to the institutional framework required in the future; advancement of the scientific basis for future repository development; the development of a sound process for achieving conditioned and packaged radioactive wastes that should be suitable for a range of long-term waste management options.