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The first consultation on the major SAFEGROUNDS guidance revision closes on Monday 8 January 2007. Click here to participate.
The SAFEGROUNDS project to produce a suite of revised and new guidance documents on the management of contaminated land began in September 2006 and will end in May 2008. At various stages in the project there will be consultations on the scope, function and form of guidance documents, on their outline contents and on full drafts.
The guidance documents on which there will be most consultation are:
The first round of consultation is about the scope, function and form of LMGv2, the citizens’ guide and the guidance on option comparisons. There is one consultation paper for each of these documents. CIRIA invites you to take part in this consultation by responding to the online questions for each consultation. Click here to participate.
30 Nov 2006
Defra has released an interim version of Radioactively Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment Methodology. RCLEA is Defra's recommended approach for the exposure assessment of a site under the extended Part 2A regime for managing contaminated land.
The documents can be downloaded from below:
CLR13 - (summary guidance document) (Adobe acrobat format)
CLR15 - (software) (Adobe acrobat format)
These versions have undergone some major changes since the release of draft versions in February 2006. CLR 13 is currently still in draft form pending final publication. Any comments on the document may be sent to landquality.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
15 Nov 2006
The University of Manchester UK started a heavily funded Dalton Nuclear Institute 12 months ago and has recently negotiated and paid for £23m worth of access to nuclear research facilities. They are now seeking to recruit a Professor with a broad understanding of the nuclear industry and the research needed to retain the knowledge of the industry, the breadth of the area is detailed below.
Please click here to download further details (Adobe acrobat format).
11 Oct 2006
The revised Defra Circular 01/2006 on Contaminated land Environmental Protection Act 1990: Part 2A has now replaced the old DETR 02/2000 Circular and can be found on the Defra website here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/contaminated/pdf/circular01-2006.pdf
11 Oct 2006
The SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network is inviting all stakeholders to participate in a major project to revise its existing guidance documents. Stakeholders are being asked to comment on a plan for, and then participate in, the production of a number of guidance documents.
A principal part of the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network’s activities is the production and promulgation of good practice guidance on all aspects of the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. From the start of autumn 2006 until the end of spring 2008 SAFEGROUNDS will be revising all its existing guidance documents and adding some new ones.
To participate click here.
10 Oct 2006
Stakeholders interested in SAFEGROUNDS’ on-going work to develop good practice guidance in record-keeping may be interested in the above free workshop looking at a combination of knowledge management, records management and information preservation issues. The workshop is being organised by Tessella and will be held on 24th November 2006 in Warrington. It aims to help raise awareness of the issues with organizations who expect to be involved in major projects over the coming decades. The workshop also aims to identify ways in which the nuclear industry can learn from best practice in other sectors.
Please visit the link below for further information: www.tessella.com/News/NuclearInfoManagementWorkshop.htm
09 Oct 2006
The SAFEGROUNDS and SD:SPUR networks continue to drive good practice on nuclear and defence sites. Key aspects of these will be featured in a conference spanning 12 and 13 March 2006. Over 150 stakeholders from all perspectives are expected to attend and participate in a range of discussion and networking activities. This is definitely one for your diaries.
For more details please visit www.safegrounds.com/conference.htm.
15 Sep 2006
The Royal Society of Chemistry, Radiochemistry Group AGM will be held at the Grand Woodhouse Room, University House, The University of Leeds on Wednesday 29th November 2006. This event will explore the role of radiochemistry in assessing the type and extent of radioactively contaminated land and in state-of-the-art remediation approaches for mobile radioactive contaminants.
For more information please see the downloads below.
Event Programme (Adobe acrobat format)
Details, directions and accommodation (Adobe acrobat format)
07 Sep 2006
Defra have issued a note, CLAN 5/06, to provide an update on the extension of Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include radioactivity, following the public consultation exercise carried out between July and October 2005.
Download CLAN 5/06 (Word document)
On Tuesday 8 August 2006 Defra forwarded to SAFEGROUNDS the following web-link to their contaminated land website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/land/contaminated/pubs.htm
This website contains a link to Defra circular 01/2006 "Contaminated land". This Circular will shortly replace DETR Circular 02/2000. It deals with the extended regime for the identification and remediation of contaminated land which came into force on 4 August 2006.
08 Aug 2006
The Part 2A Contaminated Land Regime is being extended to cover radioactivity, in England on 4th August 2006 and in Wales in November 2006. Environment Agency guidance on the RCL regime went live last week. To view this guidance on the Environment Agency website please see:http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/landquality/113813/1442829/?version=1&lang=_e
07 Aug 2006
The SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network is currently working to produce a second version of the SAFEGROUNDS guidance on the management of contaminated land and corresponding versions of existing and new SAFEGROUNDS documents to support the guidance. In parallel, we will be working with all the key stakeholders to encourage the uptake of these good practice guides.
This project will be a major part of the work of the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network during 2006 and 2007 and aims to produce, around the end of 2007, a set of SAFEGROUNDS guidance documents that can be used for several years. The entire set is to consist of:
the second version of the SAFEGROUNDS guidance on the management of contaminated land (LMGv2)
a citizens’ guide to the management of contaminated land
executive summaries of LMGv2 for different types of site; and supporting documents on:
comparisons of options for the management of contaminated land, including an appendix on technical options for the management of contaminated land (unless it is decided to produce this as a separate document)
site characterisation
the UK regulatory framework for contaminated land
assessments of the health and environmental risks of contaminated land
stakeholder involvement in the management of contaminated land (if a separate document is found to be necessary).
The output from the record-keeping project described below will be a supporting document to LMGv2.
This project is funded by SAFEGROUNDS core funders and is managed by CIRIA. The SAFEGROUNDS steering group oversees the project. Tenders have been invited from suitably qualified technical consultants to support CIRIA in this work. The specification for the project can be viewed via this link.
27 July 2006
The first stage of the consultation started on 6 July and closes on 4 August 2006. Click here for instructions on how to participate. See below for background on the project.
The project entitled, 'Good Practice Guidance for Records and Record Keeping', started in March 06 and is due to end later this year.
The project has been developed to address specific problems identified by SAFEGROUNDS members with regard to records and record-keeping in relation to the management of contaminated land. The guide will provide, within NDA and MoD site contexts, clear practical information on how to deal with these problems. The guide will link closely to the SAFEGROUNDS main guidance document.
For more information on how the project has developed from idea to specification please click here.
The NDA has provided the main funding for the work. A subsidiary contribution comes from Defence Estates. The project is managed by CIRIA using the SAFEGROUNDS steering group. The research contractor is Serco Assurance with Iron Mountain. The following organisations form a working group.
AWE*, Defence Estates*, Gloucester City Council, HSE*, Magnox Electric*, NDA*, Nexia Solutions*, Nirex, SEPA*, UKAEA*, University of the West of England*
*SAFEGROUNDS project steering group members
27 July 2006
The current programme of work (SAFEGROUNDS 2006-07) has begun with the preparation of a generic flow diagram for the process of managing contaminated land. The steering group has developed various drafts and these will be used as a starting point. The finalised version will clearly show:
the main stages in contaminated land management
which stakeholders need to be involved at which stage
where the opportunities are for implementing the existing SAFEGROUNDS key principles
which other SAFEGROUNDS (and possibly non-SAFEGROUNDS) documents should be referred to.
Although they can be used as standalone tools, and therefore be placed on the website to provide immediate guidance, the flow diagrams also play crucial roles as route maps for producing LMGv2 (see above). They will clarify certain outstanding issues, for example, where site characterisation and stakeholder engagement activities sit within the overall SAFEGROUNDS approach.
The flow diagrams will define clear stages and a practical step-wise approach through the land management process. Draft flow diagrams are currently undergoing consultation with steering group members and their organisations. It is planned to place the final agreed versions on the SAFEGROUNDS website in October 2006 or before.
See the flow diagram consultation log for details.
27 July 2006
As usual we have been promulgating the SAFEGROUNDS message with stakeholders.
Two members (Richard Bramhall of the Low Level Radiation Campaign and Peter Booth of Nexia Solutions) attended NDA discussions with Site Stakeholder Groups on site end-point decisions
The steering group has explored the practical role of SSGs in the process of managing contaminated land management. Contact Jeff Kersey for further details.
NDA invites SAFEGROUNDS onto its National Stakeholder Group and drives SAFEGROUNDS approach through their ministerially approved strategy
SAFEGROUNDS commences work to develop a detailed stakeholder engagement plan to guide the development of LMGv2
DE flies SAFEGROUNDS flag at 2 day internal conference
SAFEGROUNDS continues to sit on liaison group with CORWM, NDA, Isolus
SAFEGROUNDS chairman Andy Thomas gives a well-received presentation on the learning network to members of the Safety Directors Forum.
27 July 2006
The SAFEGROUNDS website is an extremely popular resource for those in the UK concerned with the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. It is currently being reviewed and updated to ensure the content remains up to date. The main changes you will see in the short term will be the introduction of clearer document descriptions, including version control statements, and consultation logs. The consultation logs enable visitors to track the development of a document through various drafting and consultation phases. The log is organised into a flow chart which has hyperlinks to draft documents and the consultation comments on them.
LMG revision specification consultation log
Flow diagram consultation log
27 July 2006
The next SAFEGROUNDS conference is planned for January 2007. As with the last one the NDA have offered a senior speaker. If you are interested in participating, including sponsoring and exhibiting, please get in touch with project manager, Jeff Kersey, to discuss options. This year the SAFEGROUNDS conference will be followed by the first SD:SPUR conference. More details will be available on the SAFEGROUNDS website shortly.
27 July 2006
British Energy |
Gayle Cairns replaces Colin Taylor who has supported SAFEGROUNDS over many years. |
Gloucester City Council |
Steve Moreby has joined the SAFEGROUNDS steering group. This will provide a welcome and timely local authority perspective. |
Environment Agency |
Colette Grundy takes over from David Bennett who has participated for many years. |
Welsh Anti Nuclear Alliance |
Hugh Richards has suspended his involvement because his organisation is now focusing its attention on the nuclear new-build debate. The steering group passes on its thanks to Hugh for his many positive contributions to SAFEGROUNDS. Hugh has agreed to be kept informed of steering group discussions. |
British Nuclear Group |
Katherine Eilbeck has moved on to new roles within British Nuclear Group after supporting SAFEGROUNDS over recent years. Claire Gallery-Strong will become their representative. |
27 July 2006
Letter of thanks received from the Safety Directors' ForumSAFEGROUNDS chairman, Andy Thomas and project manager, Jeff Kersey gave well-received presentations on the SAFEGROUNDS and SD:SPUR Learning Networks to members of the Safety Directors' Forum earlier this year. A letter of thanks was received from Peter Webster, chairman of the Safety Directors' Forum and can be viewed by following this link. 12 July 2006 |
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The following update was sent to the SAFEGROUNDS project manager by Stephen Allen, Defra, on 05 July 2006 to inform stakeholders on the current position with regards to Defra's work on radioactive contaminated land regulations.
'The following Statutory Instruments and associated Statutory Guidance were laid in Parliament on the 23rd May 2006 and will come into force on the 4th August 2006:
- The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Modification of Enactments)(England) Regulations 2006
- The Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2006
- The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (Commencement No 2) (England) Order 2006
- The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Isles of Scilly) Order 2006
- The revised Statutory Guidance to include radioactivity
There have been a few complications during the publication of these Regulations, which have delayed their issuing. An email containing the regulations webpage will follow shortly as soon as we receive the correct versions.'
10 July 2006
The first stage of the consultation starts on 6 July and closes on 4 August 2006. Click here for instructions on how to participate. See below for background on the project.
The project entitled, 'Good Practice Guidance for Records and Record Keeping', started in March 06 and is due to end later this year. Three meetings have been held, including 2 workshops, and participants have been most co-operative in feeding in information from their various perspectives.
In defining the project SAFEGROUNDS members indicated the specific problems that could be experienced with regard to records and record-keeping in relation to the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. They were seeking clear information within the guide on how to deal with these in practical ways which were relevant to NDA and defence site contexts. The guide will link closely to the SAFEGROUNDS main guidance document. You can view how the project has developed from idea to specification via this link.
The NDA has provided the main funding for the work. A subsidiary contribution comes from Defence Estates. The project is managed by CIRIA using the SAFEGROUNDS steering group. The research contractor is Serco Assurance with Iron Mountain. The following organisations form a working group.
AWE*, Defence Estates*, Gloucester City Council, HSE*, Magnox Electric*, NDA*, Nexia Solutions*, Nirex, SEPA*, UKAEA*, University of the West of England*
*SAFEGROUNDS project steering group members
06 July 2006
Pre-qualification statements are requested from contractors interested in tendering for the above research project. The objective of the project is to produce a second version of the SAFEGROUNDS guidance on the management of contaminated land and corresponding versions of existing and new SAFEGROUNDS documents to support the guidance. The project will be a major part of the work of the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network during 2006 and 2007.
The pre-qualification stage of the tendering process will begin on Friday 09 June 2006. The deadline for the submission of all pre-qualification statements is Monday 26 June 2006 (12.00). If you are interested in receiving a copy of the specification and pre-qualification documents please email Jo Facer.
To view a copy of the existing SAFEGROUNDS guidance on the management of contaminated land please visit: www.safegrounds.com/main_guidance.htm
09 June 2006
The Health Protection Agency has published advice on the designation of radioactively contaminated land in response to proposals from Defra for new regulations on the clean-up of contaminated sites. Although SAFEGROUNDS members thought it would be worth highlighting this document on the SAFEGROUNDS website, in steering group discussions there was some uncertainty as to the level of consultation the document had undergone. It is therefore recommended that it is read with caution until that can be ascertained.
To view a copy of the document visit www.hpa.org.uk/publications/2006/rce2/default.htm
01 April 2006
CIRIA launched its new SAFESPUR Forum to a full house today, at an event entitled Good practice as a commercial differentiator. This was attended by representatives from over 40 different contractor and consultant organisations, all of which are involved or interested in commercial contaminated land management or decommissioning work with clients such as the MOD or the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Tier 1 contractors.
The forum is of interest to all parts of the nuclear and defence supply and project management chains. Its aim is to promote the business benefits of adopting good practice in commercial projects. In doing this it provides members with links to and from the already well-established SAFEGROUNDS and SD:SPUR Learning Networks and acts as a mechanism for networking and knowledge-sharing on technological and management approaches.
CIRIA’s Jo Facer said: “It was encouraging to see representatives from such a wide range of industry stakeholders at this fully-booked event. There was endorsement of the need to understand the role of good practice as a commercial differentiator and we were delighted in the level of interest expressed in the programme of events being planned.”
For further information about SAFESPUR, visit www.safespur.com or contact Jo Facer at CIRIA, Classic House, 174-180 Old Street, London EC1V 9BP. (T) 020 7549 3300; (E) enquiries@safespur.com
22 March 2006
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is extending the existing contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to cover radioactivity. Information about the future regime is available at Defra’s website.
A methodology is required for the quantitative risk assessment of land that falls under the regime and might be radioactively contaminated. Defra has commissioned Quintessa Limited, with support from URS Corporation, to develop a 'Radioactively Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment' (RCLEA) methodology for this purpose. It will complement the existing Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) methodology for non-radioactively contaminated land.
Stakeholder’s views on the overall approach for RCLEA were sought in the summer of 2005. Comments have been addressed, and a full draft of the RCLEA methodology has been developed. RCLEA is documented in a Technical Report and less-technical Summary Report. A software tool has also been developed, using Microsoft Excel ®, to enable RCLEA to be applied.
Prior to their formal release, Defra wishes to invite further comments on the documents and software. These are available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/radioactivity-rclea/index.htm
Given that the overall approach has already been consulted upon, comments are invited on the ease with which the methodology can be understood and applied.
Comments should be sent to Stephen Allen at the following address by 20 February 2006:
Radioactive Substances Division
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Zone 3/G27
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6DE
stephen.j.allen@defra.gsi.gov.uk
tel: 0207 082 8472
fax: 0207 082 8474
The SAFEGROUNDS and SD:SPUR learning networks are launching a new contractors and consultants good practice group. Contractors and consultants are showing increasing interest in SAFEGROUNDS and SD:SPUR because of the insights they offer into emerging market conditions, particularly the role of good practice in winning work and delivering commercial projects.
In response to demand, CIRIA is forming a contractor and consultant s group to regularly bring together commercial organisations interested in sharing practical information and experiences.
Follow this link for more information on the new group and its launch event.
13 January 2006
There is currently very limited guidance or information from SAFEGROUNDS on record-keeping (see other guidance for details). However, SAFEGROUNDS participants have indicated its importance and have called for a project to produce new detailed good practice guidance. When completed this will be made available on the SAFEGROUNDS website. Your views are therefore sought on what should be included in a specification for a project to produce good practice guidance for record-keeping for the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. Follow this link to the see how you can provide your ideas.
10 November 2005
Defra are currently in the process of a public consultation on an Industry Profile document which focuses on land uses which may be subject to radiological contamination. Defra have invited SAFEGROUNDS to make stakeholders aware of this document. Defra would be grateful for comments received. The Industry Profile document can be found by following this link to the Defra web page
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now published its criterion for delicensing parts of, or entire sites licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. For further information, follow this link.
12 August 2005
Two complementary consultations are being run in parallel:
09 August 2005
A new document has been produced which results from discussions from within the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network. It provides an opening position that describes the key issues associated with site end-points on radiological contaminated land. It is not meant to be a detailed, exhaustive and consensual document, rather a commentary on the current views. This has been a useful review of what was identified as an important issue for the SAFEGROUNDS community. The document can be viewed within the other information section of the website.
(Adobe Acrobat format)
04 August 2005
This paper has recently been revised within the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network and supplements the main guidance. It deals with assessments for radioactively contaminated land, land on which non-radioactive contaminants are present, and land with mixed radioactive and non-radioactive contamination. It focuses on risk assessments that are to be carried out as part of comparisons of land management options, as input to the identification of the preferred option(s). The document can be viewed within the other guidance section of the website.
(Adobe Acrobat format)
27 July 2005
SAFEGROUNDS has been asked by CoRWM to highlight and invite participation in the next phase of consultation on the long term management of solid radioactive waste. The consultation started on 4 April and will end on 27 June. Further details can be seen in the participation section of the website.
13 April 2005
BNFL have developed this freely-available spreadsheet-based tool to enable suitably qualified but relatively non-specialised assessors to make relatively rapid assessments of the radiological implications of data for concentrations of radionuclides in contaminated land and water on Nuclear Licensed sites. The tool can be viewed within the other guidance section of the website.
11 April 2005
This report is a collation of the responses to the survey of experience questionnaire that was uploaded on to the SAFEGROUNDS website and circulated electronically to a number of key contacts. The aim of this survey was to establish the level of familiarity with and uptake of the SAFEGROUNDS land management guidance. The report can be viewed with the participation section of the website.
11 April 2005
Enviros Consulting has completed the update of David Colliers 2002 Community Stakeholder Involvement paper. The updated draft can be viewed within other guidance section of the website under stakeholder involvement. It takes into account the changes in stakeholder involvement processes since David's paper was published. The paper was developed by following the SAFEGROUNDS process allowing it to have the SAFEGROUNDS icon. A record of the key stages in the papers development can be viewed here.
30 March 2005
Marion Hill has drafted a note giving on the first SAFEGROUNDS conference held on 10 March. This note gives some personal impressions of the conference. The stated theme of the conference was ‘driving good practice’ in the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. The presentations and discussions tended to focus on two aspects of this theme: taking stock of progress and identifying challenges for the immediate future. It is these aspects that the note concentrates on. The note can be viewed here (Adobe Acrobat format).
30 March 2005
Marion Hill has drafted a note on the Energy Act that received Royal Assent in July 2004 . The Act covers the civil nuclear industry, renewable energy sources, and energy markets and regulation. This note summarises the parts of the Act that are most relevant to the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites. It can either be viewed here (Adobe Acrobat format) or within the Other Guidance section under UK regulatory and policy framework.
26 January 2005
Jeff Kersey of SAFEGROUNDS has joined CoRWM’s Engagement Liaison Group that meets bi-monthly. Jeff joins other members of the group representing the NDA Team and Ministry of Defence. A note is produced after each meeting and this can be viewed in the participation section of the website.
1 December 2004
This first SAFEGROUNDS conference explores the opportunities to drive the implementation of good practice guidance, from different stakeholder perspectives. The focus of the event is on participation and transparency, which are key themes both for SAFEGROUNDS and the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
Stakeholder groups include non-government organisations, regulators, the nuclear industry and defence, community based organisations, local authorities, policy-makers and research organisations. Delegates will engage in discussion on the prospects for these organisations to shape and implement guidance whilst representing the best interests of individuals within UK society.
The conference will feature a keynote address, presentations and a facilitated debate to air views on issues of central importance to the successful operation of the Learning Network. Feedback will be gathered throughout the day, to be applied in the future development of SAFEGROUNDS guidance.
A flier detailing the conference programme has been developed and can be seen here (Adobe Acrobat format). If you would like further details on the conference, please contact Jeff Kersey or Philip Charles on 020 7549 3300 or via enquiries@safegrounds.com.
26 November 2004
The SAFEGROUNDS document consultation process has been refined and encapsulated in a flow diagram (Adobe Acrobat format). Stakeholders agree this provides a clearer, more rigorous and “auditable” approach. Documents that undergo the process will be eligible to receive the SAFEGROUNDS icon.
26 November 2004
Andy Thomas has formally been appointed as the SAFEGROUONDS Chairman. Andy has now retired from BNFL and is working as an independent consultant.
26 November 2004
The following two documents developed through SAFEGROUNDS have been undergoing a detailed updating process to address issues raised by stakeholders:
This has involved discussions with a SAFEGROUNDS working group and wider consultations through steering group members. Consultation is now closed. The updated documents will shortly be uploaded on the SAFEGROUNDS website.
26 November 2004
The existing survey questionnaire to assess the uptake and impact of the SAGEGROUNDS main guidance (Good practice guidance for the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites) has been redesigned to improve confidentiality of those submitting information.
The questionnaire is being used to continually gather experiences from those implementing the guidance. This is highlighting areas where the guidance might be improved. It is also helping in the identification of case study material to support further promulgation of the SAFEGROUNDS approach. The questionnaire can be completed online or downloaded (Adobe Acrobat format).
26 November 2004
If you have useful experiences that can help promote the case for the SAFEGROUNDS approach, please use the following links to contact us:
(Adobe Acrobat format)
26 November 2004
Jeff Kersey gave a presentation during an UK Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) seminar in Hull in October. This introduced the audience to The SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network. Following the seminar, he led a discussion session to explore a central question for SAFEGROUNDS:
The aim was to develop awareness of a range of views to consider enhancement of engagement and consultation processes as the project moves forward. It was hoped that the session would lay the groundwork for a more structured and independently facilitated workshop planned for March 2005 (to coincide with the SAFEGROUNDS conference). From these discussions, a coherent plan for NGO-CBO participation is anticipated. A note and comments arising from this meeting can be seen here.
26 November 2004
The venue for the SAFEGROUNDS conference has been confirmed as the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair, Grosvenor Square. A flier with full details on the conference will be made available shortly!
16 November 2004
The SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network is holding a conference on 10 March 2005. It will include topical presentations, debate, workshops and an exhibition providing a showcase of technologies, techniques and services.
Presentations will look at the key relationships in nuclear and defence site land management. Speakers consider the future challenges of regulatory control, the nascent Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and its commitment to stakeholder engagement and the supply chain’s credentials to operate in the new competitive arena.
Participation is actively sought from the following wide range of stakeholders to enable the sharing of different perspectives:
Discussion groups will examine clean-up experience, the capacity for stakeholders to participate in the development of guidance and the practitioner’s experience of dealing with “site endpoint” issues. More details to follow soon!!
11 November 2004
SAFEGROUNDS is pleased to announce that a member(s) of the Learning Network will be attending the following events:
Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) seminar, Hull, October 2004, (Jeff Kersey, CIRIA)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) event, Vienna, October 2004 (Dick Haworth, NII)
European Nuclear Society (ENS) conference, Paris, February 2005 (Andy Thomas, Independent consultant/ Jeff Kersey, CIRIA)
If you have details of any forthcoming conferences/ seminars that you think may interest SAFEGROUNDS or would like more information on those listed above please contact us.
1 October 2004
Jeff Kersey will be presenting at the Nuclear Free Local Authority (NFLA) Annual Policy Briefing being held at the Guildhall in Hull on Friday 15 October 2004. Following this briefing Jeff will be holding a meeting with NGO’s and CBO’s to discuss issues and how SAFEGROUNDS can engage them effectively.
1 October 2004
Responses to the delicensing consultation exercise will be lodged in the Health and Safety Executive’s Information Centres three weeks after the consultation period closed on the 30 July. They can be inspected by members of the public or be copied to them on payment of the appropriate fee to cover costs. HSE are currently analysing the varied comments made. As yet, it’s unclear what effect they will have on the proposed policy statement.
16 August 2004
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a consultation on criteria for delicensing nuclear sites. The HSE is seeking further comments of the proposed policy statement that has already been discussed with key stakeholders. The consultation is open from 4 May to 30 July 2004. Further details on this consultation has be seen by clicking here.
10 May 2004
SAFEGROUNDS has developed an electronic survey to assess people’s experience in using the project’s main guidance document. This will be crucial in helping build an understanding of its uptake, where further awareness raising is needed, in assessing its effectiveness, and where it needs improving. The key findings will be collated and announced once they are available. To complete the survey please click here.
19 April 2004
Enviros has updated the Hugh Mallett’s Technical Options for Managing Contaminated Land that was originally prepared within the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network and the main guidance, and can be viewed here (Adobe PDF).
19 April 2004
The Managing radioactive discharges conference (NEDCON 2004) is being held between 28-29 April 2004 at the NRBP Training Centre in Oxfordshire. A flier providing details of how to register, costs and content can be viewed here (Adobe PDF).
19 April 2004
BNES in conjunction with Technology 2004 Exhibition is holding a seminar on nuclear reactor decommissioning at B111 Sellafield on Tuesday 27 April 2004. Jeff Kersey of SAFEGROUNDS is speaking at this event. Flier providing details of how to register, costs and content can be viewed here (Adobe PDF).
19 April 2004
Marion Hill has drafted a note to the Energy Bill is currently (March 2004) going through Parliament and is expected to become law later in 2004 or early in 2005. The Bill covers the civil nuclear industry, renewable energy sources, and energy markets and regulation. The note summarises the parts of the Bill that are most relevant to the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites, and can be viewed here (Adobe PDF).
26 March 2004
The 9th ConSoil Conference is being held between 3-7 October 2005 at the Bordeaux Conference Centre, France. A flier providing details of how to register, costs and content can be viewed here (Adobe PDF).
26 March 2004
The Department of Trade & Industry is currently consulting on various aspects of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) including a draft framework for stakeholder engagement and transparency (Adobe PDF) and how the NDA will be managed (Adobe PDF). Details of how to and deadlines for comment on these consultations are included. Further details on the NDA can be found on the DTI website.
17 March 2004
Funding has been confirmed for a project that will use stakeholder dialogue processes to examine socially, economically and environmentally sustainable practices in managing large quantities of very low level radioactive waste and free-release construction materials arising from nuclear industry decommissioning. The project will take forward the findings of a scoping study. A summary of this project can be viewed here (Adobe PDF format).
27 February 2004
Details of companies offering a wide range of services from consultancy to contracting are now available. Information listed on the registered companies includes services offered, weblinks, and contact details. You can easily register your company today by clicking here.
27 February 2004
A list of relevant Government departments and agencies in the UK and Northern Ireland is now available. This includes details of their responsibilities along with weblinks, and can be viewed here.
27 February 2004
The period for commenting on the Outline Proposals requested by Lancaster University commissioned by the Ministry of Defence has ended. Any comments posted on the website will still be passed on. The results of the proposals will be published during February. Further details.
5 February 2004
The opportunity for commenting on the Clearance & Exemption Working Groups (C&EWG) document has ended. If you would like to find out about the next stage please contact David Owen via david.owen@bnfl.com or to the dedicated email cewg@bnfl.com.
5 February 2004
A table listing the TEC’s completed and on-going work with a variety of stakeholder groups on nuclear issues including Cricklewood - transport of nuclear fuel between 1998-2000 is available here.
5 February 2004
It is BNFL’s intention to publish a consultation draft version of the ‘look-up tables’ for radiological assessment of contaminated land (and associated report) on the SAFEGROUNDS website around the end of May 2004. This second consultation will be to help BNFL ensure that the tables are presented in a clear and user-friendly fashion, with assumptions and limitations stated in a manner that is transparent to non-BNFL users/readers.
Simon Clark of the Ministry of Defence announced at the
recent steering group meeting that having reached the end of his secondment
he would be standing down. Simon will be returning to work in radiation protection
services within the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The steering
group thanked Simon for his input into the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network over
a number of years, and invited him to be in involved in the future as a network
member. The Learning Network is delighted that Simon has agreed. Dr Alan Hinchcliffe
will take over from Simon as the Ministry of Defences representative from
the next steering group meeting onwards.
5 December 2003
Membership of the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network is steadily growing. Recruitment will be a key focus of the future programme. If you are interested in registering as a network member please click here. Current membership includes organisations across a wide spectrum of disciplines including the industry, government agencies, non-government agencies and academia.
1 December 2003
Web-statistics covering the quarter from July to September 2003 highlight the success of the SAFEGROUNDS website, with over 20,000 successful hits. Many SAFEGROUNDS and other guidance documents have proved to be popular downloads.
1 December 2003
The opportunity for organisations offering technologies and services to those working in the field has been taken forward through the development of the technology vendors section on the SAFEGROUNDS website. Submissions from vendors are now being sought via the website.
The enhanced features allow organisations to include details of products and services they have available across a number of specialised areas including characterisation, remediation and data management through a short description and weblinks.
24 October 2003
CIRIA can confirm that at least £50k of funding will be in place to support the continued development of the SAFEGROUNDS.
24 October 2003
The consultation period for this document on the SAFEGROUNDS website has now been completed. BNFL held a meeting recently with the project team and peer reviewer, following which the specification will now be finalised, and hopefully by early November, when the finalised specification will be made available for publication on the website. The current plan is to have a draft report and look-up tables available for comment by posting on the SAFEGROUNDS website in March 2004. BNFL aim for finalisation of the finished product around July 2004, allowing for 8 weeks or so consultation time.
16 October 2003
The 4-page summary of the SAFEGROUNDS Land Management Guidance is now available from this website. As part of its workplan for 2003/04 SAFEGROUNDS commissioned consultants Quintessa to write a practical summary which explains the purpose of the original document. The author of the Guidance, Marion Hill of Enviros, has provided advisory assistance to Quintessa in writing the summary. The 4 pager will be used by the SAFEGROUNDS Learning Network to promote the uptake of the main guidance by all practitioners.
3 October 2003
