NUKEM Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental Impact Assessments

NUKEM undertakes a broad range of Environmental Impact Assessment studies (EIA). We also have direct experience of undertaking a wide range of environmental restoration works involving chemical, radioactive and other hazardous materials. We are thus able to bring extensive practical and field experience to EIA studies from the associated development, planning, implementation and monitoring of operational work. These works have been undertaken for a wide range of customers including UKAEA at its various sites, other UK nuclear facility operators, international bodies, such as the European Commission, World Bank, European Investment Bank, EBRD and other national and overseas companies.

Key EIA tasks undertaken include:

Assessment of the environmental impacts of past, current and potential future releases of contamination from operational, storage and disposal facilities. Such studies use a variety of pathway models with complexities appropriate to the study objectives, eg scoping, risk-level categorisation, detailed assessments of impacts on human and environmental receptors
Identification of processes and management options for dealing with environmental contaminants. This includes optioneering studies through to more detailed development of individual options, as with preparation of basic flowsheets for treatment processes
Preparation of budget, sanction and detailed capital and operating cost and cash flow estimates of options with net present values and other discounted cash flow assessments
Assessments of the environmental impacts associated with the implementation of individual options and their longer term impacts after implementation
Review of regulatory compliance of options in terms of current and developing legislation and UK and overseas best practice
Development of option critiques
Identification of Best Practicable Environmental Options
Review of field environmental performance data from existing and new facilities, with comparisons against planned and model predictions

EIA studies include:

JASON Reactor Decommissioning
NUKEM project managed the decommissioning of the JASON Reactor at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. We acted on behalf of Project Sponsor and undertook the management of all tasks. These included developing the preliminary design to obtain Full Planning Consent, carrying out viability and risk assessment, preparing decommissioning and safety documentation, environmental impact assessment, implementing design and safety configuration control, preparing the specification and documents for the Implementation Contractor and supervising this work.

Sizewell B – BPEO
NUKEM undertook a Best Practical Environment Option (BPEO) study to determine the optimal strategy for long-term management of the RPV head. This included consideration of treatment, transport, storage and disposal options. A BPEO on Sizewell B LLW and ILW Liquid Filters was also completed.