Held over three days in Bournemouth (2-4 July) the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference 2019 gave community representatives from across the country the opportunity to meet with experts from Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) to learn more about a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) and the benefits it would bring.
A GDF is a highly-engineered network of underground vaults and tunnels that will provide safe and secure disposal of the country’s radioactive waste.
As a multi-billion pound programme, a GDF would provide long-term local employment and the opportunity for a local area to benefit from significant investment. Formal engagement in the process brings benefits starting at £1 million and rising to £2.5 million per year without any commitment.
At the conference, a suite of animations explained the GDF story, and how RWM will work with communities. Using virtual reality, delegates were able to take a future trip 1km underground to explore a state of the art GDF. RWM’s expert geologists were also on hand to explain National Geological Screening and the role geology plays in site selection for a GDF.
Ann McCall, Siting & Engagement Director for RWM, said:
The process to find a site for a GDF is consent-based with communities at its heart. We were delighted to be at the LGA Conference to discuss geological disposal and the investment opportunities and benefits a GDF could bring to a local community.
Join the conversation: RWM has published detailed guidance for communities who would like more information about geological disposal.
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