09/09/03 - Cumbrian report from US Nuclear Study Trip

Cumbria County Council and the North West Development Agency today gave details of a fact-finding trip to the Unites States on Nuclear Energy. The visit, arranged to support the development of the national Nuclear Decommissioning Agency, which will be sited in West Cumbria; included meetings with Government Officials in Washington DC and community representatives around selected nuclear facilities.   

The visit was led by County Council Leader, Rex Toft:   

"This visit was part of a review of US experience of nuclear site decommissioning and remediation. The review will allow the Council to comment critically and constructively on the proposed "Nuclear Decommissioning Agency" (NDA) which will take over the running of Sellafield in 2005. The visit has enabled our consultants, and me personally, to see first hand how the US goes about decommissioning its nuclear sites."   

Government has warned that West Cumbria must prepare for a major reduction in those employed at the Sellafield Site - the 12,000 jobs currently on site will start to decline in some seven years time and will reduce over a period to 4,000. The devastating impact which this will have on the Cumbrian economy cannot be overstated. 

The purpose of the study which we are undertaking is to assist the Council in the development of an Action Plan to respond to these changes in the nuclear industry. It will also help the Council in its ongoing discussion with the DTI. A Bill will shortly be going through Parliament to transfer ownership of the Sellafield site, with all its liabilities for waste management, to the NDA. We must ensure that protective measurers to look after our community are put in place, and we will be lobbying Government accordingly.   

By visiting the US we have seen first hand what has happened in the US. The need for fully involving communities and with proper government support has been examined. There is much to learn from the US experience, which has many good things in it but also some weaknesses."   

Tim Knowles, representing the County Council's Copeland Local Committee says   

"As a result of our visit we are now armed with detailed information that will help as argue effectively for meaningful local involvement and funding to assist in this essential national task." 

North West Development Agency Representative on the visit, Stewart Swift says,   

"The draft Bill gives my organisation the responsibility for coordinating regional and local regeneration in West Cumbria. I have greatly benefited by hearing first hand how similar communities in the US have worked with national and local government and site contractors to minimise the economic impact of decommissioning and eventual site closure. It is vital that we apply these valuable lessons to overcome the pressures shortly to impact West Cumbria".