Reappointments To The Committee On Radioactive Waste Management

7 January 2011

The Chair and twelve members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) have recently been reappointed for a second term of office by sponsor Ministers from the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the devolved administrations for, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Committee plays a key role in providing independent scrutiny and advice to UK Government and devolved administration Ministers on long-term radioactive waste management, including storage and disposal.

CoRWM's primary task is to provide independent scrutiny of the UK Government's and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's proposals, plans and programmes to deliver geological disposal, together with robust interim storage, as the long-term management option for higher activity waste. This work is part of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme where the UK Government has invited communities to enter discussions about potential involvement in the geological disposal facility sitting process. Government is currently in discussion with three local authorities in England and the invitation remains open for others who might be interested in finding out more.

The reappointment of CoRWM members reflects the skills-set that the Committee needs for the current stage of its work. The reappointments have been split between two and four-year terms to enable future appointments to be staggered, thereby allowing continuity in skills and knowledge of the Committee's work going forward.