Guidance

Site evaluation: generic developed principles

Updated 2 May 2024

Applies to England

In this document we describe the environmental issues that an operator should consider when choosing a site for a new business or when thinking about expansion of an existing business. This is to ensure that the operator is aware of the nature of the local environment, where people live and work and other relevant issues such as the local production of food, and will take these issues into consideration when proposing such new or changed uses.

These site evaluation generic developed principles (SEDPs) are relevant to the evaluation of generic and specific sites proposed for new nuclear facilities and other facilities where radioactive substances are used.

They are also relevant to the evaluation of the continued suitability of sites throughout the construction and operation of nuclear and other facilities. In the case of major new facilities, site evaluation will often be part of a wider site-specific or strategic environmental impact assessment and planning process.

Further guidance on the evaluation of sites proposed for new disposal facilities for solid radioactive wastes is given in the guidance on requirements for authorisation (GRA) documents for near-surface and geological disposal sites.

SEDP1 – general principle for siting of new facilities

When evaluating sites for a new facility, account should be taken of the factors that might affect the protection of people and the environment from radiological hazards and the generation of radioactive waste.

Considerations

The factors to be taken into account include the:

• locations and habits of people, especially those likely to be most exposed as a result of releases of radionuclides into the environment from the facility (potential critical groups)
• locations where terrestrial, freshwater and marine foodstuffs are produced and obtained
• locations of surface and underground water supplies used by people and animals and the vulnerability of those water supplies
• potential effects of coastal erosion and sea level rise
• presence of radioactively contaminated land or groundwater
• locations of land and water bodies used for recreational and amenity purposes
• locations of non-human species and protected habitats and habitats features, including designated and candidate European and Ramsar sites
• locations of sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas of significance to cultural heritage

SEDP2 – migration of radioactive material in the environment

Data should be provided to allow the assessment of rates and patterns of migration of radioactive materials in the air and the aquatic and terrestrial environments around sites.

Considerations

The applicant should provide the necessary data for sites for new facilities.

The data provided should be sufficient to allow prospective dose assessments to be carried out (see RPDP4 in the document Radiological protection of people and the environment: generic developed principles).

For radionuclide dispersion in air, the information provided should include meteorological data for the area in which the site is located (for example, wind speeds and directions, air temperatures, precipitation rates, atmospheric stability parameters), and variations in these data arising from local topography (for example, hills, buildings).

For the marine environment, the information provided should include hydrological, physical and physico-chemical data for modelling the movement of radionuclides in seawater, suspended sediments and seabed sediments.

For surface freshwater bodies, the information should include hydrological, physical and physico-chemical data needed for modelling the movement of radionuclides in water, suspended sediments and bed sediments.

For soils and rocks, the information should include geological, hydrogeological and geochemical data needed to model radionuclide movement in near-surface and deeper groundwater.

For all environments, concentration factors or other transfer parameters should be given to enable the assessment of radionuclide movement through food chains and radionuclide concentrations in relevant non-human species.

Information on the presence of non-radioactive pollutants should be provided if these pollutants are likely to affect radionuclide movement through food chains and other ecosystems.

SEDP3 – ambient radioactivity

Levels of ambient radioactivity around the sites of new facilities should be assessed.

Considerations

Information about ambient levels of natural and artificial radioactivity should be used to estimate pre-existing doses to people and dose rates to non-human species. These estimates should be part of the input to the assessment of the radiological impact of the new facility on people and the environment. The estimates of pre-existing doses from authorised discharges should be used in the determination of regulatory limits and levels for the new facility (see RSMDP12 in the document Radioactive substances management: generic developed principles).

The information should be used as a baseline for further investigations and monitoring of the effects of the new facility during its operational life.

Radioactivity levels in all the relevant parts of the environment should be determined (air, surface waters and their sediments, soils, groundwaters, fauna and flora).

Radionuclides of natural and artificial origin should be included and distinguished where practicable.

SEDP4 – multi-facility sites

In the case of nuclear and other sites on which there are already one or more facilities, the radiological impact of the whole site on people and the environment should be assessed when considering the suitability of the site for any new facility.

Considerations

Assessments of future radiological impacts of sites should include on-going and new operations at existing facilities and, if relevant, their decommissioning.

The potential for existing facilities and shared services to affect the radiological impact of the new facility should be assessed.

If there are or will be different operators on the same site or on adjacent sites, formal mechanisms for co-operation between operators should be established and demonstrated to regulators.

SEDP5 – on-going evaluation

The characteristics of the site and its surrounding area should be kept under review and assessments made of the effects of natural and man-made changes.

Considerations

The relevant changes are any that could affect the radiological impact of the site on people and the environment, for example:

• changes in land use (such as introduction of different agricultural practices)
• changes in the habits of actual or potential critical groups
• introduction of new non-human species
• changes in weather patterns

The operator should make arrangements with relevant stakeholders to be informed about changes and, if appropriate, consulted about proposed changes. In particular, the operator should arrange with local planning authorities to be consulted about proposed changes in land use.

The operator should maintain and update databases of dispersion and other radiological impact assessment parameters for the sites of existing facilities, and notify us when changes are made to these databases.