Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 February 1997. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 18 February 1997 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: If the Government intends to apply the London Convention's ban on sea disposal of radioactive wastes to radioactive scale on redundant oil installations; what criteria it will apply in assessing the best practicable environmental option for disposal of radioactive material from oil and gas installations; and how those criteria will differ from the criteria applied to wastes from the civil nuclear industry and radioactive military waste. - Inc ref to "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy - Final Conclusions" White Paper (Cm 2919).

Answer: Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government intend to apply the London convention's ban on sea disposal of radioactive wastes to radioactive scale on redundant oil installations; what criteria they will apply in assessing the best practicable environmental option for disposal of radioactive material from oil and gas installations; and how those criteria will differ from the criteria applied to wastes from the civil nuclear industry and radioactive military waste. [15672] Mr. Clappison: The London convention does not prohibit the dumping at sea of wastes or other materials containing "de minimis"--exempt--levels of radioactivity. Authorisations for the disposal of radioactive wastes are issued by the Environment Agencies under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Policy on determining authorisations is set out in the White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy--Final Conclusions", Cm 2919.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15672; 290 c444-5W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Radioactive waste Offshore structures Radioactive materials Oil rigs Waste disposal Seas and oceans