Question reference: S4W-21757
- Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 13 June 2014
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 June 2014
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the periodic safety review of a nuclear power station requires an environmental impact assessment.
Answer
Periodic safety reviews (PSRs) of nuclear power stations do not require an environmental impact assessment.
UK nuclear site licensees must carry out PSRs every 10 years as agreed with the regulator, Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and provide a systematic review and assessment of the safety case, looking forwards up to ten years.
PSRs provide an opportunity to undertake a comprehensive study of plant safety, taking into account aspects such as its operational history, ageing factors which could lead to deterioration in safety, and the advances in safety standards since the time of construction or the previous review. From this, the safety of future operation of the plant is evaluated. PSRs are complementary to the day-to-day regulatory controls which are applied to nuclear power stations.
The scope and the structure of a PSR is a matter for the licensee but must satisfy the ONRs expectations as set out in its guidance: http://www.onr.org.uk/periodic-safety-review/.