Expectations for Managing Contaminated Ground and Groundwater: Developing a Common View of NDA and Regulators

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Clark
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Common View ◽  
Land Quality ◽  
Nuclear Decommissioning ◽  
Environmentally Responsible ◽  
Working Together ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Responsible Manner

The management of contaminated ground and groundwater is a notable contributor to dealing with the challenge we face in cleaning up the legacy of the UK’s civil nuclear industry in a safe, cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. To facilitate this mission, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Environmental Regulators and Safety Regulators are working together to develop common expectations for the management of contaminated ground and groundwater arising on and extending off nuclear licensed sites in the UK. The aims of this work are to: • set out shared expectations for land quality management, explaining any differing expectations where consensus is difficult; • interpret expectations to ensure they are clear and implementable, facilitating planning of programmes and deliverables; • provide a framework for dialogue against which progress in land quality management can be mapped; • promote positive action to manage land quality in a proportionate and sustainable manner to achieve consistent standards; and • identify whether areas of the regulatory framework or NDA contractual requirements warrant review and propose improvements for consideration, as appropriate. This paper outlines the process currently ongoing to identify the best way of achieving these aims in a manner that avoids compromising the respective statutory obligations, duties and functions of each party.

Delivering Step Change Improvements to UK Low Level Waste Strategy

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Dean ◽  
David Rossiter
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Local Treatment ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Waste Hierarchy ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Nuclear Decommissioning ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Near Future

The UK Nuclear Industry continues to produce significant quantities of Low Level Waste (LLW) as decommissioning projects generating waste become more prevalent. Current infrastructure and projected increasing waste volumes will deliver a volumetric shortfall of storage capacity in the near future. Recently established as a stand alone site licence company, the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) near Drigg, in West Cumbria (formerly operated and owned by British Nuclear Group) is tasked with managing the safe treatment and disposal of LLW in the UK, on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The problem is complex involving many stakeholders with potentially different priorities. Previously, most nuclear waste generators operated independently with limited integration with other similar organisations. However, the current financial, programme and technical pressures require collaborative working to facilitate a step-change improvement in LLW management. Achieving this quickly is as much of a challenge as delivering robust cost effective technical solutions. NDA is working in partnership with LLWR to develop a LLW Strategy for the Nuclear Industry and has in parallel commissioned a number of studies by the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), looking at opportunities to share best practice. A National Strategy Group has been established to develop a working partnership between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, LLW Repository Ltd, Regulators, Stakeholders and LLW Consignors, promoting innovation, value for money, and robust implementation of the waste hierarchy (avoid-reduce-re-use-recycle). Additionally the LLWR supported by the NNL have undertaken a comprehensive strategic review of the UK’s LLW management activities. Initial collaborative work has provided for the first time a detailed picture of the existing strategic baseline and identified significant national benefits from improving the way LLW is forecasted, characterised, segregated, and treated in line with the waste hierarchy. Implementation of volume reduction technologies, such as incineration and metal treatment, is critical to mitigate the LLWR capacity gap and reduce NDA’s liabilities. The cumulative effect of these solutions has the potential to reduce lifetime costs by several £billion and extend the life of the existing LLWR site to 2070 and possibly beyond. This work has informed the NDA’s UK Nuclear Industry LLW Strategy, published for consultation in June 2009 and the Draft UK LLW Management Plan which sets out how the strategy will be implemented. Technical and infrastructure solutions have been found to exist via the supply chain supporting deliver of the necessary step changes in the near future. Work continues to reduce the LLW inventory forecast uncertainties and evaluate strategic implementation options in more detail, e.g. benefits of national vs. local treatment and disposal solutions, plus on gaining the corresponding stakeholder acceptance and operational authorisations.

UK Strategy for Nuclear Industry LLW

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Clark ◽  
Joanne Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Nuclear Decommissioning ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Management Hierarchy ◽  
Strategic Goals ◽  
The Uk

In March 2007 the UK Government and devolved administrations (for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, from here on referred to as ‘Government’) published their policy for the management of solid low level waste (‘the Policy’). The Policy sets out a number of core principles for the management of low level waste (LLW) and charges the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with developing a UK-wide strategy in the case of LLW from nuclear sites. The UK Nuclear Industry LLW Strategy has been developed within the framework of the principles set out in the policy. A key factor in the development of this strategy has been the strategic partnership the NDA shares with the Low Level Waste Repository near Drigg (LLWR), who now have a role in developing strategy as well as delivering an optimised waste management service at the LLWR. The strategy aims to support continued hazard reduction and decommissioning by ensuring uninterrupted capability and capacity for the management and disposal of LLW in the UK. The continued availability of a disposal route for LLW is considered vital by both the nuclear industry and non-nuclear industry low level waste producers. Given that the UK will generate significantly more low level waste (∼ 3.1 million m3) than there is capacity at the LLWR (∼0.75 million m3), developing alternative effective ways to manage LLW is critical. The waste management hierarchy is central to the strategy, which includes strategic goals at all levels of the hierarchy to improve its application across the industry.

The Nuclear Engineering Doctorate and NTEC CPD and Masters Programmes: Education, Training and Research for the Decommissioning Skillsbase

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Nuclear Engineering ◽  
Aging Workforce ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Nuclear Decommissioning ◽  
Training And Research ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University

Since its establishment in 2005 the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has a remit to maintain the skillsbase for safe, secure and cost effective decommissioning of the existing UK civil nuclear power plants and associated facilities. With an aging workforce and a competitive tender process for each project a number of new companies are realising the potential of the UK decommissioning market. The Nuclear Engineering Doctorate and NTEC Masters Programmes have been designed to provide the nuclear workforce of the future. The doctorate is a partnership between industry, a university partner and the research engineer with the benefit to industry that the research engineer is based with the industrial partner. Technical and management modules are studied at the university whilst the research project is carried out in the industrial environment. The Masters programme draws on the expertise of 11 Higher Education Institutes and offers over 20 modules that are delivered in a short-fat format either as stand alone CPD courses or, by taking further modules, a certificate, diploma or on completion of a research project an M.Sc. Modules are available that cover the technical aspects of decommissioning as well as management of the decommissioning process. The availability of modules in a Distance Learning format now enables students based around the world to benefit from this programme. This paper will describe the two programmes in detail and provide examples of current projects that are delivering the research and workforce required for a successful decommissioning programme.

A Data Managment and Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Management of Land Quality on UKAEA Sites

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin J. Coppins ◽  
Michael Ayres ◽  
Mike Pearl
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Land Quality ◽  
Software Application ◽  
Ground Investigation ◽  
The Uk

On large industrial or nuclear sites there is a requirement to undertake assessments of land quality, from desk studies to detailed field investigations. Data obtained from such investigations provides the baseline from which known or potentially contaminated land can be managed. However, a commonly encountered problem is that this information is often disparate, collected for reasons not related to land quality management, with data from previous ground investigations also exhibiting the following particular problems: • The intent of a previous investigation is often not clear. • There can be much variability in investigation and analytical methods and standards. • The investigation techniques and standards are not documented. • Ground investigation and analytical data does not have adequate quality control in order to make a judgment about its value and applicability. Consequently, a commonly occurring problem is the frequent re-investigation of the same areas of a site for reasons that may not be very different. This is costly and incurs unnecessary risks. In order to resolve this problem, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), in conjunction with ESiT Ltd, has developed and implemented a software application to capture, interrogate and present land quality assessment data for its sites across the UK. The overall assessment of land quality on the sites relies on information that is both varied and disparate in nature. Tools are therefore required to structure and assess this information to enable clear interpretation and management decisions to be made. UKAEA has applied these tools to several areas within its environmental restoration programme including delicensing activities, Safety Cases for contaminated ground, inventories of land liabilities as well as the general monitoring of the environmental conditions on and surrounding the sites. This paper will describe the software application in the context of its function as a land quality management tool. The software application, known as the Information Management and Geographic Evaluation System (IMAGES), has a modular design and facilitates multi-user access. IMAGES interfaces with standard desktop applications to enable straightforward upload or reporting of data. There are also interfaces with industry standard software packages for spatial analysis of data (ArcGIS) and to provide representation of borehole logging data. The modules that make up IMAGES are: • Land & Risk Assessment “Sentencing”; • Document Register; • Photograph/Image register; • Site Investigation; • Excavation & Soil Transfer; • Groundwater Monitoring; • Radiation survey (Health Physics) Monitoring; • Buildings Information; • Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Management. The IMAGES solution is process based, dealing with data acquisition through storage and interpretation to output and has the ability to systematically deal with large volumes of information while ensuring consistency in approach at each stage. It also provides data that is access and revision-controlled and quality assessed. IMAGES also includes a series of standard data capture templates to enable environmental monitoring and site investigation information to be captured directly in the field and automatically logged into the IMAGES relational database structure. Data within the system can be quality assessed and queried using a map-based interface. Information held within IMAGES can also be delivered seamlessly into UKAEA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) for visual assessment and further analysis.

Exploring the Benefits of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and the Mechanism for Automated 5D BIM Quantification Process in Offsite Modular Construction

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tochukwu Moses ◽  
David Heesom ◽  
David Oloke ◽  
Martin Crouch
Keyword(s):  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Modular Construction ◽  
Automated Quantification ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Project Risks ◽  
Value Add ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Level 2

The UK Construction Industry through its Government Construction Strategy has recently been mandated to implement Level 2 Building Information Modelling (BIM) on public sector projects. This move, along with other initiatives is key to driving a requirement for 25% cost reduction (establishing the most cost-effective means) on. Other key deliverables within the strategy include reduction in overall project time, early contractor involvement, improved sustainability and enhanced product quality. Collaboration and integrated project delivery is central to the level 2 implementation strategy yet the key protocols or standards relative to cost within BIM processes is not well defined. As offsite construction becomes more prolific within the UK construction sector, this construction approach coupled with BIM, particularly 5D automated quantification process, and early contractor involvement provides significant opportunities for the sector to meet government targets. Early contractor involvement is supported by both the industry and the successive Governments as a credible means to avoid and manage project risks, encourage innovation and value add, making cost and project time predictable, and improving outcomes. The contractor is seen as an expert in construction and could be counter intuitive to exclude such valuable expertise from the pre-construction phase especially with the BIM intent of äóÖbuild it twiceäó», once virtually and once physically. In particular when offsite construction is used, the contractoräó»s construction expertise should be leveraged for the virtual build in BIM-designed projects to ensure a fully streamlined process. Building in a layer of automated costing through 5D BIM will bring about a more robust method of quantification and can help to deliver the 25% reduction in overall cost of a project. Using a literature review and a case study, this paper will look into the benefits of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and the impact of 5D BIM on the offsite construction process.

scholarly journals Sheep scab spatial distribution: the roles of transmission pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Joanne Nixon ◽  
Ellen Brooks-Pollock ◽  
Richard Wall
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Infected Sheep ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Psoroptes Ovis ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sheep Scab ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Ovine psoroptic mange (sheep scab) is a highly pathogenic contagious infection caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis. Following 21 years in which scab was eradicated in the UK, it was inadvertently reintroduced in 1972 and, despite the implementation of a range of control methods, its prevalence increased steadily thereafter. Recent reports of resistance to macrocyclic lactone treatments may further exacerbate control problems. A better understanding of the factors that facilitate its transmission are required to allow improved management of this disease. Transmission of infection occurs within and between contiguous sheep farms via infected sheep-to-sheep or sheep–environment contact and through long-distance movements of infected sheep, such as through markets. Methods A stochastic metapopulation model was used to investigate the impact of different transmission routes on the spatial pattern of outbreaks. A range of model scenarios were considered following the initial infection of a cluster of highly connected contiguous farms. Results Scab spreads between clusters of neighbouring contiguous farms after introduction but when long-distance movements are excluded, infection then self-limits spatially at boundaries where farm connectivity is low. Inclusion of long-distance movements is required to generate the national patterns of disease spread observed. Conclusions Preventing the movement of scab infested sheep through sales and markets is essential for any national management programme. If effective movement control can be implemented, regional control in geographic areas where farm densities are high would allow more focussed cost-effective scab management. Graphical Abstract

scholarly journals Innovation Pathways in the NHS: An Introductory Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anmol Arora ◽  
Andrew Wright ◽  
Mark Cheng ◽  
Zahra Khwaja ◽  
Matthew Seah
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
National Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Care Models ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Introductory Review

AbstractHealthcare as an industry is recognised as one of the most innovative. Despite heavy regulation, there is substantial scope for new technologies and care models to not only boost patient outcomes but to do so at reduced cost to healthcare systems and consumers. Promoting innovation within national health systems such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) has been set as a key target for health care professionals and policy makers. However, while the UK has a world-class biomedical research industry, several reports in the last twenty years have highlighted the difficulties faced by the NHS in encouraging and adopting innovations, with the journey from idea to implementation of health technology often taking years and being very expensive, with a high failure rate. This has led to the establishment of several innovation pathways within and around the NHS, to encourage the invention, development and implementation of cost-effective technologies that improve health care delivery. These pathways span local, regional and national health infrastructure. They operate at different stages of the innovation pipeline, with their scope and work defined by location, technology area or industry sector, based on the specific problem identified when they were set up. In this introductory review, we outline each of the major innovation pathways operating at local, regional and national levels across the NHS, including their history, governance, operating procedures and areas of expertise. The extent to which innovation pathways address current challenges faced by innovators is discussed, as well as areas for improvement and future study.

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