Finding a Solution--The Importance of Transparency.

Dalton, J. ; Atherton, E.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Transparency;    Radioactive waste disposal;    Underground facilities;    Laboratories;    Meetings;   

RP-ID  :  DE2004827674

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

In 1997 Nirex failed to obtain planning permission to build an underground laboratory (Rock Characterisation Facility) near the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria, North-West England. This stopped the UK's deep disposal programme. Since then there has been much discussion on how the UK should take the issue of long-term radioactive waste management forward. As part of its contribution to the ongoing debate, Nirex needed to reassess how its role in finding a long-term solution could be better played given its history. It has been suggested that the processes required to deal with such a contentious issue, the conduct of individuals and the structural relationships between organisations, all need to change if any progress is to be made. Specifically, one of the difficulties of the past was the lack of a mechanism to allow all stakeholders and the public to clearly see what had been decided and for what reasons. Nirex believes that central to these changes needs to be a strong ethical framework based on transparency. In June 1998, Nirex produced its Transparency Policy. In the light of this, Nirex conducted an internal inquiry during 2000 into a number of allegations made against the Company regarding its behaviour running up to 1997. Transparency was a key feature of the way in which the investigation was carried out and the way in which the findings were reported in July 2001. The paper will summarise the lessons learned from this exercise and the initiatives put in place which led to the development of a new working ethic. In order to assess the impact of these initiatives and its performance against them, Nirex commissioned (in 2001) an independent assessment of views from different stakeholder groups. Part of this work was to gain views on our: o Transparency Policy; o Corporate Responsibility Policy; and o Environmental Policy. The results of this assessment will be presented. In summary, this showed that there is widespread support for these policies and the approach to increased focus on dialogue with stakeholders. In this latter respect, the way in which Nirex is now operating allows the stakeholders to have a direct access to, and influence on, its work programme and this will be described.