Chamber and committees

Directions to the nuclear decommissioning authority Hunterston B and Torness sites

Letter from the Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform Mairi McAllan MSP to the Convener, 23 June 2021

Dear Convener, 

I am writing to inform you that I am today laying two Designation Directions regarding the Hunterston B and Torness nuclear sites in the Scottish Parliament; these were made in exercise of the Scottish Ministers’ functions under the Energy Act 2004 (the Act).

These Designation Directions, made jointly with the UK Government and laid at both UK and Scottish Parliaments today, support the efficient decommissioning of those sites by setting out the broader responsibilities that will transfer to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) once these sites have ceased energy production and have been defueled. Under the Act, the functions of the NDA are determined by the extent of any direction made to designate a particular site. The Designation Directions set out these purposes for which the sites are being designated, namely the decommissioning of the site, the cleaning-up of the site or operations in relation to treatment, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous material.

These Directions in relation to Hunterston B and Torness will allow the NDA to begin the process of engagement with the current owners and operators, EDF, as well as setting out its role in providing advice to UK and Scottish Governments for the decommissioning of these sites. Enabling the NDA to engage at this stage will support the safe and efficient management of radioactive waste, ensuring we clean up the nuclear legacy in Scotland.

These Directions are the first step in this process and will utilise the NDA’s extensive experience of decommissioning nuclear plants and facilities. The Scottish Government will continue to work constructively with the UK Government, the NDA and other stakeholders – including the communities affected by the decommissioning of these sites - as this process gets underway and we remain committed to dealing responsibly with nuclear waste in Scotland.

Copies of both Directions are attached to this letter for information.

Yours sincerely,

Mairi McAllan MSP

Accessibility

We aim to make sure all correspondence is published as a fully accessible pdf. However, when correspondence documents are sent to us by an external organisation this is not always possible. If you need this correspondence provided in an alternative format, please contact the clerk of the committee. Further information can be found in our accessibility statement.