Key Role of Coal Boss, Mark Kirkbride in Nuclear Dump Plans remains Taboo Subject in Press

Read the full article here https://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news/19994346.environmental-activists-protest-drigg-nuclear-waste-disposal-facility/

Thanks to Whitehaven News and local press for exposing the fact that rock characterisation boreholes have already been drilled at the ‘Low Level Waste Repository’ to prepare the way for Near Surface Disposal of Intermediate Level Wastes. We note the industry response: ” this study is separate from ongoing activities to find a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility”

This quite frankly is a big fat lie. The coal boss Mark Kirkbride, with his hat on as key member of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, has provided costings to Government on “co-location” of Near Surface and Geological Disposal. In other words the Near Surface Disposal (NSD) facility for Intermediate Level Wastes would be up to 120 metres underground in silos. The infrastructure of the NSD above ground facilities, including security, access and the like would be shared with a Geological Disposal dump to “cut costs.”

Here below is the Press Release we sent out to all national and local press as you can see the “co-location” issue is highlighted as is coal boss, Mark Kirkbride’s role as key advisor. The media, with the exception of the Isle of Man have shown remarkable solidarity in omitting any reference to the conflict of interest and cronyism regarding coal boss, Mark Kirkbride’s 2019 Government appointed role in the push for nuclear waste dumping.

PRESS RELEASE

CUMBRIA COAL BOSS’ COSTINGS ON DEEP AND NOT SO DEEP BURIAL OF NUCLEAR WASTE DUE ANY DAY – “CONFLICT OF INTEREST” WITH MINING BUSINESS INTERESTS

Costs for the underground burial of nuclear wastes are due to be published shortly by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), campaigners have learnt. The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have tasked the CEO of West Cumbria Mining and CoRWM member, Mark Kirkbride with providing costings for geological and near surface disposal of high and intermediate level nuclear wastes.

Ever since the appointment of Mark Kirkbride to CoRWM in 2019, nuclear safety group Radiation Free Lakeland have argued that there is a deep conflict of interest at the heart of government on this issue. Government on the one hand will have the final say on Mark Kirkbride’s coal mine business interests and on the other hand are employing Mr Kirkbride to provide costings and “invaluable” advice on the burial of nuclear wastes. The Geological Disposal Facility is a major infrastructure project and is described by BEIS as “one of the most significant long-term environmental protection projects ever undertaken in the UK.”

Peaceful Demo at Drigg – on the Edge of the Lake District

Supporters of Radiation Free Lakeland’s new campaign Lakes Against Nuclear Dump (L.A.N.D) held a peaceful demonstration outside the Mid-Copeland Community Partnership “drop-in” at Drigg on Friday 11th March. L.A.N.D said “Drigg residents have been surprised to learn that 16 research boreholes 120 metres deep have already been drilled without any democratic oversight at the Low Level Waste Repository. The boreholes are part of a “feasibility study” for possible Near Surface Disposal of Intermediate Level Nuclear Wastes. Government policy would have to be amended for Near Surface Disposal to take place. L.A.N.D say “Locals at Drigg have every right to be angry about this. A map released under Freedom of Information as well as showing recently acquired long lease of the Drigg dunes shows the mining/mineral rights owned by the NDA and clearly shows a linked route from the Low Level Waste Repository area to the Inshore area of the Irish Sea. The mining and mineral rights mean that the NDA are able to extract rock without reference to anyone else.”

Freedom of Information answers have revealed that: “The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has asked LLWR to conduct a feasibility study to assess the capacity of the LLWR site as part of their wider studies on near-surface disposal.

.. It includes the drilling of new characterisation

and monitoring boreholes that reach a maximum depth of 120 metres. All of

which are within the LLWR site boundary.”

“Co-Locate” to “cut costs”

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have stated in their 2020 position paper on Near Surface Disposal that “The assessment of disposal costs has been made on the assumption that a nearer- surface disposal facility ..would be co-located with a GDF.” This is say L.A.N.D a breach of trust regarding the nuclear waste plans and they have

sent a 30 page report “Nuclear Waste’s Shifting Sands On the Lakeland Fringe” to Allerdale and Copeland Community Partnership members with a letter urging them to withdraw from the “Community Partnership” which they have branded “fraudulent”.

“Protected” ?

The Mid-Copeland Community Partnership “Drop-In” at Drigg on Friday told Drigg locals that the 16 research boreholes drilled without any democratic scrutiny “are nothing to do with us.” Meanwhile, coal boss, Mark Kirkbride’s costings for the Near Surface and Geological Disposal of Intermediate and High Level Nuclear Wastes are due to be published any day now on the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management’s website. A decision on Mark Kirkbride’s coal mine is also due to be made by Secretary of State Michael Gove. In another twist of logic both the subsea coal mine and the subsea GDF would be within the West of Copeland area of the Irish Sea designated as a Marine Conservation Zone by Michael Gove in 2019.

ENDS

New Report by L.A.N.D https://www.lakesagainstnucleardump.com/post/new-report-nuclear-waste-s-shifting-sands-on-the-lakeland-fringe

Appointment of Mark Kirkbride to CorWM https://www.gov.uk/government/people/mark-kirkbridg

Freedom of Information request/answers re rock characterisation boreholes for Near Surface Disposal https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/are_the_16_rock_characterisation

West of Copeland Marine Conservation Zone designated by Michael Gove in 2019 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-conservation-zones-west-of-copeland

2020 Position Paper on Near Surface Disposal – co-location with GDF to cut costs

Click to access NSD_StrategicPositionPaper_August_2020_FINAL_V2.pdf

Public Inquiry MUST Include Nuclear Impacts

Public Inquiry MUST Include Nuclear Impacts

Great news that Robert Jenrick the Communities Secretary of State has called in the coal mine plan for a public inquiry. This must be a no holds barred inquiry which includes nuclear impacts and vested nuclear interests of government rather than the limited Punch and Judy show we have witnessed so far. We will be lobbying government to ensure nuclear impacts are given at least equal status to climate impacts within the scope of the inquiry. Terms of Reference for this public inquiry MUST include Nuclear.

This is the press release from our lawyers Leigh Day…

“Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick wrote to Cumbria County Council to say he has decided to “call in” the application, saying it raised issues of “more than local importance”.

A public inquiry would explore the arguments put forward by both supporters and opponents of the proposal by West Cumbria Mining.

The move has been welcomed by campaign group, Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole (KCCH) who brought a judicial review into the application two years ago.

Following the judicial review, campaigner Marianne Bennett claimed vindication after West Cumbrian Mining submitted a revised planning application.

Instead of 15 per cent of the mined produce being a type of non-metallurgical coal, known as “middlings” coal, the revised planning application was to only process premium metallurgical coal in a simplified, cheaper-to-construct mine proposed for the site of the former Marchon Chemical Works.

Following the announcement of a public inquiry into the proposed mining operation, Leigh Day solicitor Rowan Smith, who represented Marianne Bennett in her application for judicial review, said:

“This is extremely welcome news for the climate. However, if it had not been for the legal challenge brought by our client two years ago, which argued that the coal mine was incompatible with the Net Zero Target and forced the Council to think again, then construction would have already been underway by now. The Government should acknowledge this publicly and thank the campaign for what it has achieved.”

Marianne Bennett the founder of the nuclear safety group Radiation Free Lakeland whose Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole campaign was the first to call out this coal mine on nuclear and climate grounds said:

“The Government U-turn on a public inquiry is brilliant news, provided the inquiry also offers a further opportunity for the nuclear impacts of the proposal to be looked at again, given the development will take place under decades of Sellafield’s radioactive wastes and just five miles from the world’s riskiest nuclear waste site. We will be calling for that scrutiny to happen alongside the climate change issues.”

The public inquiry was announced after environment campaigners also warned that the go-ahead for the mine would have undermined the Government’s green credentials as it prepared to host the Cop26 international climate change summit in Glasgow later this year.

Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Tony Bosworth said it was “a startling, but very welcome U-turn by the Government”, reported Press Association.

He added: “Planning permission must be refused: ending coal use, whether for power generation or for industry, is crucial for facing down the climate emergency.

“It was not possible for the Government to maintain, as it claimed only two months ago, that this was just a matter of local importance and the decision will now rightly be taken at national level.”

The announcement came after the council said last month it would reconsider the application by West Cumbria Mining to mine for coking coal for use in steel production.

The move prompted the company to announce that it was lodging papers with the High Court to begin its own judicial review proceedings.

The application was first submitted in 2017 and had already been considered three times by the council’s planning committee without it reaching a final outcome.

Mr Jenrick said he had taken into account the latest recommendations of the Climate Change Committee for the sixth carbon budget which will set legal limits for emissions between 2033 and 2037.

His letter states: “The Secretary of State considers that this application raises planning issues of more than local importance, and further considers that the limbs of the call-in policy relating to potential conflict with national policies … and substantial cross-boundary or national controversy are satisfied.”

West Cumbria Mining Pay £1 to Acquire £1.6 Million of Heritage Lottery Funded Mine Museum and Lands

While the entertaining distraction of the ‘Climate and Jobs’ Punch and Judy show rages very publicly over the Cumbrian Coal Mine – important burning issues are buried. Nuclear issues such as the fact that the subsidence inducing mine would be under decades of Sellafield’s discharged ‘low level’ wastes. Nuclear issues such as that at least two executives, including the existing CEO of the coal mine, have been appointed by Government to public bodies pushing for deep dumping of high and intermediate level nuclear wastes. The Irish Sea area, adjacent to the coal mine plan, is in the frame. The CEO of the coal mine in his government appointed role will be talking about this diabolic plan on the 15th March with the Science Discovery Group.

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are only too delighted for NGOs, Talking Heads and the media to keep the focus sharply on climate and jobs (of which there are no guarantees made that there would be an optimistic 500). Government would rather not publicise the fact that BEIS (through the Coal Authority) gave the developers conditional license to drill “exploratory boreholes” under the Irish Sea eight years ago (over the heads of the public and councillors) . BEIS also appoint the Committee on Climate Change who have unsurprisingly studiously avoided berating BEIS. BEIS also appointed the CEO of West Cumbria Mining, Mark Kirkbride, to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. Here is BEIS minister Anne-Marie Trevalyan supporting the coal mine whose CEO is in the pay of BEIS.

While much has been enthusiastically made by the mine’s supporters of what a financial boon the development would be, the reality is that the developers have effectively already stolen substantial funds from the public purse.

A Freedom of Information question has just been asked regarding liquidation of the Haig Mining Museum (despite visitor numbers far exceeding expectations the Museum went into liquidation).

Haig Mining Museum – Was £1.6 Million of Heritage Lottery Money returned ?

“To The National Lottery Heritage Fund,

In 2019 you put in a claim for repayment of £1.6 Million in respect of liquidation of the Haig Mining Museum.

Was the £1.6 Million returned ?

If not, what was the explanation ?

(the Museum, Buildings and Land were subsequently bought for just £1 by West Cumbria Mining in what looks like a closed agreement between WCM, the liquidators and Copeland Borough Council ).”

Interestingly according to the Liquidators, West Cumbria Mining were not at all keen to make their £1 purchase of the Haig Museum, Buildings and Land until they were assured that they had planning permission. This prevarication cost the creditors over £12,000. This is what the Liquidators said : “We now consider that the fee estimate we previously provided for the liquidation is insufficient to complete our duties as a result of : The Company’s asset realisations have proved more protracted than was initially anticipated. This is due to the sale to WCM taking significantly longer than anticipated. This has happened as they did not wish to complete the transaction (£1) whilst there was still uncertainty for them as to whether they would achieve the full planning permission required to run their operations. …”

Having paid their £1 for the Haig, Museum and Land the developers West Cumbria Mining immediately proceeded to make sure that their newly acquired assets (of Cumbria’s heritage), in the event of some planned administrative ‘bankruptcy’ or ‘take over’, would not go to creditors but to WCM’s backers EMR Capital, to persons hidden from view in the Cayman Islands. It is pretty clear that WCM’s eye is on the glittering prize – and that glittering prize is not coking coal but Governmental contracts into the most diabolic plan for heat generating nuclear wastes – a plan that would involve eye watering amounts of public money over decades, contracts to drill become contracts to kill, to dump heat generating nuclear wastes under the Irish Sea. They call it Geological Disposal of Nuclear Wastes in the UK. Not one country has done this and the countries that are trying to do it have not returned to areas previously ruled out (as Cumbria has been at least three times) as being too geologically complex and unstable.

Whats not to like? Everything! To focus myopically on climate aspects of this coal mine, as is playing out courtesy of pusillanimous NGOs and the Media right now, is to play right into the hands of a Dorian Gray like nuclear corruption. A corruption that includes protection of the diabolic agenda of the nuclear industry at all, literally ALL costs.

An Open Letter to the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng Who is About to Issue Coal Licenses for West Cumbria Mining

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/4fcb3791-2cf3-4e43-b766-30cb007fb58c

An Open Letter to the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. 

Dear Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng 

You said yesterday that there is “a slight tension” between the governmnent washing its hands (Pontius Pilate like) of the Cumbria coal mine saying its a ‘local decision’ and the UK government’s committment to net zero carbon and its chairing of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow in November.

The UK Dept for Business Energy and Industry Strategy argue that the coal mine is “a local decision” but in the awarding of new Coal Authority licenses to the developers (West Cumbria Mining) the buck stops with BEIS.   Accountability of the Coal Authority lies directly with the BEIS.  The first set of licenses is due to run out on 24th January.

As nuclear safety campaigners who have been opposing this mine since 2019 we are very concerned that the climate aspect of this mine may not be the most disastrous to life on planet earth. BEIS is directly responsible for the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management who have appointed the CEO of the coal mine development, Mark Kirkbride to their Committee who advise BEIS and Radioactive Waste Management on “site selection” of a potential Geological Disposal Facility for Radioactive Wastes.  The Coal Mine is adjacent to the area under the Irish Sea bed which is ‘in the frame’  for the subsea geological disposal of heat generating nuclear wastes.   

Do BEIS believe that mining out coal adjacent to the area they are promoting as a Geological Disposal Facility will make the rocks more stable? Or that mining directly underneath the decades of Sellafield’s discharged wastes will make them safer?

The coal mine would be directly beneath the nuclear wastes discharged from Sellafield over the last 70 odd years.  They are in the silts known as the “Cumbrian Mud Patch.”  The UK and Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities have along with local nuclear safety campaigners Radiation Free Lakeland, urged Cumbria County Council to reconsider the impact of the expected subsidence of the Irish Sea bed and resuspension of the decades worth of radioactive wastes from Sellafield which are currently embedded in the silts of the Cumbrian Mud Patch. WCM have designated and identified a sub-sea mining zone of the Irish Sea lying to the west of St Bees Head and extending at least 8kms offshore and southwards to within about 8km of the Sellafield site. The WCM extraction proposals, using continuous mining methods, predict the extraction of approximately 3 million tonnes of coal per year over a 50 year period. This extraction rate will eventually generate a huge subterranean void space of approximately 136 million cubic metres (a volume greater than that of Wastwater Lake).  Subsidence “is expected” beneath Sellafield’s discharged nuclear wastes currently (largely imobilised in the silt, remobilising the nuclear wastes into the water column and back to land.

Now we urge BEIS NOT TO ISSUE COAL AUTHORITY LICENSES for this Coal Mine which would be largely under the Irish Sea.

yours sincerely

Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole (a Radiation Free Lakeland Campaign

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO GUESSED: £1 BARGAIN BUY FOR COAL MINE DEVELOPERS

£1 BARGAIN BUY FOR COAL MINE DEVELOPERS!

Our Christmas competition to win an “iconic Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole badge and hand-made felted puffin”reveals that in November 2020 the coal mine developers West Cumbria Mining paid just £1 for the Haig Mining Museum and surrounding land.

Our Competition said:

“The coast of West Cumbria and the Irish Sea which cradles it, is such an important home to increasingly rare sea-birds – including the black guillemot. The little puffin can even occasionally be seen frequenting this area.

To Win the Badge and the Puffin please answer the following question:

HOW MUCH DID WEST CUMBRIA MINING PAY FOR THE HAIG MINING MUSEUM BUILDINGS AND LAND ?”

The winning answer of £1 was by Leigh Puddifoot of West Cumbria who is delighted with the little puffin. Congratulations to Leigh!

We found it so utterly incredible that West Cumbria Mining paid just £1 for the previously publicly owned land and buildings at the Haig, that we just had to run a Christmas competition. The Haig Museum was built and run with over £2.5M of public money through the Heritage Lottery and Copeland Borough Council. According to their website the Land Trust owned the land ie it was in public ownership while the Haig Mining Museum itself was shaping up to be an important community hub with Christmas parties for local groups and much needed events for youngsters. So to hand over the lot, lock stock and barrel for £1 to coal mine developers (who also have an interest in Geological Disposal of Nuclear Wastes under the Irish Sea) is truly incredible.

The Land Trust’s website still states ” The Colourful Coast, spanning Whitehaven to St Bees and taking in Haig, is now managed for wildlife and recreation and is home to thousands of breeding sea birds including puffins, black guillemots, razorbills and gulls. Haig, owned by the Land Trust and managed by the National Trust on its behalf, was once the site of Cumbria’s largest coal producing pit Haig colliery, whose tunnels reach 4.5 miles out under the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. The public can now explore more of this amazing coastline on foot than ever before, thanks to Open Access land, new permissive paths and the Public Rights of Way network.” We note that the Land Trust and the National Trust have been in talks with WCM – and we assume deals have been done.

What adds insult to injury is that West Cumbria Mining have put paperwork in place (witnessed by a “BarTender”) to ensure that when the coal mine plan goes belly up, the former Land Trust owned land and publicly owned Mining Museum of the Haig, on this Colourful Coast would not go to creditors but to protected unnamed persons in EMR Capital’s Cayman Islands accounts…

…..we assume that this is all perfectly legal (?!)

But it is not, by any stretch of the imagination, in any way fair.

CONGRATULATIONS to all those who guessed right that this land – which was in the ownership of the public and necessary to West Cumbria Mining’s coal mine plan (and other interests) – was sold for the pittance of £1.

Notes- Previous Keep Cumbrian Coal in the Hole analysis –

https://keepcumbriancoalinthehole.wordpress.com/2020/12/16/ghost-of-christmas-future/

Hurray – We are on the way to a new Challenge…

Dear Friends,

Hurray!  We have reached our first hurdle and now have the means to look at a legal challenge with the help of top lawyers Leigh Day.  Thank you very much to all who have been sharing and donating.  The response so far has been truly remarkable and generous. Please do keep sharing the CrowdJustice page.

I have drawn a quick map to show just how under threat the Irish Sea is. There are individual ‘official’ maps of all these things, Coal Mine plan, Marine Conservation Zone, Cumbrian Mud Patch and Geological Disposal Facility ‘possible’ site –  but this is the first time all the elements have been put together on one (felt tip pen!) map. 

 It seems that the much hyped Marine Conservation Zone status, which is supposed to act as “protection” for the Irish Sea coastal zone, counts for zilch when big business with big vested interests and political/industrial lobbyists are involved.  The regulatory bodies have rolled over despite the “protected status” and Cumbria County Council have rolled with them.  How ironic that one of the first voices calling this horrible coal mine out was not the conservation bodies who have campaigned vigorously for the protection of the Irish Sea coastal area of Cumbria, but the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.  The very industry that the Marine Conservation Zones were designed to protect the sea from overfishing, were the first ones calling this mad bad coal mine plan out.

The map also shows the insane plan for a geological disposal facility for heat generating nuclear wastes.  The Irish Sea is under threat from this too with the new push to find a “willing community” who will roll over with the offer of ongoing “compensation” – or to use the vernacular – bribes  (with public money).   The definition of “community” has not been revealed and although the Chief Executive Officer of West Cumbria Mining has said “the coal mine has nothing to do with GDF plans” the circumstantial evidence that it is indeed linked is there to see.

The CEO of West Cumbria Mining is giving a talk in March 2021 (see below)- not about the coal mine you understand but about the government plans to get shot of the heat generating nuclear wastes which have been stacking up at Sellafield over several decades, ( in order to make more of them with new civil/military nuclear build from Hinkley, BAE et al.)  The coal boss’s business interests (not confined to coal) would likely be first in line for the eye watering nuclear waste big bucks courtesy of the public purse. 

This coal mine is more than meets the eye -and what meets the eye is shocking enough – 3 million tonnes of coal every year being mined out under the Irish Sea and shunted through the complex geology of the “protected Marine Conservation Zone” for decades to come? 

Thanks to you we still have a chance to stop this coal mine (and it seems much else besides!) 

With all best wishes

Marianne

“Old King Coal dug a great big hole

Under the Irish Sea.

Said it was Green

and the Mayor was Keen

Even Sellafield Loved it too”

https://www.sciencediscoverygroup.co.uk/future-talks

“Development of a Deep Geological Disposal Facility for Nuclear Waste in the UK

Mark Kirkbride, Member on the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM)

15th March 2021 7:30pm by Zoom

Since the late 1940’s the UK has been involved in nuclear science and engineering, with the creation of waste being an integral part of that industry.  There has been significant focus upon long-term storage and disposal of this nuclear waste inventory.  The talk will seek to explain the types of nuclear waste, historical background and work towards the development of a deep geological disposal facility in the UK for disposal of nuclear waste.”

note: Mark Kirkbride is also the CEO of West Cumbria Mining

The Jogger, the Coal Mine and the GDF

The following words and pictures are from The Jogger. this is Jog No 4 and covers some hot topics – those running shoes are taking a hammering….

“My Jog today continues in Wainwright’s footsteps at Sandwith (Pronounced San-eth around these parts Marra). The start of  one of  the great British hikes will have a coal yard cutting across it. 

Compared to my last outing, today’s jog shall be a breeze as I am sticking to tarmac, just got my trainers dry from my last run. I waited for the weather to clear but unfortunately the mist would not lift. No sea view today.

This is the coast to coast lane from St Bees Lighthouse to Sandwith. Not too far from here beneath our feet is the onshore area for coal extraction. We are led to believe by West Cumbria Mining that we have premium coking coal stretching from here and out under the sea off St. Bees Head. As yet they need further planning permission to extract coal inshore (and offshore) 

Two tunnels would be cut directly from the Mine at Seacliffe straight towards St Bees Head. A vent would be put in place so that gases could be drained from the mine into the atmosphere. It is noted that WCM acknowledges the methane they would vent is more damaging to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. But they can still build a coal mine because WCM has methane capture (planned) in the coal crushing process to provide energy (and create C0₂ instead); they are going to fund the planting of trees; build a solar farm; encourage all their employees to come to work on bicycles. All this in a vain attempt to offset the pollution the coal extraction would create. 

In no time it seems I have reached the Lighthouse. As I suspected, no sea views today. 

So what is planned by our politicians and coal miners for the Irish Sea here at St Bees? Is it just a mere coincidence that the CEO of a coal mining company is also a member of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management group? What do GDF and coal mining have in common in Cumbria? Both have an interest in what lies beneath, inshore (and offshore). 

Last week, Copeland put itself forward as an interested party for a GDF with the aim of finding an area in Copeland with the potential for a subterranean depository. The last time, you may recall 2013; Cumbria County Council were told the fractured strata of the county was impossible to entrust with such dangerous material and a hazard lasting millennia. 

This time it is different, not the geology, now it is a ‘community led’ project. If the ‘community’ says NO! Then that is the end of the matter. Well I say NO! I don’t want this coal mine and I don’t want a GDF under the sea. https://copeland.workinginpartnership.org.uk/

I’m not a geologist. What I do know is-coal is there because of seismic action. The same action is still happening today. The last quake in the Solway was 24th October, mag. 2, near Dumfries. Deep down and tiny I know. 

In the distant past we have had some quite big earthquakes in the Solway, not of the magnitude of the ones experienced in the Mediterrian though. Earthquakes here do very little visible damage, it’s the fissures and pressures created beneath our feet deep underground that we should be paying attention too; 

Yet our local politicians and WCM have ignored the geologists and coal mine protesters, and have the opinion that they can dig out millions of tonnes of coal and rock, close to and through geological faults without consequence. They have engineering and technology to control the natural environment, very reassuring!  In Preston they created small tremors just through fracking. In Cornwall manmade tremors from geothermal occur on a regular basis. We ask, is it prudent to increase the possibility of earthquakes close to a nuclear storage facility?

*I do agree that a GDF is needed. We are persuaded that a GDF deep in solid, stable rock is the safest place for our radioactive waste. Finland has created such a depository. It’s experimental, it is built in ancient rock that is geologically as near peaceful as possible. We are reassured that it is engineered to last 1000s of years, and sealed so that no radiation migrates into ground water to contaminate the environment and no earth tremors to create fissures allowing water in; we are told it is designed to endure for thousands of years.

How do we engineer something to last thousands of years? 

Sealing it in a hole is not the only option though. Finland has dug out the rock and experiments are ongoing into containment; which cannot be guaranteed with copper, steel and buffer materials even in the most stable of geological conditions, but they are desperate for a final ‘solution’  . Radiation Free Lakeland’s view is that the existing waste should be stored above or very near the surface so that it can be monitored and repackaged again and again, much like museum curators look after their exhibits with meticulous care Nuclear wastes should be ‘curated’ because there is no ‘disposal’ .    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-finland-nuclear-waste-idUSKCN1TQ1NL

The Solway or Copeland for that matter does not have the stable geology that is required for a deep subterranean repository. In the recent development meeting Mr Kirkbride told us the mine has nothing to do with any GDF. In that regard I hope he is giving the Radioactive Waste Management Committee the benefit of his engineering experience and the company he represents has no ambition for radioactive waste management. 

Deep coal mining has been proved to cause earthquakes. Sometimes the engineering and technology are not sufficient to keep control of the natural world and the people living around nuclear sites suffer the most. 

Keep the coal in the hole”

•Note: Keep Cumbrian Coal is a Radiation Free Lakeland campaign. Radiation Free Lakeland’s view is that a GDF anywhere – even in the most stable granite or ‘suitable’ geology is not feasible or safe. Current knowledge and materials available are not fit for the purpose of the need for containment to last in excess of thousands of years.

Mining Developer’s Suppliers List Slammed .. —

In the Cumberland Echo today… Mining developers’ suppliers list slammed by protestors Written by John Walsh Wednesday, 09 September 2020 Yucca Mountain – Tunnel Boring Machine. A nuclear safety group has slammed the preferred supplier list of developers hoping to open the first deep coal mine in the UK in decades.Radiation Free Lakeland were behind the […]

Mining Developer’s Suppliers List Slammed .. —