Thank you for contacting Radioactive Waste Management (RWM).

Please note that following UK Government advice for COVID-19, the
Enquiries line  is working remotely. Over this period it may take us a
little longer to acknowledge and respond to your email. We appreciate your
patience during this difficult time.

Under normal circumstances we aim to respond to enquiries quickly and
efficiently, with an acknowledgement being issued within 3 working days of
being received.

In the interim if you would like more information regarding our work with
communities, the siting process, RWM or the Geological Disposal Facility
(GDF) please visit us at:  [1]https://geologicaldisposal.campaign.gov....

Again, thank you for your contact and you will hear back from us very
soon.

Kind regards

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References

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1. https://geologicaldisposal.campaign.gov....

This email is protectively marked OFFICIAL

Dear Katherine Telford,

Case Ref: FOI 02331

Thank you for your request for information below received on 31 August
2021.

We are considering your request under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and a response will be issued to you as soon as
possible and no later than 28 September.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications related to this request.

Kind regards,

Jane Ivey
Freedom of Information Manager
Information Governance

W: [1]gov.uk/rwm - [2]Geological Disposal

[3]Twitter and [4]LinkedIn
[5]Sign up to our e-bulletin

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Radioactive Waste Management Limited is a limited company registered in
England and Wales with registered number 8920190. Registered office:
Building 329 West Thomson Avenue, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, England, OX11
0GD.

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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This email is protectively marked OFFICIAL

Dear Katherine Telford,
 
Ref: FOI 2331
 
Thank you for your information request received on 31 August for the
following:
 
How many interested parties are currently in discussion with RWM about the
siting of a GDF?
 
I have treated your request under Environmental Information Regulations. I
confirm that RWM holds the information you have requested and this is
provided below.
 
The government policy Implementing geological disposal – working with
communities: long term management of higher activity radioactive waste
sets out the siting process for a geological disposal facility (GDF) and
defines ‘interested party’ in Chapter 6, paragraphs 6.4 and 6.11 detailed
as follows:
 
6.4   Discussions about a proposed location for a GDF can be initiated by
anyone or any group of people with an interest in the siting process, and
who wish to propose an area for consideration. The interested party may
suggest an area of any size; it could be as large as a county, or it could
be a small area of a few fields.
 
6.11  Initially, RWM will raise awareness of geological disposal.
Discussions with RWM can be initiated by anyone with a proposal for an
area to be considered for a GDF. It is expected that local authorities,
landowners, businesses, community groups or interested individuals may
come forward to request further information. RWM may also proactively
encourage interested parties and local communities to come forward and
engage.
 
Interested Parties continue to be engaged in the Working Group phase of
the siting process
 
6.17  In order to begin a conversation with the people in the area, the
interested party, RWM, an independent chair and an independent facilitator
will form a Working Group. All relevant principal local authorities that
represent the people in all or part of the area under consideration must
be invited to join the Working Group.
 
We can confirm that RWM is currently in discussion with 10 interested
parties. This number will continuously change as people engage to find out
more about the programme and either step back or move forward. As provided
in paragraph 6.15 of the policy, under all scenarios RWM will undertake
initial work to understand whether the land identified has any potential
to host a GDF. At this point discussions may remain confidential although
they should be made public at the earliest opportunity if the interested
party and RWM decide to move forward to form a Working Group.
 
The policy is available here:
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio....
 
If you are unhappy with the way in which RWM has dealt with your request,
you have the right to require us to review our actions and decisions. If
you wish to request a review, please reply to this email or write to me at
[2][RWM request email] within 40 working days of receipt of this
response. You will receive a full response to your request for review
within 20 working days of its receipt.
 
Please remember to quote ref FOI 2331 in any correspondence about this
request.
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
 
[3]https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

Kind regards,

Jane Ivey
Freedom of Information Manager
 
W: [4]gov.uk/rwm - [5]Geological Disposal

[6]Twitter and [7]LinkedIn
[8]Sign up to our e-bulletin

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Radioactive Waste Management Limited is a limited company registered in
England and Wales with registered number 8920190. Registered office:
Building 329 West Thomson Avenue, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, England, OX11
0GD. 

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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