Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is consulting on nuclear third party liability and revised criteria for the definition of intermediate risk nuclear sites. Consultation closes 15th September. This consultation sets out revised criteria for the definition of intermediate risk nuclear sites in the draft Nuclear Installations (Prescribed Sites and Transport) Regulations.

Sites which meet these criteria represent a lower risk of causing significant damage in the event of a nuclear incident. Therefore setting a lower level of liability recognises this lower risk and reduces the cost of operators’ mandatory insurance cover in line with this lower risk. Government is consulting on the revised definition because the earlier consultation on this subject raised a number of points that have now been addressed. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defining-intermediate-risk-prescribed-sites-further-consultation

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is consulting on proposals for controlling the costs of biomass conversion and co-firing under the Renewables Obligation. Consultation closes 26th October.

Views are sought on proposals for controlling the costs of non-grandfathered biomass conversion and co-firing units under the Renewables Obligation, to apply from 1 April 2018 (subject to the outcome of this consultation and Parliamentary approval). The two options proposed are a generator cap or a re-banding of support levels.

The Environment Agency is consulting on the formulation of a Standard Rule on unintentional receipt of radioactive materials and radioactive waste. Consultation closes 1st December.

The rule will cover the accumulation and disposal of radioactive materials and radioactive waste and apply to operators of metal recycling facilities or any other facility which operates a radiation detection system and which may, inadvertently, receive radioactive materials and radioactive waste. The rules will also apply to the use of radiation detection systems by the UK Border Force.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is consulting on ways to reduce litter and increase recycling / reuse of drinks containers, including deposit and reward and return schemes. Consultation closes 30th October. https://consult.defra.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/call-for-evidence-drinks-containers/