WP 2 Appendix 7 Influence of Local Communities on Decision Processes: Experience of Copeland and Shetland Islands

The focus of this case study is the concerns of two communities affected, albeit in different ways, by radioactive waste management and the decommissioning of nuclear installations. These are communities affected by the decisions of nuclear operators, regulators and national policy makers. As such they interact with these organisations and quite naturally they are concerned about their long-term sustainability. Thus they want to influence decisions that affect both the long-term management of radioactive waste and current management decisions that may foreclose their options and opportunities. One of these communities, Copeland, has large nuclear installations in its territory and stores about 60% of the UK radioactive waste. The other, the Shetland Islands, has no nuclear installations or waste in its territory, but its environment is affected by, and may be damaged by decisions at the Dounreay’s nuclear site, 160 kms away from them. In particular, both communities are affected by current policy implementation. The core of this case is two vignettes written by Fergus McMorrow of Copeland Borough Council and Alastair Hamilton of the Shetland Islands Council. The vignettes were prepared for the 3rd SRG meeting in Madrid, February 2005 and revised in June 2006.