AN investigation to discover whether geology under the Irish Sea is suitable for an underground nuclear waste facility is complete.
The first seismic testing survey in the Irish Sea was completed by Shearwater GeoServices off the coast of Copeland on August 18.
The survey involved a 92-metre ship emitting sonic waves to test the geology under the sea and its suitability to house a Geological Disposal Facility.
Radioactive Waste Management is searching nationwide for a suitable site to store higher level radioactive waste in a GDF.
The underground facility is hailed as the most safe and secure way to store underground nuclear waste.
Following the completion of the seismic testing, Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership said: “Detailed analysis of the data collected from the surveys will be undertaken over the next 18 months and the conclusions will be shared with communities to support discussions about the potential of an area to host a GDF.
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“For the survey, this included securing all the necessary permissions. As best practice and also to comply with the permissions, a team of specialist observers were on-board the SW Bly and kept 24/7 observations from the bridge of the vessel for any mammals and birds.”
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The community partnership is tasked with consulting the public on the potential to house a GDF in their borough and consider whether they would be opposed to the facility.
They said that 'there were no safety or environmental incidents, and all mammal sightings were reported back to the Marine Management Organisation.'
But campaigners from Radiation Free Lakeland presented a petition against the process to Copeland Borough Council earlier this month, claiming the 'seismic blasting' would be harmful to wildlife.
Recently they claimed sightings of porpoises close to shore were a sign the marine animals were trying to avoid the ship emitting sonic waves.
Nuclear Waste Services would be the developer of the GDF if suitable geology and a willing community is found and they have 'committed to environmental protection at all times.'
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