Nuclear power station Hinkley Point C is set to begin dumping mud from the Bristol Channel into the sea off Portishead after its plans were approved by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
EDF Energy will dredge and then deposit hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sediment into the Severn Estuary as part of works to install water cooling tunnels under the channel.
In February, independent analysis of the controversial plans, which previously drew backlash from environmental campaigners in Wales, found the operation posed no risk to humans or the environment.
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Government marine scientific agency CEFAS confirmed that low levels of radioactivity found in mud samples was “predominantly naturally occurring”, with artificial input from human activity “very low” and compliant with 海角视频 law.
Granting of the licence and conditions followed a public consultation between February 12 and March 26 by the MMO.
In an update the plant near Bridgwater, Somerset, said it would begin work “shortly”, with the first of two phases of dredging and disposal beginning this summer, and the second to be completed in 2022.
EDF had also been considering another disposal location at Cardiff Grounds, two miles off the coast of the Welsh Capital, which is closer to its operations than the privately owned site off Portishead.
The firm previously said it would choose either the Portishead or Cardiff Grounds site for the dumping, depending on regulatory approval and operational requirements.
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In the update, EDF said it would “consider the next steps” in regard to its application to Natural Resources Wales for its use of the Cardiff Grounds site. BusinessLive understands this application has been paused before reaching formal stages.
In a statement Chris Fayers, head of environment at Hinkley Point C, said: "For this next phase of dredging, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences tested the mud beyond internationally-recognised best practice, with more samples at greater depth and with a greater range of analysis.
“The results confirm previous analysis that the mud is perfectly safe and poses no risk to the public or the environment. An independent report commissioned by the Welsh Government also found that the mud would be deemed suitable for disposal at sea."
The mud has to be disposed of within the Severn Area of Conservation in order to maintain the balance of sediment and mud in the area.
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