Environment
RSRL manages land on behalf of the NDA at Harwell (Oxfordshire) and Winfrith (Dorset). The two sites comprise almost 200 hectares of land, which either residue on, or border Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Winfrith Site is designated, at an international level as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), for its rare heathland habitat and endangered wildlife species including the Dartford Warbler and the Southern Damselfly.
RSRL has an established history of preserving and protecting biodiversity across both of its sites. In 2010 – the UN International Year of Biodiversity RSRL updated its Biodiversity Action Plan to ensure that the biodiversity of both sites remains sustainable; balancing the continued protection of flora/ fauna with RSRL’s overall aim to decommission and restore its sites.
As our work is centred on nuclear decommissioning, we constantly seek ways to improve our practices to protect the environment. We recognise that our activities have risks that must be managed and controlled to minimise their environmental impact.
Our management system identifies activities that have the potential to harm the environment. These fit into a number of common categories, including:
- releases to air
- releases to water
- land quality
- waste management
- resource use and storage
- biodiversity and heritage
- transport
Our management process for environmental risk management involve:
- identifing potential hazards
- evaluating the risks
- implementing controls
- measuring the impacts
- reporting on the outcomes
The management system is certified to the international standard ISO 14001, confirming our high standards of environmental management.
RSRL has achieved certification against the requirements of ISO 14001 the International Environmental Management System Standard.
RSRL was selected as 'Highly Commended’ after entering the RoSPA International Dilmun Environmental Award, link: http://www.research-sites.com/news/2010-06-01/recognition-for-rsrls-safety-and-environmental-performance
Environment
