Discretionary Criteria

Discretionary - criteria that, singly or in combination, could make all or part of a site unsuitable for new nuclear power station. 

With regard to discretionary criteria, nominated sites will not be excluded from further consideration because of these criteria rather the SSA will make assumptions about likely scale impacts and whether these will be mitigated by plant design. 

After consideration of the site specific information for these discretionary criteria, the SSA has concluded that 10 out of the 11 nominated sites should be carried forward into the Nuclear NPS. The Dungeness site is excluded from further consideration in the draft Nuclear NPS due to potential impacts on internationally designated sites of ecological importance (Reference 3. 7). 

Further consideration of these discretionary criteria will be necessary for any of the sites identified in the Nuclear NPS that are taken forward for new build. The detailed site specific assessments will need to identify whether any revisions to plant design are required to mitigate impact that new build could have on the surrounding area/environment, and to ensure safe operation of the new... 

In addition to the exclusionary and discretionary criteria listed above, the SSA has identified other criteria which will need to be considered at the site specific planning/design stage for any sites identified in the Nuclear NPS that are subsequently taken forward towards development. These (local) criteria are ... 

Proximity to hazardous industrial facilities and operations (D3 - discretionary). The criterion relates to proximity of hazardous industrial facilities for example those that fall under the Control of Major Accidents and Hazards Regulation (COMAH) (Reference Error Reference source not found.). Whilst assessment of this discretionary criterion is site specific, it is addressed in part by the generic APIOOO design. This criterion is discussed further in subsection 3.3.3. 

Top management of the company assessed the plant manager s proposal on the basis of 2.6 cents per kWh paid for purchased electricity. This analysis resulted in a projected after-tax return on investment (ROI) of 22%, considerably less than the 30% expected from the discretionary investments that do not increase production. Although the company s typical ROI criterion was only about 15% and its average return on assets only 10%, top management rejected the proposal. 

Coastal processes (D2 - discretionary). This criterion relates to coastal erosion or other landscape changes. This criterion is site specific and is not addressed by the generic APIOOO design. Further consideration of this issue will be necessary at the site specific planning/design stages. 

Size of site to accommodate operation (D9 - discretionary). This criterion requires a demonstration that there will be sufficient area within the boimdaries of the nominated sites to allow secure operation of at least one new build nuclear power station. Atypical layout for the generic APIOOO plant is discussed elsewhere in Chapter 2 of this PCSR. With the exception of the parking area, the entire facility is contained within a perimeter fence that encloses approximately 10 hectares (ha). The site boimdaries for the SSA nominated sites enclose areas of between 75 ha and 298 ha (Reference 3.7). Allowing for ancillary facilities, the typical area estimated for the S SA nominated sites required for operational purposes is 3 0 to 50 ha. Hence, all of the nominated sites are sufficient area for at least one new build nuclear power station. The finalised layout will need to ensure that the constructed AP 1000 plant can be operated in a safe and secure marmer, with access to site (and nuclear materials) strictly controlled. The finalised layout will need to accommodate both generic and site specific requirements and meet with the approval of the regulators. 

Access to suitable sources of cooling (DIO - discretionary). This criterion requires a demonstration that suitable cooling can be provided to ensure safe and efficient operation. All of the nominated sites have access to sea water for cooling. This criterion is discussed further in subsection 3.3.4. 

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