Radioactive Waste Plans For Teesside Landfill....
- teessidetoday
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
Revised safety case reignites public concerns, as Augean UK seeks fresh approval to bury radioactive waste near the Tees Estuary....
24th June 2025
A company operating on Teesside has re-submitted a revised Environmental Safety Case (ESC) for its long-standing application to dispose of Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) at Port Clarence Landfill Site, with the Environment Agency inviting public feedback before 4 August 2025.
This controversial proposal for Augean North Ltd has reportedly been in the pipeline for several years, with local's being asked to weigh in on updated safety proposals which could greenlight the dumping of radioactive material in the region.
Augean reportedly operates two landfill sites at Port Clarence – one for hazardous waste, and one for non-hazardous material. They now want permission to use both sites for the disposal of low level radioactive waste.
Its claimed Augean submitted their original permit application way back in August 2019. After a public consultation and technical review, the Environment Agency (EA) demanded more information in 2020. Now, Augean has responded with a revised Environmental Safety Case, which includes updated modelling and assessments.
The new documents said to be 'highly technical', consists of :
A Coastal Risk Assessment: detailing a deeper analysis of how the Tees Estuary and coastline might change over time – and how erosion or sea-level rise could affect the landfill.
Flooding Risks: Revised models for the impact of extreme weather and climate change – including how storm surges could flood the site.
Human & Environmental Impact Scenarios: New hypothetical situations that model how people or the environment could be affected after the landfill is closed.
“Optimised Disposal” Justification: arguing that the Port Clarence site is the best possible site for disposing of all LLRW covered by the application.
Monitoring Plans: More in depth detail on how Augean intends to monitor the site for environmental safety during and after waste disposal.
How Can You Have Your Say?
The Environment Agency is now inviting public comments on he matter until 4 August 2025. You can read the updated ESC and Augean’s responses to the Agency’s 2020 queries at the bottom of the consultation page or by contacting:
📧 Nuclear Regulation Team North📬 nuclear@environment-agency.gov.uk
But take note: the Environment Agency has strict rules on what they can and can’t consider.
✅ They can consider:
Environmental risks and compliance with regulations
Whether the right technology is being used
Local population sensitivities and nearby protected sites
Site layout, and what control systems may be required
❌ They cannot consider:
Public opinion or opposition based on fear or emotion
Broader issues like traffic or noise
The location of the site itself (already approved for landfill use)
Why This Matters
Although the Environment Agency insists it must follow environmental permitting rules – and not public opinion – this decision could set a major precedent. If approved, it means the Port Clarence site will become an active disposal site for radioactive materials in a region already grappling with industrial pollution, dereliction, and infrastructure strain.
With Hartlepool less than 10 miles away, and the Tees Estuary an ecologically sensitive zone, there are said to be serious questions about long-term safety, climate resilience, and the cumulative burden on our communities.
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