RESIDENTS will get the chance to give their views on changes at the Sellafield nuclear plant.

The Environment Agency is opening a public consultation on environmental permit changes at the site, in preparation for the end of fuel reprocessing.

The Environment Agency is tasked with regulating discharges and radioactive waste disposals from the plant.

Currently, the Sellafield site reprocesses radioactive fuel in its THORP and Magnox reprocessing plants.

Fuel reprocessing will be coming to an end at THORP in November and Magnox in 2020 and will mean that the site will see a reduction in discharges to the environment.

Given these reductions, the company will need to have new environmental permits which include the revised, lower discharge levels.

Environment Agency bosses said it was the most significant review of Sellafield Ltd.’s permits since the early 2000s.

The permits in question are the Radioactive Substances Activities (RSA) permit and the

Installations permit, which allow the site to operate facilities, discharge liquids and gases to the environment and disposals of solid waste.

Rob Allott, nuclear regulation manager for the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency has been working with Sellafield Ltd to carry out a major review of two of its environmental permits in readiness for the end of fuel reprocessing at the Sellafield site.

“Changes to the Radioactive Substances Activities (RSA) permit have been submitted by the company, and our consultation is now open.

“We are encouraging people to have their say.”

The consultation will last for eight weeks and once it closes, the EA will review all comments received and publish a draft decision.

To have your say visit www.consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/cumbria-and-lancashire/sellafield-rsa-major-permit-review.