Integrated Legal Services

AdvanSci announces an arrangement to work in collaboration with Symmetry Law, a specialist environmental law firm, allowing clients to benefit from joined‑up technical, legal and commercial advice.

Symmetry Law's market-leading experts focus on solutions to complex environmental and regulatory problems, including nuclear and radiological issues. They have extensive experience of advising national and international blue‑chip clients often in the 'high consequence' band of the chemicals, heavy industrial, energy and waste sectors. Click here for further information.

Radioactive Waste Adviser

Trevor Jones is one of the first professionals in the UK to be formally recognised as a Radioactive Waste Adviser.

The Basic Safety Standards Directive requires the appointment of qualified experts to advise on radioactive waste management and environmental radiation protection. All radioactive substances permit holders are now legally required to appoint a Radioactive Waste Adviser, and prospective applicants or others intending to accumulate or dispose of radioactive waste must consult one. Click here for further information.

Revision of Exemption Order regime

The most radical overhaul of radioactive substances regulation in the UK for over 50 years was completed on 1 October 2011 when a new exemption order regime came into force. The previous ad-hoc system of 18 exemption orders has been revoked and replaced by a single, risk-based regime which clarifies the boundaries between substances which are out-of-scope, exempt and subject to permitting, and aligns with the Basic Safety Standards Directive. Transitional arrangements ended on 1 April 2012, and all users of exemption orders must now comply with the new regime.

Click these links for the new regulations for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Government Guidance is available, and Regulator Guidance is being published progressively. For advice on the implications for your business, please contact us.

UK NORM Waste Strategy

The UK Government and Devolved Administrations are currently developing a strategy for the management of wastes containing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM). Development of the strategy is being led by the Scottish Government. Trevor Jones represents the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management on the Project Board, and is leading on aspects of strategy development related to the waste management sector.

We are seeking information about the practices and processes used in the UK to treat and dispose of NORM wastes. If you are able to assist, please call Trevor Jones on 0161 713 2436 or use our contact form.

Presentation to Geological Society

Trevor Jones gave a presentation to the North West Regional Group of the Geological Society on 13 October 2011 entitled "The Role of the Geologist in Radioactive Waste Disposal". To request a copy, please contact us.

Article in CIWM Journal

An article by Trevor Jones on recent developments and challenges in the field of lower activity radioactive waste management entitled "Low Level, High Priority?" was published in the August 2011 issue of CIWM Journal. To request a copy, please contact us.

NORM and Natural Radiation Management conference

Trevor Jones attended the international NORM conference in London on 9-10 May 2011, and chaired a round table discussion on “Improving the public’s attitude to NORM”.

Make 'Engineer' a protected title

Engineering suffers from an image problem. People believe that engineers simply fix things, but we don't: we invent things. Unfortunately the false image is propagated by hundreds of companies out there who term repair-persons and equipment installers 'Engineers'. Engineering suffers from a lack of graduates, and at a time people are looking to manufacturing to fix the economy we need all the graduates we can get. Sadly they are put off by the false image of engineering. It is thus proposed that the title 'Engineer' is protected legally, like 'Doctor' or 'Architect'. It would be restricted to those who are professional engineers or product designers, or those who have retired from the industry.

If you agree, please click here to sign the official e-petition on the HM Government website. If 100,000 signatures are collected, the petition could be debated in the House of Commons.