A study of the way policy and legislation for regulating radioactive wastes has developed in the UK since the first specific legislation was enacted in 1948. Particular emphasis is given to the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 and the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 which set the framework for control that has lasted to the present day.
The reader will gain a clear understanding of the factors that have shaped the regulatory framework for radioactive waste and the matters that must be considered in making changes for the future.