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Radioactive waste could soon be brought to Port Clarence for dumping.

National firm Augean wants to landfill 'low-level' waste at a site near the village .

But first, it needs a permit from the Environment Agency - and now Teessiders are being asked for their views on the plans.

Augean says it has buried a similar type of waste at its site in Northamptonshire "without any adverse effects".

(Image: Google)

Earlier this year, the same firm brought hundreds of tonnes of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Waste (NORM) to the site by road from Scotland.

It claimed Teesside is "one of the very few" UK places that can handle such material safely - but the scheme triggered anger from some Teesside Live readers who called the area a "dumping ground".

The latest scheme involves a type of waste classified as a slightly higher risk - but still 'low-level'.

The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) say it is the type of waste that needs "minimal isolation" and is "suitable for disposal in landfill.

It is not yet known how much radioactive waste will arrive on Teesside and the company will also need to clear Stockton Council's planning process next year.

The Waste Recovery Park, off Huntsman Drive, has "permissions to develop the UK’s largest single site integrated waste facility" and has already been taking - and disposing of - both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes for more than 20 years.

But the latest scheme sits outside the current permissions.

The Environment Agency (EA) says low-level waste contains "small amounts of radioactive substances", such as industrial or hospital waste, or clothes and building materials from nuclear power plants.

But a spokesperson said a permit would not be issued "unless the EA is satisfied that it is safe for people and the environment " - "both during operations and into the future".

A public consultation is being carried out as the EA expects the application to be of "high public interest".

"This gives people the opportunity to understand the proposals, our permitting controls and process, and to review the application documents," the spokesperson said.

"It is also an opportunity for people to provide us with any information that they think is relevant to our decision making.

"The application for the permit must be supported by a robust environmental safety case."

Dr Gene Wilson, Augean's director of corporate stewardship, has said the firm has "extensive" experience of safely handling low-level waste at its landfill site in Northamptonshire.

He said: "We can demonstrate through monitoring results that it has done so without any adverse effects.

"We believe the current operation of the Port Clarence site as a safe, secure, sustainable and well-regulated site for the disposal and treatment of hazardous wastes, makes it an appropriate place for the specialist handling of LLW.”

Dr Wilson added: "Augean intends to carry out a full consultation on the planning application and will be holding a series of events including exhibitions and open days which the local community will be invited to attend so they can discuss the planning application with us.”