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The Welsh Government has rejected claims that Wales could be set for a nuclear rubbish dump raised by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The environmentalist group has raised concerns over a consultation, which closed this week, reviewing the Welsh Government’s policy on the management and disposal of “Higher Activity Radioactive Waste”.

In the consultation the Welsh Government indicates it would support burying the waste on the basis of the willing participation of a potential volunteer host community or communities.

The Welsh Government insists this only means that it would consider the idea if a community voluntarily approached the government to request it.

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But Friends of the Earth has called on ministers to rule out ever taking nuclear waste from outside Wales.

Gareth Clubb, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “The Scottish Government has decided to deal with its own nuclear waste and not take on the burden of England’s radioactive legacy. The Welsh Government should follow Scotland’s lead and take responsibility solely for Wales’ nuclear waste.

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“By going along with Westminster’s plans, the Welsh Government is risking Wales becoming the dumping ground for all the nuclear waste ever created in England as well as Wales.

“The only community in England thought likely to volunteer for a nuclear waste dump was in Cumbria - and they comprehensively rejected the idea. Civil servants and politicians in Westminster will be licking their lips at the prospect of dumping this highly dangerous, expensive problem on the people of Wales.”

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The consultation documents states that if after the review the Welsh Government does adopt a policy “it does not mean either that a geological disposal facility (GDF) will be sited in Wales or that the Welsh Government will seek to have a GDF sited in Wales”.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “There is no question of radioactive waste being dumped in Wales. Since 2008, we have allowed communities in Wales to approach the Welsh Government to discuss hosting a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste and we have been clear that this will not change even if a policy for the geological disposal of radioactive waste is adopted.

“A geological disposal facility can, and will, only be sited in Wales if a community were voluntarily to approach the Welsh Government seeking to enter discussions about potentially hosting such a facility.

“During those discussions a potential host community can withdraw at any time. We will consider all responses to the consultation before making any decisions.”