LONDON, July 23 (UPI) -- The U.K. government has released its siting assessment guidelines for new nuclear power plants.

In a publication released Tuesday, the government details its criteria and its process for assessing where new nuclear power stations may be built in England and Wales.

In its new publication, the government invites third parties to suggest new nuclear sites. An environmental study was released along with the assessment guide.

Government leaders, including Business Secretary John Hutton, said the public release of the guide is aimed at encouraging the planning of new nuclear energy plants. Officials have said new nuclear generation is necessary to meet European Union goals for renewable energy.

Some of the criteria include sites that would be automatically ruled out, including sites subject to flooding, coastal conditions and areas that are environmentally protected.

The publication is only a draft; a government spokesman said in a release that the criteria should be finalized by early 2009. The consultation on the Strategic Siting Process will close on Nov. 11.