N-Base Briefing 447
26th March 2005
ISSN 1478-4661
New contract in 2007
The UKAEA's contract to operate Dounreay for its new owners from 1st April,
the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is to run for just two years. NDA
communication manager, Jon Phillips, said on a visit to Caithness that the
site management contract would go out to tender in 2007. This was
confirmed in evidence to the House of Commons trade and industry committee
by UKAEA chief executive, Dipesh Shah. He said there was also the option
to extend the initial two-year contract by a further year.
MP hits out at Sandside owners
At a meeting this week of the House of Commons trade and industry committee
the Labour chairman, Martin O'Neil, and the UKAEA suggested the owners of
the Sandside beach should not have been surprised to have found radioactive
contamination there from Dounreay. According to the uncorrected minutes of
the meeting Mr O'Neil asked the UKAEA chief executive, Dipesh Shah:
"...if you buy a beach next to a nuclear plant whose safety record,
even then, was a bit dodgy, you cannot really cry foul when you find some
particles on the beach." Mr Shah replied: "One would imagine so,
Mr O'Neil." Sandside owner, Mr Geoffrey Minter, reacted angrily to
the comments, demanding the right to put his views to the MPs.
Another Dunnet find....
A second radioactive find has been made on the famous Dunnet Beach, about
14 miles east of Dounreay. Early in March a contaminated stone and seaweed
was found, but this week's find is understood to be a radioactive particle
similar to those found at the Sandside beach, west of Dounreay, and on the
seabed off Caithness.
...and at Sandside
The 55th radioactive particle was found on the Sandside beach this week by
UKAEA monitors. The particle was buried five centimetres into the sand and
to the west end of the beach.
...while talks start
Formal mediation talks between the UKAEA and the owners of the Sandside
beach began this week.
...and conference planned
The UKAEA has formally invited the submission of papers for the conference
on the problem of radioactive particles in the environment around Dounreay
due to be held in August. Deadline for papers is 29th April. Details from
june.love@ukaea.org.uk
New stakeholder meeting
The first meeting of the new Dounreay Stakeholders Group was held on
Monday. A Caithness councillor was appointed chairman and the meeting
agreed to proposals from Shetland Islands Council that representatives of
the fishing, tourism and crofting should be included among the membership.
New nuclear reactor for Scotland ?
Despite headlines throughout the Scottish media, such as 'New nuclear plant
needed to keep lights on, say MPs', a new report from the House of Commons
Scottish Affairs select committee has not made any such recommendation.
The report looks at the Scottish energy needs, targets for renewable
energy, and the use of coal and fusion - saying the Government should
underwrite the cost of adapting coal-fired power stations to capture carbon
dioxide and sulphur emissions. The problem with fusion, the MPs said, was
the 30 years wait until it might be viable.
The MPs said the Government's July 2006 target date for a decision on how
to manage nuclear waste must not be missed. Commenting on nuclear power
the MPs said: "Perhaps, however, the solution might be the most
controversial decision that the Government could take: the rehabilitation
of nuclear power."
The report calls on the Government to carry out an energy audit for
Scotland based on the premise that all current forms of energy, including
nuclear. The possibility of a nuclear reactor should be considered in the
audit, but the MPs made no recommendation.
The Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in Scotland is presently opposed to
any new nuclear reactor being considered until the problem of nuclear waste
had been solved, although Labour is seen as generally more pro-nuclear than
its coalition partners. The Scottish National Party rejects any future for
nuclear power in Scotland.
There is a general expectation that soon after the general election in May
the Government will publish a White Paper on energy and new nuclear builds.
British Energy and the Department of Trade and Industry are both quietly
preparing the ground.
Windscale authorisations
The Environment Agency for England and Wales has announced a public
consultation on proposed new waste disposal authorisations for the UKAEA's
Windscale site at Sellafield. The proposed authorisations involve a
reduction in discharges and various regulatory changes. Details at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk or from julie.edge@environment-agency.gov.uk
BE chief leaves
The chief executive of British Energy, Mike Alexander, has left the post
unexpectedly. The post has been taken over by Bill Coley, a non-executive
director with the nuclear generator.
Legal challenge
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities has lodged a formal complaint with the
European Commission that the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is
ignoring European environmental laws by failing to carry out a strategic
environmental assessment for its annual plan.
Worker exposed
Investigations are underway into how a worker in the Magnox reprocessing
plant at Sellafield received a higher than allowed radiation dose.
Reactor cracks
Cracks in the graphite core of at least six of the UK's advanced gas-cooled
reactors could force their early closure according to a report in New
scientist magazine based on documents released by regulators under the
Freedom of Information Act. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has
ordered increased safety checks.
Sources consultation
A UK-wide consultation on new regulations for high activity sealed sources
has been announced. The consultation, on the introduction of regulations
from the European Union runs until 17th June. Details at
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/hass-directive/index.htm
BPEO guidance
New guidance on the assessment of Best Practicable Environmental Option
studies at nuclear sites has been published by the UK's regulatory
agencies. Full details at www.sepa.org.uk/radioactivity/publcons.htm
Missed target
The controversial Sellafield MOX plant (SMP) looks to have missed another
important target. SMP was due to produce three mixed oxide fuel assemblies
by the end of this month - a target already reduced from 12 assemblies -
but British Nuclear Fuels had now admitted this will not happen because of
continued problems.
Warheads left behind
Reports suggest the former Soviet navy dumped up to 20 nuclear torpedoes in
the Bay of Naples in 1970.
Not Sellafield
A new study by the National Cancer Registry in Ireland into cancer clusters
in County Louth has concluded that Sellafield is not responsible. The
study found that socio-economic deprivation and smoking were the likely
main links with the cancer levels in the county.
New studies
The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority has published two new studies
on environmental impact assessments in the Arctic and the natural
radioactivity produced by the oil and gas industry. Both reports are
available at www.nrpa.no
Nuclear grant
A research project worth GBP6.5 million on the future potential of nuclear
power has been awarded to Strathclyde University by the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Scottish higher
Education Council
Plutonium transports
A cargo of 140 kilograms of MOX plutonium fuel has arrived in La Hague
awaiting shipment to the USA. The plutonium fuel taken from the Areva
factory at Marcoule, north of Avignon, by road.
Radiation accidents
The National Radiological Protection Board has published new advice on
protecting on-site workers in the event of a radiation accident. Details
at www.nrpb.org/press_releases/2005/press_release_04_05.htm
Police appointment
Energy minister Mike O'Brien has made the first seven members of the new
Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA) that takes over responsibility for
policing civil nuclear site from the UKAEA on 1st April. The chairman is
to be Melvyn Smith, a magistrate and member of the West Yorkshire Police
Authority. Details at www.dti.gov.uk
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