N-Base Briefing 456


N-Base Briefing 456
4th June 2005

ISSN 1478-4661

Thorp's future still uncertain

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said this week it is still considering the implications of the huge leak at the Thorp reprocessing plant. The leak of highly radioactive uranium, plutonium and nitric acid liquid was caused by a design fault - the tank containing the liquid waste could move up and down, but it was connected to a fixed pipeline that eventually cracked.

The leak went undetected for three months, since January this year, and the pipe fracture probably started last August. Norway's environment minister, Knut Arild Hareide, is to ask the European Commission to impose tighter safety control on Sellafield.

Dunnet study

The UKAEA is undertaking a sediment study at the Dunnet beach to try and find out how a radioactive particle found there in March arrived there.

More CoRWM dissent

The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) has lost another of its senior advisers. David Ball, Professor of Risk Management at Middlesex University, has resigned and criticised the committee's reluctance to seek and accept advice from expert scientists. Prof Ball said CoRWM was "in a shambles".

Reactor worries

Political leaders from Guernsey in the Channel Islands are to visit France to discuss plans by Electricite de France (EdF) to build a new reactor at Flamanville. While there are concerns over safety and the consequences of an accident, Guernsey's position is difficult as EdF supplies the island with 85 per cent of its electricity via an underwater cable.

Testing costs

The Nuclear Decommissioning Agency spends GPB1 million a year carrying out radiation sampling and food testing around Sellafield, the environmental sub-committee of the local liaison committee has been told. While British Nuclear Fuels said monitoring showed all levels were within limits, it admitted to higher than expected levels of carbon 14 discharges from the site's vitrification plants. Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (CORE) told the committee monitoring should be more widespread and more through.

New pills

New potassium iodate tablets have been issued to households near the two nuclear submarine 'z-berths' in Scotland at Broadford, Skye, and Loch Ewe, Wester Ross. The Ministry of Defence has issued the tablets, which help reduce the chance of thyroid cancer in the event of a radiation leak, because the existing tablets had reached their 'best before date'.

Heart checks

As a result of a request from Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (CORE) checks are to be made on any possible link between exposure to radiation among Sellafield workers and the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Jobs to go

British Nuclear Fuels is to cut 500 staff from its payroll at Sellafield in an effort to reduce costs and 'unnecessary bureaucracy'

Monju approved

Japan's Supreme Court has given approval for the controversial Monju fast reactor to re-open 10 years after it was closed following a leak of liquid sodium coolant.