N-Base Briefing 518


N-Base Briefing 518
10th March 2007
ISSN 1478-4661

Short of resources

Limited resources have forced the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to concentrate it work on site and activities with a higher risk. In a report to next week's annual meting of the Dounreay Stakeholders Group the NII says that limited resources and increases in "higher priority work" has meant reduced site inspection at the Ministry of Defence's submarine reactor site at HMS Vulcan, adjacent to Dounreay. The NII says the inspection work by the MoD's Defence Safety Regulator "was sufficient to ensure that risks to the workforce and public were properly controlled." (www.dounreaystakeholdergroup.org)

Thorp protests

The Norwegian Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Environment Minister have all raised concerns about the re-opening of the Thorp reprocessing plant at Sellafield with their counterparts in the UK Government. Environment minister Helen Bj>rn>y told the Norwegian Parliament that regulators had asked the UK for detailed technical information on the basis it was agreed Thorp could re-open. She also said she had discussed Thorp with her Irish counterpart. (Whitehaven News 08/03/07)

Fuel talks

The Japanese and Russian Governments are holding talks on plans to transport nuclear material from France and the UK to Russia for processing into new fuel. The uranium from Japanese spent fuel reprocessed at La Hague in France and Sellafield in the UK would be taken to Angarsk, which is north of the border with Mongolia. (Green Action and Ecodefense 28/02/07)

More support

Opinion polls in Australia have shown an increase in the number of people supporting the building of a nuclear power reactor in the country. (www.world-nuclear-news.org)

Nuclear stance

West Somerset Council has said that while it does oppose new nuclear development at the Hinkley Point reactor site, it does not oppose the building of a replacement reactor. (Somerset County Gazette 06/03/07)

Foreshore particle

"A significantly radioactive particle" was found on the Dounreay foreshore according to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's quarterly report to the Dounreay Stakeholders Group. (www.dounreaystakerholdergroup.org)

Site surveys

British Energy says it is surveying its sites as part of its background work on the building of a new generation of power reactors. (Telegraph 07/03/07)

'Mass exodus'

Lack of confidence in the future is forcing people to leave Caithness and in turn possibly cause a major shortage of skills. This was the message given to Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen when he visited the county this week. The rundown at Dounreay, doubts about the decommissioning budget and the failure to diversify the local economy means tradesmen and apprentices were leaving the area. (Caithness Courier 07/03/07)

Plutonium consultations

British Nuclear Group and the UKAEA are to hold consultations later this year on the treatment and management of plutonium-contaminated wastes held at Dounreay and Harwell. The options are to treat and store the material at Harwell and Dounreay or transport the waste to Sellafield for treatment. A Harwell consultation is due this summer and an information pack on the implications for Sellafield is due later this month. To register as a stakeholder for the Sellafield consultation contact june.t.shield@britishnucleargroup.com and for information on Harwell email angela.vincent@ukaea.org.uk. (www.britishnucleargroup.com)

Dome corroded

There is still doubt over the future of huge dome at Dounreay, that became an international symbol for the nuclear industry. While the local community council is in favour of keeping the dome as a tourist attraction, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority says it has no plans to retain the dome. Parts of the dome are corroded and it is also contaminated with radioactive tritium. (Press and Journal 08/03/07)

Planning objection

British Energy has lodged a holding objection to plans for the development of Lydd airport in Kent. British Energy says the proposed runway and terminal extensions might damage the potential for a new reactor being built at the nearby Dungeness reactor site. BE also says additional aircraft movements might be a safety risk for the existing reactor. (www.british-energy.co.uk)