N-BASE BRIEFING 166 - 6th February 1999
NENIG, Bains Beach, Commercial Street, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0AG
01595 69 40 99 (Tel and fax)
166.1 News in Brief
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Dounreay secrets revealed
Radioactive waste discharged into the North Sea from Dounreay
was being washed ashore and causing other concerns within
two years of the plant opening in 1958. This has been
revealed in confidential papers released for public
scrutiny under the 30-year rule. However some papers
have been censored to hide information and other papers
concerning Dounreay have still not been released. Details
contained in the newly released papers have been studied
by Mr Colin Punler, senior journalist with the John
O'Groat Journal. The study shows that waste was being
washed ashore in sludge or spume or found in radioactive
slick offshore and local fishermen's nets were also being
contaminated. The papers also reveal that problems
with the plant and human error resulted in high-level
wastes being discharged through low-level system.
Dounreay management pressed for increases in discharge
permissions and relaxation in discharge restrictions
despite concerns by its own staff that this could
risk public health. Concerns were hidden by regulators
in the Scottish Office even though the discharge problems
were "a source of considerable worry to all
concerned at Dounreay" according to a UKAEA health
and safety official in 1961
KIMO conference
The international local government environment organisation,
KIMO, which represent 98 coastal authorities in northern
Europe, is to organise a major conference to examine the
role of the new Scottish Parliament in protecting Scotland's
marine environment. The conference will take place in
Edinburgh on 23rd March and hear speakers from all major
political parties. Details from kimo@zetnet.co.uk
'People let down'
Members of the West Caithness Community Council have complained
that signs warning visitors about possible radioactive
contamination on Sandside beach is deterring tourism.
Members say they have been trying without success to find
out what has to happen before the signs can be removed.
They are pressing the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency and the UKAEA to agree criteria for the removal
of the signs.
Workers lack motivation
A report by government advisors on the Radioactive Waste
Management Advisory Committee has found a worrying lack of
motivation among staff at Dounreay which has resulted in
many tasks taking much longer than necessary. The report
found a "culture of inertia" at Dounreay which must be
changed.
Nikitin trial
The Russian Supreme Court has supported the decision of the
St Petersburg court to refer the case against Alexander Nikitin
back to the prosecuting authorities for further investigation
because of lack of evidence. The Supreme Court also rules
that Nikitin, a former Soviet naval officer who is charged with
espionage for environmental work on the safety and environmental
risks of the Russian nuclear submarine fleet, must remain
under virtual house arrest. The defence legal team now intends
taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Details from www.bellona.no/e/russia/nikitin/ or e-mail
info@bellona.no
Another Gulf War study
A new study by the UK Ministry of Defence Medical Assessment
Programme has found that although veterans of the Gulf War
suffered from a high number of illnesses they found no evidence
to support the existence of a common Gulf War Syndrome.
Pembrokeshire campaign
Details of the Pembrokeshire Anti Nuclear Alliance campaign
against plans to use a huge former Royal Navy underground
arms depot at Trecwn, near Fishguard, are now available on the
internet. For more information see www.ecocentre.org.uk or
e-mail martin@ecocentre.org.uk
Transport protests
A major protest rally is to be held in London on 20th February
against the rail transport of nuclear waste and spent fuel
through the capital. The protest is being organised by Cricklewood
Against Nuclear Trains (CAN'T) which was set-up last year in
response to plans by British Nuclear Fuels to use a marshalling
yard in Cricklewood for its nuclear transports en route to
the Sellafield reprocessing complex. CAN'T say the protest
is against all nuclear transports by rail. A meeting in London
at the end of January, organised by the Nuclear Free Local
Authorities, also considered the risks of nuclear transports
through the city. The meeting was attended by representatives
of 17 borough councils and the Fire and Civil Defence Authority.
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