N-Base Briefing 186

N-Base Briefing 186 - 27th June 1999

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186.1 OSPAR looks closer at reprocessing plants

While there were no major developments concerning radioactive marine pollution at the annual meeting last week of the OSPAR marine pollution convention in Hull, England, a new proposal means all contracting states must give their plans and timetables for implementing the p0licy agreed by ministers last year to achieve substantial reductions in discharges by the year 2000.

All countries must supply their plants by 15th September 1999 and an inter-sessional group chaired by France will prepare a draft report for the OSPAR Radioactive Substances Working Group meeting in January 2000.

The final text of this year's meeting specifically refers to reprocessing plants are one of the principle sources of radioactive discharges. The text reads: "The contracting parties to the Convention for the protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic agree to intensify their efforts to ensure that the commission can identify and take the necessary action for achieving further substantial reductions or elimination of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances in accordance with Paragraph 4.1 of the strategy." [see below for details]

"In doing so, they will pay particular attention to the principle sources of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances, including the reprocessing of nuclear fuel and some other nuclear and non-nuclear activities. Where action by the operators of such activities is required, they will ensure that it is taken without delay." Paragraph 4.1 of last year's Sintra Agreement reads: "This strategy will be implemented in accordance with the following time frame: by the year 2000 a) the Commission will, for the whole maritime area, work towards achieving further substantial reductions or elimination of discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances; by the year 2020 b) the Commission will ensure that discharges, emissions and losses of radioactive substances are reduced to levels where the additional concentrations in the marine environment above historic levels, resulting from such discharges, emissions and losses, are close to zero."

186.2 News in Brief

Scottish reactor contract

British Nuclear Fuels has been awarded the GBP2 million contract to dismantle the Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre's research reactor in East Kilbribe. The spent fuel from the reactor, which was shut down in 1995, was reprocessed at Dounreay.

German talks

Talks between the power generating companies in Germany and the economics minister Werner Muller have apparently resulted in an agreement about the phasing-out of nuclear power. Few details have yet emerged but it seems the 19 nuclear reactors would be closed after a maximum operating life of 35 years.

Coffee tests

Scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Bombay, India, have found that rats injected with large quantities of caffeine are capable of surviving high levels of gamma radiation. However, caffeine which has been irradiated increases the level of chromosome damage.

Poor procedures

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has criticised deficiencies in procedures and staff training for the emergency which shut down the two Hunterston reactors on 26th December last year after high winds damaged power lines and overloaded safety systems. Staff were not able to deal with the unusually situation which would normally be dealt with by automatic systems.

New directors

Two new non-executive directors have been appointed to the UK Atomic energy Authority. They are Mrs Rosemary Day, the chairwoman of the London ambulance Service, and Mr Alan Young, former director of Scottish Hydro-Electric and John Brown Engineering,

EU study

The European Commission's DG XI has published an invitation to tender for a study on the management of spent, sealed radioactive sources in Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. The study will assess the current situation concerning spent radioactive sources and identify areas there improved management is possible. The tender reference is OJ No S 115 of 16.6.1999 p33

Swedish reprocessing

The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) has asked recommended to the government that spent fuel from a research reactor closed in 1970 should be reprocessed at Sellafield. The spent fuel has deteriorated while in storage and is now considered difficult to deal with. The recommendation comes despite Sweden's stand against radioactive discharges from the UK reprocessing plant in the OSPAR marine pollution convention and other international fora.

Worker hurt

A worker in the Sellafield Magnox fuel separation plant was taken to hospital for checks recently after his face was splashed with tributyl phosphate solvent.

British Energy's new deals

UK nuclear energy operators British Energy has bought two more American reactors in conjunction with its US partners, Peco Energy, using the AmerGen joint venture company. AmerGen is to take on the two Nine Mile Point boiling water reactors near Syracuse in New York state.