N-Base Briefing 365

The particles mystery deepens

In the week that two new radioactive particles have been found on the Sandside beach a group of experts have published a second report which finds the contamination problem is probably more widespread and serious that originally thought. The report is critical of the lack of progress on a number of important issues raised in an earlier report in 2001.

The main findings of the report by the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group (DPAG), set up by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 2000, are:

* more particles have been released from Dounreay into the sea and over a longer period than originally thought;

* particles on the seabed are buried at different levels - with more radioactive ones at deeper levels - the less radioactive particles, nearer the seabed surface, move more rapidly than the larger particles, which can be broken-up by abrasion and moved, during storms;

* there are several groups of particles on the seabed;

* there is a highly mobile surface layer of sand which contains particles;

* mainly smaller less active particles move back into areas cleaned by divers within a few months in summer and probably quicker in the winter months;

* Seven 50x50 metre areas of seabed have been surveyed and cleaned-up four times by divers since summer 2001 - and each survey has found fresh particle contaminated (although one area 2km west has only revealed one particle);

* that the particles are unlikely to have come from any one source at Dounreay;

* that particles might still be being released into the environment, with the possible sources being the abandoned original offshore discharge pipeline diffuser, the waste pits at Dounreay, the site's drainage system, or the waste shaft;

*that the monitoring of beaches has failed to meet regulatory standards - and still falls below international standards.

The main recommendations of the latest DPAG report are:

* that the monitoring of Sandside and other local beaches needs to be improved;

* there needs to be investigations at Dounreay to try and identify the sources of the particles;

*all current and historic drainage systems must be checked to see if they contain any particles;

*studies should continue to try and establish the extent of the seabed contamination;

*there should be an investigation to see if offshore springs might be carrying particles from Dounreay, including the unlined waste shaft;

* further work is needed on the movement of particles in the sea, beyond the present two kilometre fishing ban, and consideration should be given to the possibility of particles being consumed by marine life.

The full report is available (in pdf format) at www.sepa.org.uk/dpag/

More particles

Two new radioactive 'hotspot' particles were found on the Sandside beach this week - bringing the total found there to 29. This brings to seven the number of particles found on the beach in three weeks since increased monitoring was ordered by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency at the start of the month.

New HQ

A new division of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, set up to oversee environmental restoration of former nuclear sites, is to base its headquarters at the Forss Business Park in Caithness. About 140 staff currently working at Dounreay will transfer to the new offices.

New apprenticeships

The UK Atomic Energy Authority has announced that it is to establish Modern Apprenticeships in Nuclear Operations and Decommissioning. Four young people will initially be recruited for the apprenticeships which start in august.

SEPA to review monitoring...

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has said it will review its radioactive monitoring programmes before issuing a new contract next year. This follows strong criticism of monitoring in Scotland by KIMO, the international coastal local authority environment organisation, following consideration of a report commissioned by NENIG - publishers of the N-Base Briefings. The report concluded that the UK's radioactive monitoring programme failed to provide a comprehensive picture of the effects of discharges from Sellafield and failed to provide information the public could use to make a judgement on their effects on the environment. KIMO has also called on the Scottish Executive to support its calls for improved monitoring and the publication of results in a form which is accessible and easily understood by the public.

...as seaweed concerns continue

Following the publication of the KIMO report, the Western Isles Council has called on SEPA to carry out tests on seaweed which is used as a fertiliser on crops - and tests on the crops themselves - to find out the level of contamination with technetium-99 from Sellafield.

Calder Hall closure

The UK's first nuclear reactor at Calder Hall on the Sellafield site is to be officially closed down a week on Monday - the 31st March. The reactor was build to provide material for the UK's military programme and begun operating in 1956.

Report errors

Over 100 errors have been found in safety reports on the four reactors at Hamaoka operated by Chuba Electric Power.

Unions opposes dump

The United Trades and Labor Council in South Australia has agreed a ban on work on a proposed low-level nuclear waste dump near Woomera in the north of the state.

Decommissioning event

A two-day conference on 'Opportunities in Nuclear Decommissioning' is to be held at the Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh on 27-28th March. It is organised by the Department of Trade and Industry, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and OneNorthEast, the development agency for north-east England. Information from bill.cattanach@dti.gsi.gov.uk

Shipment plan

The US-Russian programme to see weapons-grade highly-enriched uranium fuel returned to Russia may get underway this year. The plan is for 38 shipments of fresh and spent fuel over the next five years from Soviet-supplied research reactors - with the spent fuel being reprocessed at the Mayak complex.

Clean-up demanded

The Green Party's conference has demanded that the site of a secret nuclear facility near Reading in Berkshire should be decontaminated. The party said the facility at the former Shell site was contaminated by plutonium and depleted uranium. The matter was raised at the conference by Mr Ray Fox who has moved out of his home adjacent to the site since becoming ill. Tests have confirmed the house and garden are contaminated.

Nirex report

The second report prepared by Environmental Resources Management (ERM)on the views of stakeholders on the performance of the nuclear waste agency Nirex has been published. The report is available at www.nirex.co.uk/news/na30321.htm