8 May 1997

17/97

SEPA (The Scottish Environment Protection Agency) issued a prohibition notice today requiring AEA Technology to cease processing radioactive waste sodium until it is satisfied that the company can control the resulting radioactive waste discharges.

The process affected is that in which sodium contaminated with radioactivity is chemically treated to make it more chemically stable and unreactive.

The plant is at present processing sodium waste imported from Germany and is the subject of an entirely separate investigation by SEPA into compliance with the regulations governing the trans-frontier shipment of such waste.

SEPA believes that AEA Technology are inadequately monitoring discharges from the plant and that there is a doubt over the amount of radioactivity in the waste being processed in the plant. Consequently SEPA believes that failure to comply with discharge limits would only be identified retrospectively rather than being prevented and has ordered that the plant be shut down until appropriate controls are in place.

The sodium disposal plant can only be used for routine operation after SEPA has withdrawn the prohibition notice.

Note for Editors

The prohibition notice was issued under section 22 of The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 by Hugh Sinclair Fearn, SEPA's North Region Specialist Inspector.

SEPA has powers to issue such notices where it is of the opinion that there is imminent risk of pollution of the environment and harm to human health.

AEA Technology operate a sodium disposal facility on the UKAEA Dounreay licensed nuclear site in Caithness.

Sodium is a highly reactive metal used as a coolant in certain types of nuclear reactors ('fast reactors') such as those previously operated at Dounreay. Before the waste sodium can be disposed of safely it must be converted to a more unreactive form permitting the remaining radioactive wastes to be disposed of in an appropriate manner.

The processing of sodium results in gaseous and liquid discharges of radioactive (radioactive wastes under the meaning of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993) effluent to atmosphere and to the sea via the nuclear site effluent system. Certain solid radioactive wastes may also be produced.

There is no evidence that discharges from the plant have exceeded authorised limits but SEPA considers that the precautions to ensure this remains the case, and that discharges are kept as low as reasonably practicable, are inadequate at present.

The company have the right to appeal to the Secretary of State for Scotland against the notice which remains in force until any such appeal is determined.

The disposal of radioactive waste from the processing of sodium is subject to controls set out in an authorisation granted under section 13 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.

Failure to comply with the conditions and limitations of an authorisation are offences under the 1993 Act for which an offender may be prosecuted.

The issue of a prohibition notice under section 22 of that Act does not prevent SEPA from reporting any alleged offences under the 1993 Act to The Procurator Fiscal for his consideration. No such report has been made and SEPA will consider if this is appropriate after carrying out appropriate investigations into the circumstances relating to the need for SEPA to issue this notice.

NOTES

1. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) was established under the Environment Act 1995. Its main duty is to protect the environment by controlling pollution to land, air and water in Scotland. This includes:

Radioactive substances: regulating the use and disposal of radioactive substances; holding the national register for the use and disposal of radioactive substances; controlling discharges of radioactive waste from nuclear installations; managing the UK Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET) in Scotland.

Air quality: contributing to the Government's national air quality strategy; working with Local Authorities on local air quality standards.

Waste management: preparing a national waste strategy; regulating the movement and disposal of waste; advising on contaminated land.

Water quality: controlling discharges to freshwater, tidal waters, and groundwater; conserving water resources; gauging river flows; advising planning authorities on flood risk and flood warning schemes.

Integrated Pollution Control: controlling discharges to land, air and water from large, complex industrial processes.

General duties: providing public access to information; contributing to sustainable development; environmental conservation; considering social and economic needs; environmental monitoring, the scientific analysis; surveys and research.

The Euratom Treaty is one of the three treaties establishing the European Community. Its purpose is to promote safe development of nuclear energy for industry and advancement of cause of peace, and to encourage international co-operation in the field. Article 35 is one of the Articles within the Treaty and stipulates each member state shall establish the facilities necessary to carry out continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil and to ensure compliance with the basic standards.

3. It is SEPA policy to make environmental information available to the public. All of the data from SEPA's monitoring programme: Radioactivity in the environment is published on an annual basis. The 1996 data is to be published in a joint SEPA/MAFF "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report" in October 1997.