The 11th meeting of the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group (DPAG) took place on Thursday 16 May at the Pentland hotel in Thurso. The aim of the group is to provide impartial expert scientific advice on the current UKAEA research programme into particles in the Dounreay local environment. The group makes recommendations to UKAEA about ways it can improve its monitoring and research programmes for particles in local Dounreay sediments.

DPAG’s meeting today considered the main points arising from its workshop in Edinburgh on 11 March 2002. The workshop was held to consolidate the current body of information about the processes that have resulted in particles entering the environment, including, for example, Sandside Bay.

The main findings of the workshop were that DPAG’s views were consistent with those of RWMAC (see below) in its report of September 2001. These included the broad timetable of events that may have been responsible for the generation and transport of particles. DPAG has been able to further progress the current understanding of these processes:

New information provided by UKAEA has indicated that crushing and cropping of fuel produced particles up to 1996.

The group has received clear evidence that significant quantities of particles may have been discharged via the non-active drain system. This may be important in understanding the current distribution of particles in the marine environment near the site.

The group have identified that a route existed for particles from the Dounreay Fast Reactor to enter the low active drains.

The group considers that the practice of high pressure hosing in 1983 may have resulted in further discharge of particles.

DPAG’s view is that the possibility of a continuing source of particles entering the environment requires further work.

The group has identified some further areas of work which it intends to develop at its next meeting.

The group today committed to producing a second interim report of its work towards the end of this year. The report will summarise the progress made to date. The first interim report was published in March 2001 and is available on SEPA’s website.

The next meeting of DPAG will be on 15 July in Edinburgh.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee (RWMAC) was established in 1978 to offer independent advice to ministers on radioactive waste management issues.
www.defra.gov.uk/rwmac/index.htm

Information about DPAG is available at www.sepa.org.uk/regulation/radioactivity/dpag/dpaghome.htm

SEPA is responsible for regulating disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear sites and other premises such as industrial, hospital and research premises under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. SEPA also regulates the keeping and use of radioactive material.

DPAG was convened by SEPA in May 2000. Its members are from universities, National Radiological Protection Board, health boards and fisheries science, and it is chaired by a SEPA director. The formation of the group followed recommendations made by SEPA to the Scottish Office (now the Scottish Executive) in December 1998.