Shipment by any conventional method is safe
SIR – With reference to the article, “Protest at nuclear waste ‘gamble’”, in the Caithness Courier on September 21.
While I think I understand the position taken by the environmentalists and the two councils, I cannot agree with the U-turn regarding the disposal of the radioactive waste products arising from the processing.
At this point in time DSRL is subject to an authorisation, granted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under section 13 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (as amended), for the disposal of radioactive wastes on or from the authorised premises. This authorisation was granted in August 1999, and has subsequently been amended by SEPA in line with the consultations, a public inquiry and SEPA’s decision documents.
SEPA’s decision document forms a part of the authorisation and any requirement not specifically defined in the certificate of authorisation is still legally binding on the authorisation holder. The decision documents do specify that and radioactive waste arising from foreign contracts should be returned to the country of origin within 25 years of the waste being created. What the environmentalists and the councils are asking will require DSRL to contravene the terms and conditions of the extant authorisation.
It should be noted while there was resistance to a 25-year waste clause, the objectors wanted the time limit to be as low as 10 years, however, all agreed 25 was achievable. I do not remember any appetite for indefinite storage at Dounreay.
The legal requirements of DSRL aside, we now have two island councils and environmental groups arguing for the indefinite storage of non-UK radioactive waste at Dounreay. This flies directly in the face of previous assertions Caithness should not become a radioactive waste dustbin.
These groups branded the scheme “risky” with “enormous potential for accidents”, however, the potential is no greater than that for any sea transport and, due to the construction of the cargo, there is negligible potential for environmental damage and 100 per cent recovery is possible. There is compelling evidence shipment by any of the conventional methods is safe especially when compared to some of the cargos shipped around the world today.
John Disbury,
58 Pennyland Drive,
Thurso.