IAEA: QUESTIONS POSED ON SELLAFIELD STORMWATER MONITORING
The IAEA has been asked by the Celtic League to validate a stance taken by the United Kingdom Environment Agency (EA) on the monitoring of surface water run-off from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant. The move comes from an inconclusive exchange of correspondence by the League with the EA and the UK HSE (Nuclear Directorate).
“Yukiya Amano
Director General
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 100
A-1400 Vienna
Austria
02/04/11
Dear Director General,
Ref. Monitoring of Sellafield Storm Water Drains attached correspondence UK Environment Agency
I draw your attention to the attached correspondence to the Celtic League from the United Kingdom Environment Agency (EA) responding to queries in relation to the monitoring of storm water run-off from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria. This letter is the most recent in a range of correspondence
between the Celtic League, the Environment Agency and the UK HSE (Nuclear Directorate) on this issue. The HSE (Nuclear Directorate) also furnished us with a copy of the most recent Sellafield Annual Report which provides comprehensive information on groundwater matters.
I wonder if you can advise if the current stance taken by the UK Environment Agency on this issue is proportionate and appropriate. We are extremely concerned by the statement in their most recent letter that:
“For low risk areas of the Sellafield site, where the likelihood of radioactive contamination entering the storm water drains is low, there is direct discharges of storm water to the River Calder or via pipeline to sea. These are not monitored as indicated in the response to your letter from the Health & Safety Executive. We are satisfied that this is proportionate in regulatory terms”.
I should be also be grateful if you could advise if the EA stance satisfies UK obligations in relation to IAEA Convention and Codes of Conduct.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
02/04/11
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
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