SEPA cuts funding for Dounreay clean up
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has decided not to continue funding the complete decontamination of the sea around the Dounreay nuclear power station, which is in the process of being decommissioned.
In 1998, following the discovery of sea bed contamination near the plant, SEPA recommended that the area be returned to a “pristine condition”. At the agency’s September board meeting it was agreed this was no longer a realistic objective, and might actually be detrimental.
It is now understood that large-scale disruption of the sea bed and near-shore environment to retrieve the greater proportion of all radioactive particles, including minor ones that are not now assessed as posing a threat to human health, would have the potential to cause more harm to the environment than good.
This disruption runs contrary to the requirements of the EURATOM Basic Safety Standards 96/29 and would exceed the requirements of the Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations, says SEPA, adding that a literal return to a pristine condition is neither practical nor appropriate. Instead, it is adopting a selective and targeted approach.