No.59

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Chernobyl Broadsheet ·, _ I. _ . ~~~~ George Pritchar d speaks CONTENTS COMMENT The important nuclear development since the Nuclear Family Planning 3 last SCRAM Journal was the Government's The CEGB's plans, and the growing opposition, after Sizewell B by go ahead for Sizewell B: the world's first HUGH RICHARDS. reactor order since Chernobyl, and Britain's News 4-6 first since the go ahead was given to Torness Accidents Will Happen 1 and Heysham 2 in 1978. Of great concern is Hinkley Seismic Shocker 8-9 the CEGB's announced intention to build "a A major article on seismic safety of nuclear plants in which JAMES small fanilty• of PWRs, starting with Hinkley GARRETT reveals that C. At the time of the campaign In the Point sits on a geological fault. south west to close the Hinkley A Trouble at Trawsfynydd 10-11 station, and .a concerted push in Scotland to A summary of FoE's recent report on increasing levels from prevent the opening of Torness, another Trawsfynydd's by PATRICK GREEN. nuclear announcement is designed to divide Pandora's POX 12 and demoralise the opposition. But, it should The debate over make us more determined. The article on the to and from continues by facing page gives us hope: the local PETE MUTTON. authorities on Severnside are joining forces CHERNOBYL BROADSHEET to oppose Hinkley C, and hopefully they will Cock-ups and Cover-ups work closely with local authorities in other "Sacrificed to • • • " threatened areas - Lothian Region, The Soviet Experience Northumberland, the County Council Coalition "An Agonising Decision• 13 against waste dumping and the Nuclear Free GEORGE PRITCHARD explains why Zones - to formulate a national anti-nuclear he left Greenpeoce and took a job strategy. And remember: only the Tories with a compc:lny looking at undersea nuclear waste disposalp support the PWR - in the coming general Birds in a Flap over Barrage 16-17 election we have the opportunity to vote out The ecological arguments against Size well B, Hinkley C, Torness, Heysham 2, the Severn Barrage by MIKE LEVEN. and all the rest. Vote tactically. When the Wind Blows 18 A review of the Sritish Wind Energy Can nuclear waste be safely disposed of under Association's annual conference in Edinburgh by MIKE TOWNSLEY. the seabed? An important question surely. Appropriate Technology 19-21 SCRAM has always believed that there must Reviews 22-23 be three conditions on any method of dealing Little Black Rabbit 24 with nuclear waste: the source of that waste, the nuclear power and weapons programmes, must be stopped; the waste must be HUGH RICHARDS is a member of the Welsh monitorable; and it must be retrievable should Anti-Nuclear Allaince. anything go wrong. Instead of considering this JAMES GARRETT is a freelance journalist working in . angle, the Press preferred to cover the PATRICK GREEN is Friends of the Earth's fact that George Pritchard left Greenpeace Radiation Consultant. to work as Trade Union liaison, on the advice PETE MUTTON is a member of the Highland of the Unions, with the company which is Anti-Nuclear Group. investigating the subject. They didn't know all MIKE LEVEN is a Town Planner and vice Choir of the Edinburgh branch of the the facts. To further the debate, thls issue Scottish Ornithological Society. of SCRAM includes an interview with George Prltchard, in which he describes his Views expressed in articles appearing in this resignation as "on agonising decision", and Journal are not necessarily those of SCRAM. explains his reasons. Until their study is This Journal is produced for the British Anti­ published, SCRAM cannot oppose or support the Nuclear and Safe Energy movements by the proposal; but we must keep an open mind. Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace. And we all must remember that the company Editor: Steve Martin concerned is not in a position to stop the News Editor: Thorn Dlbdin nuclear power programme: it is only the Appropriate Technology: Mike T ownsley politicians, responding to pressure from the people, who can do that. We welcome contributions of articles, news graphics and photographs. Distorted logic. A recent report by the Deadline for the next issue: Bradford School of Peace Studies reveals that, Articles (800 words/page), 5 June conventional strikes on nuclear power stations News & graphics, 12 June could produce as much fallout as a nuclear ISSN 0140 7340 Bi-monthly. exchange. The megadeath enthusiasts therefore argue that we might as well keep the nuclear SCRAM, 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LE. weapons, when they should conclude that we Tel: 031 557 4283/4. must get rid of nuclear power stations too. 2 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 as the Severn barrage or CHP, Nuclear Family Planning reach the stage of economic alternatives, they should be included With the go ahead for Sizewell B now given, attention has in the analysis (para 2.179). These conclusions make a substantial case shifted to the next PWRs. HUGH RICHARDS has followed for re-examining the of the debate and describes the changes in CEGB policy over the PWR against alternatives. the years. He also urges everyone to support the Severnside On 15 March 1985, eight days after the end of the Inquiry, Lord Local Authorities in their objection to Hinkley Point C. Marshall announced the existing What happens after Sizewell B? The the CEGB regard the site os Magnox reactors at Trawsfynydd Central Generating Board "conveniently situated" at the point would probably close in 1955, and (CEGB) have said that they want a where the national grid crosses the one option would be a PWR on the "small family" of Pressurised Water Severn. site, using either cooling towers or Reactors (PWRs). But their often On 25 August 1982 the CEGB direct cooling from an enlarged inconsistent notions about family announced the list of candidates lake. Wylfa was also added to the planning, and the Chairman's after Sizewell: Dungeness, Hinkley, list. tendency to make strategic decisions Bradwell, Druridge (Northumberland), We anticipate strong pressure "on the hoof", have created (Dorset) and Sizewell C. Of from the CEGB and the Government confusion. To understand the these, Hinkley C was to be regarded to truncate any public inquiries into implications fo~ and as a "firm commitment". the CEGB's "small family". The it is necessary to return to an By March '83 changed economic first task of ahe combined opposition earlier riddle: what is a programme? circumstances meant, according to will be to resist the "streamliners" That is the question we have the Department of Energy at the who would restict the terms of the asked ever since the December 1979 Sizewell Inquiry, that there was no inquiries to local planning Government announcement of a longer a sound planning basis for a considerations. 15GW nuclear "programme" (equal 15GW programme. No fixed At Hinkley the battle lines are to a dozen Sizewells) over 1982-92. progrort:~me existed, and nuclear already being drawn. Part of the CEGB's confidential plant ordering would be on a step­ County Council have asked the 1978/79 Deveiopment Review of by·step basis (Layfield, chapter 91, Severnside Local Authorities to "Station Siting Possibili~ies" was para 91.2) consider taking part in a joint submitted to the Sizewell Inquiry by opposition to the anticipated the Suffolk Preservation Society. CEGB POLICY CHANGED application for a PWR. Sites considered were for inclusion The four County Councils in the in programmes for start up in the The CEGB began the Inquiry "Standing Conference on Regional period 1985-90. The assumption was maintaining that Sizewell 8 was a Policy in South Wales", namely that site work on a PWR would single project: there was no final Gwent and the three Glamorgans - start in 1982, followed by a further sequence of reactor types on South, Mid and West - are opposed four stations, or more, depending on identified sites. In December 1984 to the further development of whether Advanced Gas-cooled Lord Marshall stated: "Layfield nuclear power and are worried Reactor (AGR) or PWR plant were permitting, we shall build 6 PWRs about the effects on south Wales of chosen. 11 sites were considered, by the end of the century in the a serious. accident at Hinkley Point. with comments on factors ranging south of the country." By the end Avon County Council and the City from safety to local reaction. of the Inquiry they stated that Councils of , Bristol and Connah's Quay was regarded as Sizewell B should be considered as Exeter have all passed motions unacceptable to the Nil (Nuclear the first of a small family, of 3, 4 opposing the further development of Installations Inspectorate) because of or 5 PWRs. nuclear power. Devon County population density. Didcot was seen In his report, Layfield was Council have avoided a head-on as possible for an AGR, but there scathing in his comments on the approach by commissioning an were worries about polluting the CEGB's approach. He said the alternative energy strategy for the Thames with liquid radioactive significance they attached to County from the SW Energy Group. discharges, particularly those Sizewell B, for its future plans, Somerset County Council have following an "incident". Fawley and could and should have been made allocated £250,000 to fight Hinkley Hartlepool were not favoured clear from the outset {para 91.11 ). C at the Public Inquiry, and believe because of adjacent petrochemical He regarded the case for Sizewell os that safety and general evironmental works, and strong Nil concern about one for a single station. If Sizewell issues merit a joint approach from potential hazards. Bradwell and is approved, the CEGB consider it the Severnside Local Authorities. Denver would be unnecessary if likely that other PWR applications It is vital that individuals and Sizewell went ahead. Portskewett will follow, but Sir Frank accepted organisations, as well as local was unsuitable for a PWR: the Nil their assurance that approval would authorities, register their protest at had asked for assurances that the not remove the need for a propeT this folly. Write NOW asking for site could be protected from the comparison of the alternatives when details of the CEGB's planning blast of railborne explosives on the decisions are token on future sites. application for Hinkley Point C, main south Wales-Midlands line, but If and when other alternatives, such because you intend to object, to:

County Planning Officer Somerset County Council County Hall Taunton TA 1 4DY 0823 73451

District Planning Officer West Somerset Disrict Council Killick Way Williton Taunton TA4 4AQ 0984 32291 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 3 News (....C..;;..;..;he ...... rn;;.-.;;-- o_b~~l______l !Waste Row ] Friends of the Earth have called The CEGB and BNFL are at which houses Britain's second into question two recent estimates loggerheads over where to site a oldest magnox reactors producing of cancer deaths resulting from dry interim waste store for AGR plutonium for the military, will Chernobyl. fuel. soon have to close if they cannot The NRPB estimate of 1000 EEC The £200 million buffer store was find on alternative use for it. deaths is based on risk estimates first proposed in April last year, as The CEGB, however, want the which are out by a factor of at "insurance" against delays at the dump at Heysham in Lancashire. They least two and maybe five according Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant claim that it will create work for to Stewart Boyle, of the FoE safe (THORP) at . It would be people who ore laid off when energy campaign. used to store spent fuel from the Heysham two is completed. The local Mr Boyle told SCRAM that the seven AGR stations around the Labour PPC, Jos Golagher does not ICRP (International Commission on country. agree. He told SCRAM "it will only Radiological Protection) risk BNFL and the CEGB have now be a fraction of the work force and estimates, used in the survey are proposed two contending sites for will only be for a very short period". likely to be revised upwards by a the store. BNFL want it at He is concerned that the area will factor of two later this year. "But Chopelcross in South West Scotland. become the "dustbin lid" of the evidence available says that they They ore concerned that the site, nuclear industry. should go up by a factor of five." If these figures were used, then the maximum number of deaths in the INil I EEC would be around 15,000. Non fatal The second report of the House of effected inspection of nuclear cancers could be os many as 60,000. Commons' Energy Committee expresses sites " ... with potentially serious Mr Boyle described a recent deep concern over the ability of the consequences for reactor safety". Russian estimate of 600 deaths in Nuclear Installations Inspectorate The Nil told SCRAM that they are the USSR as a "nonsense with no (Nil) to adequately discharge their taking the Committee's scientific basis." He said that the responsibilities at current levels of recommendations "very seriously". figure is being pushed forward funding. They are hoping to hove 11 0 without the normal scientific process The Nil ore responsible for the inspectors in post later this year of putting forward a paper, justifying safe running of all civil nuclear and to reach the full complement of the results, for peer review: "frankly, facilities and the licensing procedures 120 by next April. They ore prepared just to come out with the!e figures for Sizewell B. The recently to "take whatever steps are is sheer propaganda." privatised nuclear submarine refitting necessary to ensure that these yards at Rosyth and Devonport will inspectors are in place." now be part of the Nil's remit. They I Con ver tion will not be receiving any extra Two contracts for converting the resources for this role. IT our I Zimmer in Ohio USA The· Energy Committee found that to cool firing hove been awarded. the Nil were over 17% understaffed, Pat Hewiss of Lines and Notts When conversion was proposed in out of a projected total of 120 against Nuclear Dumping (LAND), is 1984, the nuclear and financial inspectors: "In such a small interested in visiting Scotland for a communities were sceptical of the organisation a shortfall of this speaking tour in late May. project. They thought that little of nature must produce considerable Pat is still under a high-court the nuclear plant would be suitable strain - and of all areas, nuclear injunction for the heinous crime of for fire. The signing of the new safety is one in which corners being "suspected" of being a local contracts indicates that any problems should never be cut." The report Friends of the Earth organiser. If have been overcome. describes Government policy on the she appears on her local NIREX site The contracts are to supply a Nil os "folly". Yet understaffing at at Fulbeck, she will be fined £6000 1300M W pressure boiler and a the Nil is not new. per day. "topping turbine" for the existing In 1985, a pamphlet produced by Any person or group interested turbine generating system. This will the Nil staff union (the IPCS), in booking Pot to speak, on a shared allow the turbines to run at the stated that staff shortages and expenses basis, should contact higher temperatures and pressures other commitments have dramaticaly Lindsey Stevenson on 041-889-5343 necessary for coal fired generation. IIran [Namibia I The Iranian civil nuclear programme, fuel, are in store in West Germany. dormant since the Shah's demise in KWU now plan to export them to West Germany and South Africa 1979, is to be revitalised using Argentina, from where they will be are planning to dump nuclear waste Argentinian expertise. exported to Irah. The Argentinians in the Nomibian desert, according There are two known nuclear are also negotiating to refurbish to the leader of the South-west plants in Iran: a small, US supplied the research reactor and supply 20% Africa People's Organisation. research reactor, using 93% enriched enriched fuel under International The allegation, which was mode fuel, in Tehron, and on unfinished Atomic Energy Association safeguards. by Mr Sam Nujemo following a 1000 MW PWR at Busher on the Experts on meeting with President Sorney of Persian Gulf, supplied by KWU of are concerned about the implications Brazil, has been denied by the West West Germany. of Argentina exporting to a country German authorities. However, The Americans are unwilling to as distant as Iran: local tensions will investigations by the Namibia continue supplying fuel to Iran for not then have the affect of halting Nachrichten reveal that the South obvious reasons. The West German any export of nuclear weapons African b~;~cked "interim" government Government have blocked the export technology. While current exports are in Namibia are in favour of such a of the final parts of the Busher covered by international nuclear project. They believe that it could reactor, os this would contravene "safeguards", Argentina is under no earn Namibia an "annual income their policy against exporting to a obligation to safeguard future exports. which is four times the amount of "region of tension". Busher, near Although the experts doubt that Iran the national budget". the oil terminal of Kharg, has been intends to build the Bomb, it has been According to the Namibia hit by Iraqi missiles several times. pointed out that following the recent Nachrichten, the planned repository The final parts of the Busher "Irangote" fiasco, "anything could be is north east of Luderitzbucht. reactor, including a consignment of going on". · 4 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 News (Hinkley.....!.P-!:::o~in~t------~1 [Dounreay,______. A welder involved in building the two hours to inform the 500 The ongoing leak of sodium from the Hinkley Point 'B' AGR in Somerset, households inside the emergency French Fast Breeder, {page 7) could has revealed severe irregularities evacuation zone. Emergency planners have important implications for in safety procedures during the claim that it con be done in 45 Dounreay expansion. station's construction. minutes. The future of the proposed Councillor Bob Brooks was The Stop Hinkley Expansion European Demonstration Reprocessing employed by Bristol Piping Company Alliance soy that this proves that Plant (EDRP) for fast reactor fuel in 1971 to work on welds in the the evacuation plans are over is dependent on the existence of reactor turbine hall. He alleges optimistic and that in o real crisis, fuel from Superphenix to reprocess. that during this time his employers peoples lives would be at risk. According to Mycle Schneider of substituted X-rays of good welds for World Information Services on welds that were faulty. Energy (Paris), the importance of All welds in the station were the leak is not the environmental routinely X-royed during construction, ITorness impact, but the effect that it will to see that they were perfect. If The evacuation zone around Torness hove on the political acceptance of not, then the weld would hove to be should be "Immediately reviewed", the Fast Breeder. replaced. Instead of replacing shoddy according to the Lothian Regional Mycle told SCRAM that "within welds, Bristol Pipln·g Company Council. the nuclear industry, problems hove substituted X-roys of perfect welds, The Council hove written to the not been solved that go back years. so that the work would not hove to Secretory of State for Energy to The fact is that the political be carried- out. The faulty welds request that this be done, following the impact is going to accelerate the ore still in place and could hove recommendation In the Loyfield report process of public opinion opposing serious implications for safety. that the extent of evacuation zones the Fast Breeder. Basicaliy the Cllr. Brooks told SCRAM that if around all nuclear power stations European collaboration on the Fast one company could get round quality should be reviewed. The Government Breeder is falling apart." control procedures, "then so might has replied that they ore looking into other contractors in more safety the matter. The result of the review sensitive areas". He b also worried is awaited with interest, because I NIREX about the way in which the Nuclear of the large number of authorities .I Installations Inspectorate are handling who hove been pressing for a review NIREX hove foiled in on attempt to his allegations os they have delegated since Chernobyl. jail on anti-dumping protester ot the all respons.ibility for the investigation The SSEB presented their solution Elstow site for threatening and to the CEGB. to the Torness problem intimidating behaviour. CUr. Brooks has consistently {SCRAM 58) at the March meeting of The protester, Ms Mieke Wood, offered to enter the station and the Joint Consultative Committee. hod threatened and intimidated the locate the welds that he knows were They now believe that they know how burly contractors, by using the sneaky not mended, this he believes is the to solve the difficulties and will be and shocking tactics of calling only way that he can prove his able to get onto the next stage of meetings and writing articles. On one allegations. This offer has been the commisioning process by October. occasion she also sot in front of a rejected, indeed, on open invitation As for as SCRAM con ascertain, this drilling rig. The High Court judge who by Mr. Outrom, the station manager, could be up to one year behind heard the case ruled that the only for any member of the public to schedule. However, the NU have still relevant action was when Ms. Wood visit the station and examine the to test the modifications and give sot in front of the drill. However, records was withdrawn as soon as them their approval. this did not amount to intimidation, CUr . Brooks attempted to take it Meanwhile, Lothian Regional so she was released with costs. up. Controversy over CUr. Brooks' Council are continuing their campaign Ms Wood is now faced with on allegations has lead to six local to stop the commisioning of T orness. estimated bill of some £3000 for Labour councillors resigning from the A serie.s of recommendations hove the priviledge of being brought to Party. They ore opposed to Labour's been made to local authorities in the covrt by NIREX. Donations towards policy of phasing out nuclear power. Nuclear Free Zone movement, on her expenses may be sent to: e During o simulated emergecy ways to help their campaign. To "Mieke appeal fund", lvor Assinder, exercise at Hinkley Point, ten dote, 34 authorities hove supported The Mill House, Mill Lone, anti-nuclear campaigners took over some or all of these. Kempston, Bedfordshire.

DRURIDGE NO! THE WR ITING'S IN THE SAND FOR LORD 11 PWR•' MARSHALL Members of the Drurldge Boy Campaign left Lord they think of his plan to despoil picturesque Druridge Boy Marsholl, Choir of the CEGB, in no doubt about what with a PWR, when he visited the North East recently.

SCRAM Journal Moy/ June 1987 5 News ~IA~us~tr~a~lia~------~1 ~Y~------~1 Australia is to resume soles of The Italian referendum on nuclear to France, despite the power (SCRAM 57) seems unlikely to continued testing of French nuclear take place following the collapse of weapons in the South Pacific. the Croxi-led five party Government. The announcement was mode lost The Italian constitution does not year, during the Australian budget, allow the holding of referenda in the ostensibly to save the Government some year as an election. The millions of dollars compensation to Christian Democrats, who ore the Queensland Mines Ltd., for not only party in the Government who do supplying Electricite de France with not want the referenda to go ahead, uranium. However, the contract would are determined to force on early hove lapsed if last year's supply election, before the referenda are commitments hod not been met. due to take place. A more likely reason for lifting intermediary. France is ideally placed The remaining parties hove been the ban is because of pressure on for this role, as on existing exporter desperately attempting to form on the Government by mining companies. of nuclear materials to Taiwan. interim Government. As we go to Confidential documents, leaked from A further feature of the Roxby press the issue is still unresolved, the Roxby Downs mining companies in documents, is BP and WMC's contempt although it has been said that if o South Australia, (BP and the Western for matters of health and safety at week is o long time in politics, a day Mining Corp.), show that they too ore the mine. The companies have been is even longer in Italian politics. intent on obtaining a uranium export secretly lobbying senior officials of licence for France. So for, only two the South Australian Government, in contracts for sole of Roxby uranium an attempt to influence proposed hove been signed: with the CEGB and legislation bringing the mine into the ISweden Sweden, although T oiwon has signed area covered by the Radiation The Swedish government has o letter of intent. Protection Act. To date the mine has announced that the country's The sole of uranium to Taiwan is been exempt from the Act's licencing abandonment of nuclear power potentially worth over $40 million provisions, which the companies will start in 1993. annually. BP and WMC see this sale regard as 1'draconion". Sweden voted to shut down all as important, "both in itself and as o The greatest fear of the companies its nuclear plant by 2010, in a positive indication of soles to Asian is that the enforcement of both the referendum in 1980. The first two countries." They would not however, Radiation Act and a new Occupational reactors are now scheduled to be be able to sell direct, as Taiwan has Health and Safety Act would rest phased out by 1996. Although the not signed the Non Proliferation "outside the mining industry," in the Government refused to say which Treaty. The companies have already Departments of Health and Labour. reactors are to be shut, it is explored the possibility of obtaining o The State Health Commission assumed that they will include the special export licence for Taiwan, but considers that the standards at Roxby controversial Barsbeck plant on the os the Government is "very lukewarm are, and will be, inadequate and Norwegian border close to Denmark. on the matter", they will need an constitute a health risk. rErance !West Germany The 1992 Winter Olympics ore to be The French waste management agency: The April elections in the West held at Albertville, just 40 miles ANDRA, has announced four study German state of Hessen were won and from Malville, home of the French sites for depositing high level lost over the issue of nuclear Fast Reactor, Superphenix. nuclear waste. power. Anti-nuclear activists are calling ANDRA intend to choose one of The elections were forced by the for pressure to be exerted on the the sites to locate an underground resignation of the Green Party from Olympic committee to change the laboratory by 1990. The four sites a coalition with the SPD. Although venue for the Games, because of the ore: Lion d' Angers, in Main-et- the two parties had been able to dangers of holding them so close to Lair~; Nauvy-Boiun in Deux Sevres; come to a compromise over the the reactor. They point out that Moncornet in Aine and Montcornet in closure of the nuclear industry, when Superphenix has already been the Aisne. the majority SPD refused to take subject of one, succesful, terrorist EUROPEAN DEMO positive action over the ALKEM attack, and that to hold the Games plant in Hanau, (page 7), the so close would be not for short of PARIS JUNE 20/21 Greens withdrew. madness. An international gathering of anti­ A leading Green party member, But nuclear terrorism is not the nuclear groups in Paris has been Brigitte Berthold, told SCRAM before only reason for changing the Games' called for 20/21 June. the election that the closure of the venue. The recent leak of liquid Paris has been chosen for the ALKEM plant is "decisive for the sodium from the reactor has clearly venue as the French Government is question of West Germany entering illustrated how fallible it is to seen as the most pro-nuclear the plutonium ". The plant, accidents. Moreover, a recent study government in Europe. which produces fuel for the Fast of the by French The organisers hope that an Breeder, has commited numerous nuclear scientists has revealed that international European event will safety violations over recent the mechanical energy released in bring together the considerable years. These have culminated in the the explosion would be sufficient to anti-nuClear feeling that has been recent prosecution of two of the destroy tile Superphenix containment growing since Chernobyl. plant's managers for illegally vessel. An explosion like the first at WE ARE ALL THREATENED BY operating the facility. Chernobyl is possible at Superphenix. FRENCH NUCLEAR POWER. German commentators say that the Contact: Michel Barnier For more information contact: SPD's refusal to take a principled President du comite d'Orgonisation Erick Marchandise stand on the ALKEM closure lost des Jeux Olympiques Reseau pour un avenir sans nuclear them the election. The right wing Prefecture de la Sovoie 90 rue Vergniaud CDU/FDP coalition won by o narrow 73000 CHAMBERY F-75013 PARIS margin of 49.9% of the vote to the FRANCE FRANCE Green/SPD alliances 49.6%. 6 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 News L------A;;....;..c~c;;,..;;...id~e;....;;...;n...;;..;;ts;;...._...,;;..W;...... ;;.;i 1;..;_1 _,;;...H~a QP- en ••• HARTLEPOOL HANAU SELLAFIELD e The number one reactor at A spate of accidents and safety e A worker was contaminated whilst Hartlepool suffered what has been violations in West Germany's fuel taking a sample in a chemical described as the worst accident at fabrication plants have recently separation area of a high level an AGR yet, on 17 March. come to light. waste store on April 14. The accident ocaured inside the e The NUKEM plant at Hanau, in He is reported to have received reactor containment vessel, when a the state of Hessen, was closed in on external dose of twice the annual pipe in one of the boilers developed a March, when at least 16 workers were permitted level. This means that he hole, "about the size of a pin prick", contaminated with plutonium. will not be allowed to be exposed to according to the CEGB. Almost three Precisely how this occurred is not any more radiation at work for the tonnes of water escaped into the C02 known, as the plant does not have next two years. coolant before the problem was a licence to use plutonium. The SCRAM understands that the discovered. plant's management claim that a government were not informed of the This is the second such leak at 4.3g sample of uranium, containing incident for over 24 hours, although an AGR. According to the CEGB, plutonium, was not labelled as such. BNFL refused to confirm this os they boiler tube accidents "can occur NUKEM received the sample from the did not wont to pre-empt the official from time to time". What disturbes Karlsurch research centre, who in enquiry. In it's 1986 safety audit of many observers about this incident turn say that they got it from the Sellofield, the NU criticised delays in is that the leak occured in a Transuranium Institute in 1970. reporting incidents. At the time, BNFL reletovely new reactor. This begs the question as to how said that it would not happen again ... Although the leak was discovered the sample managed to travel around on 17 March, the CEGB were unable the country for 16 years, without PEACH BOTTOM to inform SCRAM how long it had it's plutonium content at any time been going on. They did however soy being documented. e The Peach Bottom nuclear power that "it was unlikely to hove been e A worker at the ALKEM plant, station in Pennsylvania USA, has very long. n Monitoring equipment also in Hanau, was contaminated been shut, following the discovery picked up the increased moisture with plutonium in March, when a that workers and supervisors were content in the coolant and the remote handling glove broke. sleeping whilst on duty. reactor was immediately scrammed The ALKEM plant, owned by KWU The Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("shut down in a controlled manner"). and NUKEM, was the scene of a received information on 24 March The afflicted boiler was isolated, similar incident in 1984. Unlike the that "control room operators hod been but not before water had entered NUKEM accident, no plutonium was observed sleeping while on duty in electrical components in 4 of the 8 ingested. the control room and were otherwise gas circulators, causing them to fail. e At the Karlstein laboratory in inattentive to their licence According to John Large, an Bavaria, run by KWU, another 125 obligations." The NRC ordered that independent nuclear consultant, this workers are being investigated for the plant's two 1098MW Boiling Water incident exceeds the worst conceived plutonium contamination. Reactors be shut down until they ore scenario for the AGR. This assumes This follows the discovery of satisfied that the operators will no that a failure will only occurr in traces of americium 241, a decay longer sleep on duty. two of the circulators, which are product .of plutonium, in. the stools of vital for cooling the core. 10 workers at the plant. Until this SUPERPHENIX e In a separate incident, the site incident, it was not generally known faces prosecution under the that KWU had a licence to handle e The world's first commercial Fast Factories Act, for failing to plutonium, despite the fact that West at Creys-Molville submit a heat exchanger to German low stipulates that there in eastern France has sprung d liquid statutory checks. must be public participation in sodium leak. The exchanger is in the CO2 granting such a licence. The leak, of over half a tonne of store. Although no radioactivity The plutonium elections-page 6 sodium a day, started on 8 March, but was involved, the CEGB have been was not discovered until 31 March. attacked for their "cavelier attitude." DOUNREAY The plant's operators refused to shut the plant down, although the The prototype fast reactor (PFR) HUNTERSTON e exact location of the leak had not at Dounreay hod to close down on 27 been discovered. Febuory because of leaks in the heat e Power output from the number one The Fast Breeder uses liquid exchangers. AGR had to be reduced on April 7, sodium to cool the reactor core. Small amounts of liquid sodium following the failure of one of the The leak is not, however, in the leaked into the steam circuit. The gas coolant circulators. primary coolant circuit, but in a PFR has been plagued with similar The SSEB c:laim that the incident tank through which the plutonium faults since it first started. It did not affect plant safety. The fuel posses on its way to and from was thought that the problem had failure was caused by a fault in the core. The sodium, which ignites "electrical switch gear". been solved by internally lining the welds in the exchangers. The spontaneously on contact with both air and water, has been contained exact position of the leak has not AUSTRALIA in a second, "safety" tank. been discovered, but it is known to Implications for Dounreay-page 5 e Two workers were contaminated in be in one of the mended welds. a fire at Australia's only nuclear FLAMENVILLE plant on March 17. PIERRELATTE The fire occurred in a building e The PWR at Flamanville, on the adjoining the research reactor at e The Uranium Hexaflouride (Hex) English Channel near Cherbourg, the Lucas Heights nuclear complex production plant at Pierrelatte near suffered a leak of radioactive water in the suburbs of Sydney. A carbon Lyon was closed on 11 April because on March 18, the second accident in filter in a hot cell block caught of a hex leak. nine days. fire. Local fire fighters were kept Seven workers were injured repairing The ptant's operators broke on away from the blaze, although the the leak. The plants operators said agreement to inform the Channel acting lab director said that a that a "weak amount" of the hex gas Islands, just 35 miles from the plant, "quarter of the permissible release escaped into the atmosphere. A second immediately of any accidental in any week" was emitted. leak occurred five days later. radiation release.

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 7 Hinkley Seismic Shocker By now many people will know that Hinkley Point in Somerset, already the site of two nuclear stations, has been chosen by the CEGB for the next PWR after Sizeweli B. But, how many people know of the geological fault running through the middle of the site? JAMES GARRETT describes the CEGB's attempts to conceal earlier siting errors, and reveals the forthcoming Nil 20 year reviews on Berkeley and Bradwell may ignore their own seismic safety standards.

The Central Electricity Generating sealed and delivered. What Mr Board (CEGB) and the Nuclear Walker says in his letter is quite Installations Inspectorate (Nil) correct.• The mystery has yet to be o.ppeor to hove reached a cosy explained. agreement over the future of Seismic safety has always been Britain's oldest nuclear power on important foetor in the stations which seems to skate over construction of nuclear power a key safety issue. stations elsewhere in the world. The Nll is due to announce in Britain is finally conforming, 30 the next few weeks that the two years after the first of the oldest civil Mognox plants, at country's 20 stations come into Berkeley in and operation. The two latest plants, m rising from the cooling water Brodwell in Essex, hove passed their T orness and Heyshom 2, hove been from Hlnkley B. The outlet 20 year safety reviews and con earthquake-proofed, with the work follows the line of the fault carry on operating into the 1990s adding 10% to the total cost. - even though they come nowhere CEGB ore confident that they could near meeting the minimum seismic "HIGHLY PESSIMISTIC" withstand o 0.2G earthquake; but safety standards. the crucial safety certificotes will The ability to withstand Major earthquakes, although be awarded on the bosi.s of the earthquakes is a key factor in the uncommon in Britain, could cause lower figure - 0.1 G. reviews, according to the Nil. considerable damage to the miles of Unfortunately, not a single nuclear pipework in a nuclear SUBSTATION OVER FAULT power station operating in this if unsupported. And o particularly country was built to withstand any severe 'jolt could knock out of At Hinkley Point in Somerset, kind of seismic shock. The Nil alignment the interlocking blocks and Dungeness in Kent, the CEGB's explains, "in those heady days when which form the nuclear core, task in making the seismic safety we started building nuclear power making it impossible to lower the cases for the Mognox stations there stations those things weren't control rods into a reactor to close is complicated by the presence of considered in the way that they it down in an emergency. geologic.al faults running thorough have been in later years." And yet, The CEGB has done tests on the sites. The CEGB claim that it both the CEGB and NO have stated paper which show Berkeley and has known from the start about the on the record that Bradwell and Brodwell could withstand a seismic existence of the fault at Hinkley Berkeley hove passed on siesmic shock of 0.1 G, which they describe Point. However, evidence we hove safety grounds. os o "highly pessimistic" calculation. uncovered suggests that they only However, the Nil's minimum become aware of the fault's "MOVING THE GOALPOSTS" requirement is that o nuclear plant existence when planning the con withstand a 0.25G shock. construction of the B station ••• The Uberal MP for Yeavil, The Nil explains its decision not ten years after work began on the Paddy Ashdown, has demanded that to press for improvements before A station. Energy Secretory Peter Walker extend~ng the operating lives of the If this Is correct, it may only be explain how the nuclear industry is stations by saying, "we live in a through good fortune that the 22 being allowed to get away with fairly stable country os for os year old Mognox reactors of the A "moving the goolposts." He says, earthquakes ore concerned. All our station ore not sited directly over "after Chernobyl, safety standards old and new power stations could the fault. As it is, the fault runs have to be treated as absolute and, withstand those earthquakes which under a substation which feeds as for everything else, nuclear hove occurred." 275,000 volts of eletriclty into the power stations have to meet the The Inspectorate odds that "it ndtionol grid. current standards or be closed would cost millions to odd CEGB spokesman Terry Pratchett down." additional safeguards" to existing says, "in 1956 the consultant In his reply, Mr Walker . stations to bring them up to modern engineers drew our attention to the contradicts the CEGB and NU by standards. And yet, In apparent existence of the fault and stating, "the Nil is actively contradiction, the NU stress that repositioned the A station to the discussing nuclear power stations' "one of the requirements of the west of it. In 1966 they did some seismic resistance with the CEGB safety reviews is to make the more detailed studies on the fault and it is wrong to assume that any safety case for earthquake action. and then positioned the B station decisions hove been mode." Asked It is one of the key factors." to the east of it." to explain the difference between {emphasis added). Further, he says that the fault Mr Walker's understanding of the Aware that not everyone wUl is clearly visible on the surface and situation and that of the CEGB and understand its generous concession that its position couldn't hove been Nil, on Energy Deportment to the CEGB, the Nil has told the ignored. Yet our evidence suggests spokesman said, "the reports hove Board to continue the tests to otherwise. Undoubtedly the presence not yet been published, and the determine the maximum shock the of o fault was discussed in 1957. seismic safety issue isn't signed, power stations could withstand. The The minutes of a private meeting

8 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 between senior members of possible siting" implies the fault impossible to demonstrate that Somerset County Council on 1 was found only after plans for earthquakes were associated with January 1957 records that, "it was siting the new station hod been the fault. Hinkley Point is on a understood that there was a fault drawn up, and that it hod only fault, but then everything is. It is in the rock which might create recently been made: certainly not an area where there are more dificulties, but Lord Hylton 10 years before. earthquakes than usual. The overall expressed the view that the Indeed, the CEGB acknowledges area, generally speaking, has more possibility of getting the Central that Hinkley B's position was earthquakes than the south and Electricity Authority (the CEGB's changed during construction. Mr east." predecessor) to resite the station Pratchett says this was on the Or Melville has come across should be explored at once." advice of the architect, Sir some 30 earthquakes in the area Frederick Gibbord, and had nothing over the past 800 years, most of to do with the fault. Sir Frederick's them "pretty small." However, a SITING RECONSIDERED firm, which also designed Hinkley A, contemporary account of the On 28 January, the County and could presumably shed some Glastonbury earthquake on 11 Council sub-committee set up to light on the matter, refuses to September 1275, yesterday in investigate the Hinkley Point A answer questions and refers all geological terms, said it was "so project noted, "the CEA believe enquiries to the CEGB. terrible and horrible that churches there is a fault ••• and ore not But if the CEGB really knew of were overturned in various places willing to incur the expense and the fault's exact position in 1957, and people killed." Glastonbury is risk of constructing heavy buildings why build the electricity substation less than 20 miles from Hinkley on or immediately adjacent to that on top of it? Mr Pratchett Point. Two other nearby towns, line." An accompanying mop shows acknowledged that, "it's an integral Wells and Taunton, have both where the fault was thought to run. part of the station. Without it the experienced sizeable earthquakes However, a quick glance at the electricity generated on site could in the past. official mop published by the British not be fed into the national grid." Or Peter Smart of Bristol Geological Survey shows that, However, he adds, "its failure, University's geography department whatever might hove been thought should it ever occur, isn't related was recently asked to date the in 1957, no fault exists there. to the safety of the reactors." fault and try to establish when But the mop does clearly mark there was last any movement on it. a fault a few hundred yards away - 30 QUAKES IN 800 YEARS He concluded, "I can see no problem running right through the middle of so far from the work I have done. the power station site. Is it possible For on organisation which claim If you take the United States that, in seeking to ovoid an to have studied the fault recommendation that a fault imaginary fault, the CEA built extensively in the 1960s and 1970s shouldn't have moved in 35,000 Hinkley A just yards from a real the CEGB seem to have left a lot years the evidence that I have got one? The CEGB soy no, but the of basic research into its age, the is that it hasn't moved for well in theory is strengthened by evidence likelihood of seismic activity along excess of that time." contained in a document relating to it, and its relation to the regional the development ten years later of fault network until the present GREAT UNCERTAINTY the B station. decade. Over the past few years This is a record of a meeting on the Board have employed a number However, other geologists we the site in which Somerset's County of the country's most eminent have spoken to say testing the Planning Officer met top CEGB geologists to draw up a report stability of faults in Britain is officials from London. The report which will form part of its notoriously difficult because of the notes., "o minor geological fault had evidence to the planning inquiry effects of the last lee Age. The ice been found running across the site into the proposed Hinkley C station. pack and permafrost which covered and this would involve some One of the consultants, Or Britain 10,000 years ago disturbed reconsideration of possible siting." Charles Melville, an expert on deposits so much that it's very The suggestion that the discovery earthquakes from Cambridge difficult to tell if there has been would involve "reconsideration of University says, "it's almost any movement on a fault. One structural geologist who specialises in Middle Eastern earthquakes says, "all you can say with any certainty about any fault Bridgewater Bay is that it must be younger than the rock it euts." This geologist said he would want to study the history of activity along the fault for at least a million years before committing himself on saying whether or not it 1 Hinkley A was inactive. And even then he 2 Hinkley B 1 would be unwilling to say 3 Substation I categorically that a lack of movement in the past meant a fault would never move in the future. - Actual fault line The chances of a major -- -- "Imaginary" fault line earthquake occurring along the " .. Transmission lines fault during the lifetime of the two power stations at Hinkley Point must be considered extremely Scale remote. However, one is left .1 1 wondering whether elderly nuclear 1 4 ! 4 0I m1"1 es plants built in such circumstances I I I f I kilometres should be allowed to carry on 1 ' 0 operating beyond their original design lives.

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 9 Trouble at Trawsfynydd Investigations carried out by Friends of the Earth at the lake exposures. The critical group is the section of the population which into which Trawsfynydd nuclear power station discharges its receives the highest effective doses liquid effluent show that the levels of radioactivity are rising. from the discharges. In this case PATRICK GREEN, who prepared FoE's report on the study•, they are the people who catch and compares the CEGB/MAFF figures with their own, and claims eat fish from the lake. that things are not as they should be at the plant. MAFF data show: e For both Cs-137 and Cs-134, the Friends of the Earth's attention to monitor the radioactivity they mean levels of contamination in was unexpectedly drown to discharge into the environment. mud have increased in recent years. Trowsfynydd, whilst undertaking our The Cs-137 increase has been post-Chernobyl monitoring The CEGB data shows that: dramatic, from 1700Bq/kg in 1977 programme in north Wales. We were e The levels of orgon..41 gas to 7800Bq/Kg in 1985: on increase given a mud sample with on discharged from the plant ore the of 359%. This has occurred mainly unexpectedly high caesium activity highest of any operating CEGB since 1983 (graph 3). ( 1447Bq/Kg). The sample come from nuclear power station for the years e The Co-60 level has increased a stream, the source of which is that were assessed. in recent years, from 1.9Bq/kg in Llyn Trowsfynydd, the lake into e Liquid discharges of ore 1982 to 37Bq/kg in 1985: an which the plant discharges its extremely erratic, ranging from 1 % increase of 1847%! (graph 4). This liquid effluent. to 15% of the authorised limit. would suggest that Co-60 discharges Trowsfynydd is unique os the e The authorisation permits a total have increased in recent years, only UK nuclear power station to of 1480GBq of other although the CEGB data are too discharge into on inland lake. than tritium to be discharged into vague to definitely conclude this. Consequently the "dilute and the lake each year. The actual disperse" approach to radioactive amount discharged is within this Considering the MAFF mud discharges procticed by the CEGB limit, and has fallen in recent years. monitoring data show increasing (Central Electricity Generating In 1984 the discharges reached 25% contamination, it is surprising their Board) is more problematic, os a of their authorised limit. fish data show a general decrease. limited volume of water is available e The actual discharges of specific The MAFF reports state that mud for dilution. The problem is rodionuclides vary enormously. The from the lake bed is analysed acknowledged by MAFF (Ministry of single largest proportion is due to because this forms o of the Agriculture, Fisheries & Food) who sulphur-35, which varies between fish diet (they ore browsers). Levels state that the discharges ore of 28% and 68% of the total discharge. in fish should show similar trends "greater radiobiological significance e Peak discharges of caesium-137 to levels in mud. than those from other UK nuclear and 134 ( Cs·137, 134) occurred in power stations." 1978. The current levels are below Graph 3: levels of Cs-137 In mud {MAFF data) this, but have been increasing ,.------<·------<-----, ·~ ...... Graph 1: liquid discharges of Cs-137 from steadily since 1982 (graph 1). .... ••• Trawsfynydd {CEGB data) It is not possible to comment 170 e 71111 Ill with any certainty on the levels of ,... Ill cobalt-60 (Co-60) discharged, as 5880 the CEGB have changed the way 1800 "11 ,... 11 they express the levels in their reports. For the years preceding 2880 "58 1982 the reports stated precisely 1181 lt 0.1% or 0.2% of the total discharges 8 lO m1 ma tm n11 m1 nu nu nu ms .... 71 were due to Co-60; since 1982 they 11 have stated less than or equal to • 0.5%. This could mean that the A possible explanation for this amounts discharged have increased discrepancy could lie with the The sample was independently (graph 2). sampling techniques used by MAFF. analysed by Edinburgh Radiation e The discharges of strontium-90 Only 24 fish ore taken each year. Consultants, and the results (Sr-90) show an erratic picture, but The trend to lower levels could be suggested the source of the caesium peak in 1978 and 1980. a reflection that the fish ore caught was unlikely to be Chernobyl, and ------. younger than in previous years, and was probably Trawsfynydd. However, Graph 2: liquid discharges of Co-60 from will not have been olive long Trawsfynydd {CEGB data) os only one sample was involved it I "• enough to accumulate large was not enough on which to base quantities of rodionuclides in their any conclusions. tissues. This explanation seems FoE took further mud samples likely in the case of rainbow trout. and the investigation, coupled with These ore not an indigenous species an analysis of CEGB and MAFF but ore reared in hatcheries data (1977 onwards) provides firm controlled by the CEGB. If this is evidence that problems exist within the case the monitoring is failing the station. in its purpose, since o misleading The site licence granted by the picture of contamination levels will Deportment of the Environment MAFF are responsible for be produced. (DoE) specifies the numerical limits monitoring the environment around The MAFF monitoring data also for radioactive discharges. Within nuclear installations and assessing appear to be incomplete. They state these limits the CEGB must take the impact of the discharges on the Sr-90 is important in terms of steps to ensure that the actual local critical group. At Trawsfynydd exposure of the critical group; yet amounts discharged are "as low as they monitor mud and fish. The mud is never analysed for its is reasonably practicable" (ALARP). latter form the basis of their presence and fish ore only It is also the CEGB's responsibility assessment of critical group monitored for some of the years.

10 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 The levels of contamination In fish ore Important because they form the basis for estimating the average dose to o member of the critical group. lt is questionable If a sample si:z:e of 24 fish a year Is sufficient for such an assessment, especlall( considering that the lake Is one o the most popular fishing lakes in north Wales. Since 1968 the average effective dose for a member of the critical group Is the highest of any CEGB nuclear power station. As Indicated these doses could be underestimated. r----Graph <4---: levels------of C-60-- --in mud---- (MAFF------, data) T rawsfynydd nuclear power station and lake. ._.~.. could mean a breach of the ALARP MAFF mean value was 37Bq/kg; the principle: a prosecutable offence. FoE mean value was 130Bq/kg: an The MAFF data further suggest increase of 251 %. A peak figure of l l that the radiological protection 238Bq/kg was also recorded by FoE. requirements of the International Co-60 is an or a 11 Commission for Radiological corrosion product. Its presence In Protection (ICRP) are not the lake at such high levels cannot ll complfed with since not all exposure be due to Chernobyl, and lndicotes routes are considered. The ICRP there may be corrosion problems in state that, to ensure compliance the plant. with ALARP, optimlsatlon The fact that such discrepancies technlqoes shaufd be used. This can occur between two set s of These average effective doses means that the total health environmental monitoring data raises are within the 5mSv public dose detriment to a population must be lmportont questions about the limit, but they consistently fall to considered. Therefore it Is necessary reliability of official monitoring meet the CEGB's own target dose to consider the full range of data and consequently the for critical groups. This Is based on foodstuffs consumed and all the reliability of the assessment of the 1/30 of the dose limit, le 0.17mSv. radlonuclides which reach the food, critical group effective dose is open However, the NRPB hove not just those considered to be the to question. recommended that the publlc dose dominant contributors to radiation limit should be 1 mSv. If the target exposure. The MAFF data ore The FoE report was launched in dose were based on thll flg\lre, le Incomplete, concentrating on the Bangor on 9 Moreh. It called on 0.033mSv, the average effective dose radioeaesiums, and is likely to lead the CEGB and MAFF to: to the crltlcal group would exceed to on underestimate of the true e explain the anomalies In this by an order of magnitude. In exposure of the critical group. discharge and monitori.ng data; 1976 the 1mSv level was exceeded The mud data obtained by FoE e explain the discrepancies because of the reduced volume of for Cs-137 are in brood agreement between the FoE and MAFF data; the lake during the exceptionally with the MAFF data. Our results, e provide full details of their hot $Ummer (graph 5). Because of although somewhat lower than the monitoring programme; the current problems with the , MAFF data show that high levels e explain the nature of the the CEGB have reduced the water hove continued into late 1986. corrosion problems; depth by about 5%, COJUequently a Our levels of Cs-134 and Co-60 e justify the discharges under the rise In the critical group overage are consistently higher thon the ALARP principle; effective dose can be expected. mean data provided by MAFF. This e demonstrate that they comply If it had been operating In Weat discrepancy is not easily explained. with the ICRP's system of Germany or the United States where Chernobyl fallout makes the data radiological protection. more stringent public dose Umits more difficult to interpret. Our The report also called on the exist, Trawsfynydd would have been data ore consistent with the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate closed down. suggestion that the mud in the lake (Nil) to investigate a possible has taken up an appreciable amount breach of the ALARP principle; to G~ ophS;- effective do-;;-equivalent ort-sTr;g to of caesium activity which originated complete the outstanding 20 year ... the c:rltic:ol group around Trowsfynydd at Chernobyl. This cannot be the safety review and to make this 1111 1111 _ _ • ._.,_, whole explanation for these reasons: fully available; to provide assurances os to the safety of the Ill'" e The mean Cs-134 level recorded plant; and stated that until such 111 by MAFF In 1985 is 59Bq/kg; the assurances con be given the plant mean value from the FoE mud '"~ should be shut down. Ill samples was 429Bq/kg: the FoE As expected the CEGB have 111 IM mean i.s 627% higher than the MAFF tried to dismiss the evidence in the ... figure. If all this activity originated report. They have not succeeded• from Chernobyl it would be " n 11 11 n n 11 n n n 11 n 11 11 n 11 u as.._ The station manager hos however reasonable to assume a largel' admitted In a radio interview thot Increase In the Cs-137 level$ (in the source of the increasing Co-60 The CEGB hove consistently Chernobyl fallout, for every one levels ln the mud is the springs maintained that their target dose ls Becquerel of Cs-134 there Is two that hold the fuel rods In place, more stringent than the dose limits Becquerels of Cs-137). However the but he denies they are corroded. applied abroad. Trowsfynydd clearly FoE Cs-137 readings ore In broad demonstrates that thls is not the agreement with MAFF. • Trowsfynydd - Po-r ot o Prlc:e: o cose, since the CEGB do not keep e The FoE samples also contai~d report on the rodlooc:tlve disc:horges fTom to the target. This constant failure high levels of Co-60. The 1985 Trowsfynydd nuc:leor power stotlon. £3.50 fTom: Fo~ 377 City Rood, London ECI.

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 11 Pandora's POX answer highlights a situation where security risks are token with PUN This article continues the debate on plutonium transport in transportation because it is inconvenient to take it by air, relation to the Dounreay fast reactor establishment. 2 issues whilst safety risks ore token with ago we printed a letter from Brian Durrans of Dounreay in POX transportation for security response to an article by PETE MUTTON. Pete has replied reasons. Their list of priorities with this article, and we hope to carry an article from Mr therefore appears to be: convenience, security, then safety. Durrans in the next issue. And what ore the safety and Rarely do proponents of things One might expect that in order security risks? That was the whole nuclear air their views when the to ensure that such on paint of my previous article - we opportunity exists for those of us extraordinarily hazardous cargo Is haven't been told! Safety studies of on anti-nuclear persuasion to not released to the environment, either haven't been carried out or, challenge those views. Full marks, extraordinarily exhaustive safety if they have, the results have been therefore, to Mr B Durrans, Choir studies would be carried out. That, suppressed under a security blanket. of the Dounreay Staff Side, for however, is not the case. And what ore these security replying (Letters - SCRAM 57) to Apparently, only one drop test has measures protecting? It may be my article about plutonium nitrate been performed from 5000 feet, and news to workers at Dounreay, but (PUN) transportation (SCRAM 53). that "although the container was regular SCRAM readers will know Less thon full marks, however, for damaged, no material was released that security measures ore required both the tone and the content of from the container." From this because the plutonium product is a that reply. limited testing, the UK Atomic prime nuclear weapons material (eg. Mr Durrans starts his letter by Energy Authority (UKAEA) conclyde SCRAM 56). claiming that my article "contains that it is safe to transport so many inaccuracies and untruths plutonium dioxide {POX) by air! that is difficult to know where to Such irresponsiblli ty is almost PLUTONIUM FOR MILITARY start." In fact, he neither starts, beyond belief. continues or ends with any criticism Mr Durrons takes me to task for of the main thrust of the article. I suggesting that Dounreay's can only assume that he shares my plutonium has o military potential. concern about the secrecy Is he serious? Does he not know surrounding the PUN shipments. But that the French regard the fast of course, if he can supply me with reactor as the "technological basis the information his employers keep of the French nuclear military suppressed, or if he has some force"? He avoids the issue by special exemption from the Official talking about the isotopic mix of Secrets Act, then perhaps he could high burn-up fuel rods. How about answer some of the points 1 raised the isotopic mix of the blanket in my original article. plutonium, Mr Durrons, particularly after a relatively short period in UNACCEPTABLE HAZARD the reactor? In any case, as far back as 197 6 the influential "Flowers Report" {the Sixth Report Coming back to his speciftc of the Royal Commission on criticisms. Mr Durrons criticises me Environmental Pollution) commented for failing to mention o paper that: "weapons of comparatively low which was only presented to the (and uncertain) yield can Dounreay European Demonstration nevertheless be mode from ' civil Reprocessing Plant Inquiry after my grade' plutonium containing article was published. The paper - appreciable concentrations of "The Transportation of the plutonium 240" {para 95). Plutonium and Uranium Products If Mr Durrans seriously believes from the EDRP" - is a mere five that plutonium from fast reactors pages in length and gives the barest cannot be used for nuclear weapons of detail about the proposals, and production then perhaps he would even less about the associated be good enough to write to SCRAM safety studies. lt is, perhaps, unequivocally stating so. He could surprising, that Mr Durrons also inform us why specific mentions this paper because what information about the quantity, little the paper does reveal is A 9 metre drop test of a PUN isotopic composition and transport rather interesting. container onto a 30 ton of plutonium produced at Dounreay The paper informs us .that the is withheld from the public, and containers used must be so secure concrete block. why safety studies relating to PUN that any leak must be less than one The fact is, as the paper transportation are classified hundredth of a millionth of o concedes, air transport of POX is documents. Finally, he could tell gramme on hour. Whot does this preferred for security reasons. The us what the armed guards of the mean? 1t means that the regulatory some, of course, will be true for UKAEA's Special Constabula ry are authorities consider plutonium to be PUN transport but os Mr Durrons doing ot Dounreay. so toxic that if a single gramme points out in answer to my question Until safety information about was to take 10,000 YEARS to leak - "why does PUN go by sea if POX PUN and POX transportation is out, then the rote of leakage would goes by air?" - the PUN containers published, we con only assume the be unacceptably high. Imagine the ore too bulky to go by air. Quite UKAEA is hiding something. A hazard .involved should on accident so, tvlr Durrons! I was fully owo.re desire for the facts prompts the release several kilogrammes into of the answer when I asked the slogan: the environment! question. 1 enquired !>ecause the "POX • Don't Die of Ignorance"

12 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 ''An Agonising Decision'' As present land and sea disposal routes for nuclear waste remain unacceptable, GEORGE PRITCHARD explains to STEVE MARTIN the disagreement which led him to leave his job as nuclear campaigner with Greenpeace and take up a post with a company which claim to have_ developed a safe method of undersea disposal of nuclear waste. Steve Martin: George Pcltchard, under the seabed. Jim asked Pete we've asked him to. I told him the you've recently resigned after a and myself to meet him. We told people he had to persuade, os for number of years as the nuclear Alex we weren't interested in his as I am concerned: he immediately campaigner for Greenpeace. Some scheme at that time because it replied that they would get people may not understand why: wasn't retrievable or monitorable. everything he publishes. Now John could you give us the background He asked us what we would like to Large is working on the engineering, to your decision? see, so we explained what he would Mike Heath's working on the have to do to persuade us. For 3 geology - the area around Orkney is George Pritchard: Certainly. l got years Jim and myself (Pete had totally unsuitable, by the way - and involved in the anti-nuclear gone off to Antarctica and New Peter Taylor, hopefully very shortly, campaign in 1980 when the CEGB Zealand) have worked with Alex on will be taking a contract to look at announced three new nuclear power the scheme. the rodionuclide dispersion. stations on my doorstep down here Because people don't want the As far os costs go, it's not in Cornwall. I was mainly interested Government forcing nuclear waste going to be cheap. l believe no real in the threat to the Cornish seal dumps onto their backyards, my safe answer to the nuclear waste but, as I learnt more about nuclear feeling is that we've got to look problem has been found in the past power, I realised that it was also a for same other method. At the because it's always had the "£" sign threat to myself and my family. l same time I'm very aware, having hanging over it. This has meant that became the secretary and full-time been a Greenpeace member and you can't put money into solving organiser of the Cornish Anti­ supporter for a long time, that the the problem because of the cost of Nuclear Alliance. We went on to sea is yery precious, and we cannot nuclear electricity. win the campaign. afford to pollute it. Now the Labour Party has After a period working with the It's now got to the stage where removed that; they have said they'll fishing community of Cornwall on I believe that Greenpeace should get rid of nuclear power. The sea dumping, Pete Wilkinson (then talk seriously with Copson about his electricity costs don't come into it Chairman of Greenpeace) asked me scheme. When I put that to the any more - we con put money into to work for them full time. Greenpeace Board they were not solving the problem. This is an At that time there were three prepared to do that. They have a expensive way of solving it but, of us on the campaign and we split policy of on-site storage of waste. let's face it, we've produced the up the work between us: my job pointed out that the people of stuff - it's there - and somehow was working with the Unions on the Bradwell don't want it on-site, and we've got to deal with it. And the waste dumping issue. As an ex­ I don't believe the people near any question of cost shouln't come into seaman, the NUS was my Union. other site want it either. it. The only question is the safety The campaign resulted in the I wanted to go to a recent of the environment and the safety Unions' sea dumping ban. In fact the meeting where Alex Copson was of the public. ban came just as l joined presenting his latest plans to the Greenpeace, so Pete Wilkinson must Trade Unions. The Board didn't wont SM: Should the nuclear industry get the credit as he did the work. me to attend. That was the final accept this scheme, if they are straw, and that was the reason I genuine in their desire to dispose SM: A ttentlon then switched to resigned. It was on agonising of nuclear waste in a safe manner? on-land waste dumping, with two decision for me. People who don't sites being announced. know me well ore likely to think GP: The scheme will not be going I've been bought out in some way. public probably for a couple of GP: Yes. Frank Cook, the new MP All I can soy is, hopefully my months yet, but some people in the for Stockton North, found himself campaigning record speaks for itself nuclear industry are already aware in 1983 with the Billingham proposal - I'm still totally opposed to the of it. But they want to get rid of on his doorstep and asked us to nuclear industry, but at the same nuclear waste in the cheapest way help. It was because of my time I'm totally dedicated to they can, because they want nuclear association with the people of finding a way, if it's possible, to power to stay competitive. And that Billingham, and Elstow, that I took deal with nuclear waste. goes for the present Government. a keener interest in the question of I attended the meeting and But, at the end of the day it's disposing of nuclear waste. That explained to the Union leaders that going to be up to the public, and if campaign was also won. It is very I hod resigned. They asked me what they can support this scheme, then gratifying to have been involved in I was going to do - I said I hod no they have got to force the those successes, but it was, of ideo. Jim Slater persuaded me to Government, if necessary, to adopt course, all down to the people take the job Alex hod offered me it. I believe if it's adopted nuclear involved. before, as o liaison between him power in its present form goes out and the trade unions. I started that the window. However, it may be SM: Now you've moved on to job in March. Graeme Searle, founder that one day they'll develop a safe another phase in your anti-nuclear member of FoE and the Stop Sizewell reactor. career. Although you've now left B Association, is also working with SM: So, we look forward to the Greenpeace, you're still Involved Alex and me. publication of the report. in the anti-dumping campaign. Could explain your decision? SM: So, is the plan feasible? When GP: Yes, indeed. The company is will It start, how much will It cost? not called ENSEC onymore. It's GP: Yes. Three years ago, a man now Consolidated Environmental called Alex Copson told Jim Slater GP: There's a lot more work to be Technology. at the NUS that he had a proposal done. It's looking very promising. for the disposal of nuclear waste Over the years Alex has done all SM: Thank you very much, George.

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 13 The voice of Haringey Council's GREEN El Environmental Co-ordinating Committee. The first local authority paper to exclusively address green • ISSUeS. HARINGEY COUNCIL

CHERNOBYL -it could never happen heret

.CAMPAIGNING FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT AND A GREEN FUTURE

For more information contact: Environment Support Unit, Haringey Council, Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, London Nll. Tel 01881 JOOO Ext. JJ69

14 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 ... ' NUCLEAR FREE ZONES SCOTLAND NUCLEAR FREE LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Support Nuclear Free Zone Local Authorities

Produced on behalf of the Nuclear Free Zones, Scotland Steering Committee • the Nuclear Free Zone Local Authorities · Steering Committee

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 15 Birds in a Flap over Barrage Tidal barrages have received a lot of coverage in SCRAM over the years. In particular, the proposal to build a barrage across the Severn has generated much debate: we carried articles against and for in our October 19.84 and June 1985 issues. Those articles addressed the technical and political aspects of the development. Here, MICHAEL LEVEN looks at the ecological arguments against the Severn barrage, with particular reference to the wader and wildfowl populations of the estuary, and concludes that the threat to these communities will far outweigh any benefit from the generation of 5% of England and Wales• electricity.

In view of the limited level of 44 and 48 would have an installed of nuclear power lies in the possible support for renewable energy capacity of 7200M W which compares consequences outwith the site, and sources, it is superficially with an installed capacity of the type of effects are not directly encouraging that the present 1320M W for Hinkley Point B. comparable. However, the adverse government would appear to be However, it is anticipated that, consequences of a Severn barrage enthusiastically proceeding with because of tidal flows, the barrage are such that it is suggested that proposals for the development of a will generate electricity at only the benefits derived from the barrage across the ; one third the rate of a nuclear generation of only 5% of England providing a new road link between plant so annual electricity output is and Wales' electricity are far the Bristol area and Wales, and estimated at only 12.9TWh outweighed by the consequences. incorporating a station. compared with an output of about The principal problem with the Those who are opposed to the 7tTwh from Hinkley B in 1986. formation of a barrage is that the further development of nuclear daily tidal regime of the estuary energy might see the development will be altered. At present the of tidal power as the harnessing of TIDAL REGIME CHANGES Severn estuary includes large areas an unlimited resource which could of mudflats which hold important be developed without incurring To achieve this output, about populations of wildfowl and wading either the known dangers of 5% of the present electricity birds (see figure and table). These nuclear power or the pollution demand in England and Wales, the birds are adapted to a habitat problems arising from conventional Bondi scheme requires the erection where areas of mudflot and saltings coal burning power stations. of a 17km barrage which will are inundated by the However, the direct ecological irrevocably change the ecological periodically and they make use of consequences (as opposed to the regime of approximately 500 square this habitat primarily outwith the indirect effects) of a kilometres of the Severn estuary. breeding season os a source of food will inevitably be far greater, for a This can be compared to the area and as a safe, relatively undisturbed given level of electricity production, of the entire Torness site which roost site. than for coal-fired or nuclear plant. occupies only 80 hectares: about Thus, the Severn Barrage H% of the size. Committee's preferred scheme (the Of course the principal REDUCED POPULA TIONS Bondi scheme) discussed in SCRAM opposition to the ecological effects As the table shows, a substantial number of the species of waders and MAP OF THE SEVERN ESTUARY wildfowl which occur on the Severn SHOWING WILDFOWL AND WADER ROOSTS do so in internationally significant numbers, reflecting both the value of Britain's as relatively frost-free winter habitats for birds from a wide part of Eurasia, and the importance of the Severn as one of the ten most important estuaries in Britain for birds. The habitat which these birds use has evolved over the course of thousands of years and varies from communities only just above the low water mark, which ore principally important for birds os a source of invertebrate food, to higher saltings which may only be inundated during spring and which have complex and easily damaged plant communities. The retention of water behind the barrage will mean that the lower tidal mudflats will never be • f'll

16 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 barrage eliminates the differences between different heights of tides WILDFOWL & WADER POPULA TIONS and subjects these areas to o constant twice doily regime leading ON THE SEVERN ESTUARY 1969-75 to o simplification in vegetotionol Highest average % of British cover and invertebrate fauna and monthly count hence o more limited series of population niches for birds. Bewick's swan 320 16.0 * Thus the effect of the barrage White-fronted goose 4500 45.0 * will be to simplify the botanical Shelduck 2090 3.5 * and invertebrate communities os well os eliminating those that Wigeon 3070 3.0 depend on the present tidal regime; Teal 780 1.0 some birds will adopt to the Shoveler 100 2.0 changes but others will be unable Ringed plover 308 2.6 * to do so. It is unlikely that 420 4.2 displaced birds will find equally Grey plover * satisfactory habitats elsewhere in Lapwing 14500 ( 1.5) the region and overall populotions Knot 5400 1.8 * will be reduced. Dunlin 47000 8.5 * Black-tailed god wit 1070 21.4 * POLL UT ANTS ACCUMULATE Whimbrel 1500 + * Curlew 2620 2.6 * This discussion has concentrated Redshank 2200 2.2 * on the ornithological value of the Turnstone 280 1.1 estuary, both because the effect of the barrage on birds will be Population of international importance. immediate and obvious, and because * quantifiable information on the + No full census available but includes value of the Severn for birds is most of the population passing through readily available. It is more Britain to breed in the Arctic. difficult to assess the value of the () British population of Lapwing derived various plant communities and almost impossible to determine the from Lack, 1986; data obtained during significance of the marine 1981-84 and thus not directly vertebrate and invertebrate animal comparable with estuary population. systems. However, the effect on Sources: Prater, A J "Estuary Birds in Britain and Ireland"; Poyser, 1981. these of the ecosystem will Lack, P "The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland"; be arguably even more severe British Trust for Ornithology, 1986. because there is no prospect of sessile communities moving to alternative habitats elsewhere. deposition above the barrage may from these sources will rise as the Finally, it seems that virtually not be limited to these direct dilution of pollutants and their no worthwhile investigation has effects; there remains the problem transfer to the open sea becomes been carried out into the effects ~f accumulation of pollutants in restricted. Similarly, flushing of the of increased sedimentation above these sediments and their estuary following accidental the barrage, and altered currents in incorporation into the food chain. discharge of pollutants such os its vicinity. It is inevitable that At present the /Bristol industrial chemicals or the creation of the barrage will be area is o significant source of products would be inhibited. o further foetor altering the chemical pollution, and Oldbury and Overall therefore, the immediate existing intertidal ecosystems, Berkeley nuclear power stations and long term effect of a barrage scouring established mudflots and would be above the barrage. It con over the Severn would be the depositing sediments in new be anticipated that levels of destruction of on ecological locations. contamination arising os o community of considerable The effect of increased sediment consequence of routine discharges importance and the creation of an unquontifioble pollution hazard. Much argument has been devoted to whether tidal power could compete in cost with electricity generated from cool-fired or nuclear stations. This is surely on irrelevance - a Severn barrage would have unacceptable ecological consequences and is an alternative which should now be abandoned without reservation...... - -...... References:

.. • •• 0 - - ...... :. .. ·· .. Lack, P "The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland"; British Trust for Ornithology, 1986. Prater, A J "Est•Jary Birds in Britain and Ireland"; Poyser, 1981. Roberts J & Rowe J "Tidal Power - The Case Against"; SCRAM 44, 1984. RINGED PLOVER: Show, T "Tidal Power - A Reply"; ONE OF THE SEVERN'S IMPORTANT WADER SPECIES SCRAM 48, 1985.

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 17 When the Wind Blows The British Wind Energy Association's 9th annual conference was held in Edinburgh in early April. It was an international gathering, with papers delivered on all aspects of the wind energy industry. British Wind Energy Association MIKE TOWNSLEY was there to record the event for SCRAM. ago at the wind energy conference, when it was decided there wasn't The wind energy industry received Ms Mackie from Dundee University, enough force being put into the an encouraging boost when over 250 "Wind Energy Implications for Rural political and various other pressures delegates attended the 9th annual Communities", posed the important that can be brought to bear on the BWEA (British Wind Energy question of public awareness. An British government". Trade Winds is Association) conference: the largest illustration of this low public run specifically for manufacturers attendance to date. awareness, is the fact that the 1983 of aerogenerators. Around one quarter of the Energy Act, which compels the His address aimed at those who delegates attracted to Edinburgh regional generating boards to buy may be interested in running their were from overseas. Such a high surplus electricity generated at a own generator, stressed the turnout SCRAM was told, is due to preset rate, eluded her for a long importance of professional advice. the British wind industry's leading time. Adding that, although the windiest edge in the development of larger A major threat to multi­ sites are best for oerogenerators, machines, 300kW and above. megawatt wind generators is their in the case of SWECS (Small Wind Concern over the maintenance interference with electromagnetic Energy Convertors), it is more of this lead was expressed, as the waves. The paper presented by R J important to build next to where industry cast a worried glance over Chignal, "Electromagnetic the power is required, because its shoulder, at increasing Interference from Wind Turbines of power transmission losses. manufacturing interest in Japan, a Simplified Guide to Avoiding He believes there are "lots of Taiwan and Korea. (Care must be Problems", sought to clarify this people out there who would like to taken to avoid repetition of the situation. To summarise: although run wind turbines". A belief backed wave technology farce in 1982, complicated, this problem is not by the Department of Energy, when the Government killed off the insurmountable. whose own research estimates that research programme, allowing the The final paper of the session over 2000 farms could run wind Norwegians to step into its wake.) delivered by Mr R O'Brien, "Wind turbines economically. The paper delivered by Prof Energy Education in Grampian", also During the Open Forum on the Lipman, a past chair of the BWEA, promoted the need for greater final day, many points of confusion targeted China as a major area for public awareness. Mr O'Brien heads and interest reappeared, with the export of aerogenerators. He visited a project he described as "a fifth delegates having the opportunity to China recently and believes the column", teaching renewable energy air their thoughts. potential lies mainly with peasant through the wider aspect of Many of the delegates were farmers, many of whom have no environmental education. (see future worried over the question of rates electricity supply at all and no SCRAM). payable on an aerogenerator. It was access to a grid system. felt the extremely high level of In the final session of the first rates seriously affected the day Or Swift-Hook, chair of the economic viability of SWECs. BWEA research committee, presented Currently the rates work out at a lecture on the BWEA's January 87 around 2p/kW compared with less position paper (the "Red Book"). than 0.001p/kW for a nuclear plant. With infectious enthusiasm he Unfortunately no clear solutions reiterated its main points and were presented, and a call was made optimistically promoted generation for a document to clarify the costs below the 2p/kW barrier. position; action may be taken. Heralding the publication, later The subject of machine this year, of an EWEA (European availability was raised, bringing to Wind Energy Association) equivalent mind Peter Walker's show-stopping of the "Red Book", the "clue Book", observation that "the wind doesn't he stressed the presence of an blow oil the time". It was agreed important British contribution. that machine availability is at Putting the question of worst equal to that of any other decommissioning into perspective, ,~ .. generating form. he estimated aerogenerator The session come to an end with decommissioning costs ot 5% of a minor debate on the future of construction costs, which is roughly multi-megawatt aerogeneration; the the scrap value. Thus we can ignore There was general agreement in conventional vertical axis wind decommissioning, adding wryly the need for improved publicity and turbine (VWA T) versus the usurper, "everyone else does". education. I was told that the BWEA horizontal axis (HWA T) On the second day o session do have a small plan for putting with its greater structural stability. entitled "Environmental Aspects of information into schools, but high In all it had been an interesting Wind Turbines" provided some of the costs involved in such a scheme, if .not inspiring conference, most interesting papers. Jean Gait combined with the BWEA's limited conducted with friendly informality, the Scottish Branch chair and budget, mean it will not be as with future deals presumably being conference organiser opened the comprehensive as necessary. struck in the bar. session saying, "Environmental The day concluded with o well The wind industry is growing but aspects are becoming increasingly attended public lecture given by requires greater public awareness important and over the next few Geoff Watson, the chair of British and government backing, which is years we will find it becoming Trade Winds. He helped set up the unlikely while they pursue the a centre stage issue."· BWEA ten years ago but told me: nuclear line: a link conspicuous An excellent paper delivered by "Trade Winds was formed a year by its absence.

18 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 Appropriate Technology

Labour's energy spokesperson, Ston IEnergy Efficiency Orme, stressed "The Government's new proposals represent a •••• , cut in Local authority buildings in Britain seen a copy of it. It con be obtained existing provision. Once again, the use an estimated £800-900 million from: poorest will have to pcy to get help." worth of energy a year. Given EEO, Thames House South, At least it does guarantee the the current state of the building Millbonk, London WS1 P 4JQ. future of the 384 local draughtproofing stock, it is generally thought that a Tel: 01 211 6684. projects. Neighbourhood Energy Action, 25% reduction in annual energy costs the Notional coordinating body for the could be achieved in return for an projects, welcomed the announcement. investment of £400-500 million. This is An economic: method of wringing the Yet, they are concerned by the an annual saving which will accrue to last watt from deisel generators, has problems that will arise from only 90% the authorities year after year, once been developed by Sultzer Brothers, a grant assistance, and that households the initial investment has paid for Swiss engine company. outwith areas covered by projects, itself. The method, to be incorporated will have no right to help with the Local authorities are, however, into a power plant in Guernsey later cost of droughtproofing materials. under extreme financial pressure. They this year, channels the exhaust gases are subject to capital expenditure from a 14,000kW diesel engine through controls, so energy efficiency projects a turbine to drive an AC generator. I Coal must compete with other capital This will provide electric: power projects, and they are usually the first equivalent to 3% of the engine's rated The CEGB hove announced plans to to be dropped from the programme. output. close the small coal fired Shoreham They are also subject to pressure The new system is expected to pay power station outside Brighton. to reduce revenue expenditure and back· the £128,000 installation cost Generation is to be stopped this staffing levels. As the simpler and during its first year of operation. spring, with the plant fully more obvious efficiency measures, decommissioned by mid 1988. Over such as insulation, are completed, the 300 jobs will be lost, with further more complex measures desired may I Insulation losses threatened as a result of the require increases in staff. Automatic: "knock-on effect". controls and heat recovery devices, The Department of Energy propose a Steve Bassam, Labour PPC for for example, demand more staff time £14.5m draughtproofing grant to bridge Brighton Kemp and deputy leader of for analysis, design supervision etc. the gap between the abolition of Brighton City Council, opposes the Authorities may actually need to DHSS single payments in 1988, and closure: "The CEGB should be increase their engineering staff to the implementation of a wider home planning to refurbish to gaurontee the implement such programmes. improvements grant. future rather than prematurely closing Some authorities are spending as The money will be made available it down." much as £1 per head of population a to the Manpower Services Commision, He points out that "closing-off the year on run-of-the-mill conservation enabling them to meet material costs. options now - by shutting down improvement programmes which are The Government have, so for, stations like Shorehom - leaves us expected to -take up to 15 years to decided the money will only cover 90% dependant on imported electricity from complete. But many others are of the cost of materials for each France and on nuclear power." spending less. The backlog of work is, household. Eligibility will be extended Shorehom is also thought to have therefore, immense, and newly to all households getting income potential for use in a CHP scheme. emerging technical possibilities are support (which replaces suplementary Its closure makes sense only to those adding to the scope for cost effective benefit), housing benefit and family wishing to propel us further into the investments, with two-year payback credit. nuclear insanity. periods - a rate of return too good to ignore. This is where the Energy Efficiency Office's new booklet - "Guidelines for Local Authority Shared Savings Energy Performance Contracts" - comes in handy. Under a Shared Savings Energy Performance Contract, a local authority can employ an energy management company, who will put ....~1-61-~~...- You don't have to continue working their own capital and expertise into the authority's buildings. In return on gs you believe in, with people who'd want they are paid from the cost savings, you locked up if they knew what you really thought ... resulting from lower consumption, for the period of the contract. At the end Promoting Equality of Opportunity. For businesses and of an agreed period the new people who want a say in how their technology is used. equipment would become subject to a hire agreement at a nominal charge, EfP Ltd.,28 Milsom St., BATH BA1 1DP(0225) 69671 and the authority would take over responsibility for its operation and maintenance and enjqy the full benefit EXCHANGE RESOURCES of the energy cost savings. This form of contract is already offered by a number of firms in the RECRUITMENT AGENCY UK, and is used in various other & BUSINESS CONSULTANCY countries, including France and the us. In June 1984 the Energy Efficiency Office commissioned a study to develop a form of contract which could be widely adopted, and this booklet is the result of that study. Make sure your local authority has

SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 19 Appropriate Technology

capacity to economically provide 50% of our current electricity requirements. 0 A commitment to one or more tidal barrages. There are 11 possible sites for tidal barrages in the UK, with a total potential of some 15% of current UK electricity requirements. 0 Re-funding of the wave energy programme, with at least £50m allocated to the development of a number of full-scale prototype systems. CHARTER FOR 0 Increased funding for solar, biofuel and geothermal developments. The potential for direct and indirect solar energy could be up 10% of the UK RENEWABLE primary energy requirements, in the form of heat; geothermal could provide 10% of our electricity. ENERGY Finally the Charter suggests that an independent Renewable Energy Agency, responsible to the Secretory of State for Energy, be set up. •This could sponsor research into environmental impacts; manage The Charter For Renewable Energy between these groups, to promotEf\ demonstration projects and technical provides a much needed reference major investment in renewable research; examine institutional and source for all advocates of a sane, technologies. other barriers to the implementation sustainable energy policy. The Charter calls for: of renewable energy technologies; and Following in the wake of the very 0 Profits from and gas propose legislation to remove such successful Charter For Energy being used "to help move toward a barriers. Efficiency (SCRAM 52) it has similar sustainable energy economy." The document is a front, behind aspirations. The distribution list 0 2GW to be installed in on-shore which the advocates of on energy contains; concerned individuals, unions, wind farms, to feed the grid; with "an policy based on renewables, can unite, local authorities, environmental groups important role for smaller independent, creating pressures the Government and and industry. It aims to initiate wind turbines". Industry cannot ignore. serious discussion and cooperation 0 2GW of off-shore wind turbine I Biomass I Geothermal A new refuse fuelled power station for the current UK level. The technical and economic viability Merseyside has recently been granted It may be possible to use the low of hot rock schemes, is currently planning permission. The plant, to be level waste heat to provide worm under review, in a joint European built by Urban Waste & Power Ltd, water for local industry and research project. will be the first privately built and commerce. MANWEB, the region's Among the objectives of the operated power station in Britain generating authority, are currently Franco-German research team is a since the war. canvassing interest in such a scheme. solution to the problem of connecting The proposed plant would burn Peter King enthusiastically the crack zone created by the first 250,000 tonnes of refuse a year to promotes the scheme's positive bore hole to that of the second. This generate 24MW of electricity which benefits: local long term job creation would complete the loop through will be sold to the national grid, not only in the construction, operation which heated water can be retrieved. under the 1983 Energy Act. and maintainance of the plant, but in Also under consideration is system Construction of the plant, which is the making of bricks and compost efficiency: optimisation of flow expected to begin by the end of this from the process's by-products. rate and the number of bore holes per year, is dependent on the local waste This is widely recognised as the installation. diposal authority switching from most economic method of waste The project site Haguenau in landfill disposal. Peter King, managing disposal. If widely implemented, it has Alsace, France is in a relatively director of Urban Waste & Power an estimated potential of lOOOMW young geological fault zone, where hot Ltd, told SCRAM that he does not electricity generating capacity, in a rocks lie close to the surface. anticipate any problems with this since locally flexible manner. Sizewell B will Experience gained at Los Alomos, the proposed gate price payable by supposedly generate 1300MW. Peter New Mexico should prove invaluable the authority will be less than landfill King comments: "It is a tragedy that to the new project. costs. If all goes according to plan, lOOOMW of generating capacity should The £2.5M project costs are being the plant will be supplying electricity not be used." met jointly by the EEC (£1.5M) and by 1991. the German Government (£ 1M). The plant, costing around £30M, centres on two Multi-Solid Fuel Bed An important pollution abatement (MSFB) steam generator$, incorporates prize has been awarded to Cistercion emission control processes which Monks from a monastery farm in lt'ower t->olitics: Meeting Energy Needs fullfil Peter King's stated objective County Antrim (see SCRAM 58). of processing waste and generating The award was for their biomass The conference promoting initiatives to electricity, "for maximum profit in an converter, which takes two of the eliminate fuel poverty and examining environmentally acceptable way". farm's most toxic wastes: slurry and effective democratic control of energy The refuse will first be processed silage effluent converting them to a production has been organised jointly to remove potential pollutants, while a peat-like compost and high energy gas. by Greater Manchester Sera & Energy long •residence time" in the combustor The annual awards sponsored by the Prospects Standing Conference. will further destroy toxins. Finally, an Environment Foundation, were electrostatic precipitator will reduce presented in Birmingham on 6 April The conference will be held on 23 May, emissions to the proposed EEC level by William Woldegrove, the in Manchester Town Holl. of 50 milligrommes per cubic metre Government's "green" Minister for For further details phone: 06 I -432 2188. of flue gas, less than half that of the Enviroment.

20 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 Appropriate Technology

a.....;.)W.;;...;;.;.in~d ______.I I Peat Construction of a hybrid power source A £240,000 grant has been awarded to resources of peat in Scotland, that up for the small island of Faula off the examine the potential of peat as a to now have been under-utilised. west of Shetland, could start fuel and added-value product in Despite what the conservation people this summer. Scotland. The grant was announced at say1 we have something like 800,000ha The hy~rid - a combination of a two-day Peat Conference, staged by of it and less than l,OOOha of this is aerogenerator, hydro scheme, and back the Finnish Foreign Trade Association being used for production, so I don't up deisel generator set - would replace in Edinburgh. see why this should be a big the expensive, limited output deisel The Finns - pioneers of peat problem." generators currently relied on by the technology - already have the world's John MacKay, the Scottish island's fifty inhabitants. biggest peat fired power station, equal Agricultural Minister, who opened the The beauty of such a scheme lies in size to the PFR at Dounreay. They Conference on 24 March, admitted in the complimentary nature of the are also in the process of building the there is a substantial peat reserve, power sources. The excess world's first ammonia factory using with possibilities for development. Yet aerogeneration when winds are peat as a raw material. he could shed little light on the strong is used to pump water to the The project, spanning three years, Government's intentions, despite the hydro reservoir for ·subsequent will recieve its funding from both the Industry Department's role in release to compensate for when wind EEC and the UK Deportment of awarding the grant! generation is insufficient. It is Industry. The first two years will be hoped this ·combination will make the spent examining the peat resources, gen-set back up redundant. to estimate the potential of peat IWave Costs of this project are expected for power production. to be met entirely by grants. The Another avenue for development Permission to carry out experiments Shetland Islands Development Council is the production of added-value in on Islay, is being sought has recommended a £90,000 grant products: peat coke, barbecue by a team from Queen's University, towards the first phase, and the EEC charcoal and activated carbon. Belfast. is expected to make up the balance, The project will be carried out by Headed by Or Trevor Whittaker, although the Highlands and Islands the Macaulay Institute for Soil from the Universty's Department of Development Board have also been Research and the Scottish Institute Civil Engineering, they plan to set up approached. for Agriculture . and Engineering a demonstration prototype in a gully The first phase of construction, which is shortly to amalgamate bellow Claddich Farm, Portnahaven costing £315,000, involves building with the East of Scotland College which falls under the jurisdiction the aerogenerator and part of the of Agriculture. of Argyl and Bute District Council. hydro scheme. The system could be Or Allan Robertson, a former head Capable of generating 180kW, the semi-operational this autumn. of deportment for peat and forest installation will be monitored by a The final phase, planned for next soils with Macaulay, stresses expansion four-man team aided by computers year, involving further work on the in peat utilisation need not be at the over five years. Or Whittaker thinks hydro scheme and completing the expense of conservation aims. He adds: several Scottish islands could benefit connections to the houses, will cost a "We know that we have substantial from wave power. further £63,000. Jack Burgess, director of R&D for the Council, proposes that a community MATT-BLACK ENAMEL with a proper power supply has a much greater chance of survival, and FINlSII. -- 4.0KW is positive money will be found for MULTI-FUEL STOVE the second phase of this enterprising venture. CAN BE FITTED WITII The Council are also investigating BOILER FOR how another island, Papa Stour, may be supplied from the scheme using a DOMESTIC HOT WATER submarine cable. BURNS ALL FUELS The designers believe that valuable lessons are to be learnt here, with INCLUDING HOUSE­ special significance in the Third World. HOLD COAL, HAS SHAKER, GRATE OP­ The blades for Orkneys 3MW wind turbine, LS1 on Burgar Hill, are to be ERATED WITH STOVE put together over the next few weeks. CLOSED TOP OR REAR LS 1 will be the largest wind turbine in Europe, with its electricity FLUG OUTLET. going to the NSHEB (North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board), after synchronisation with the grid in July. The Wind Energy Group (WEG), who are responsible for the development of the generator, comprimise British Aerospace, GEC Energy Systems and SQUIRREL STOVE 1410 Constuction. The £11m development and construction costs of PRICES, INCLUDING VAT: STOVE £240. BOILER MODEL £304. the giant wind turbine, were met by STOVE WITH LONG LEGS ILLUSTRATED £15.00 EXTRA. the Department of Energy. £60.00 PER INSTALLED KILOWATT! Work on a successor to LS1 has already begun. Bernard Menders, the FOREST FIRE· project manager, believes that, based 50 ST MARYS ST. EDINBURGH. 031-556-9812. on WEG's work, they will have THE BEST OF SAFE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY greater insight into comercial viability of multi-megawatt machines. SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 21 Reviews so that what happens in one directly Normal Accidents: Living with affects the other. "Loose coupling" is Renewable Energy Resources High-Risk Technologies by its opposite. by John Twidell & Tony Weir; Charles Perrow; Basic Books, Nuclear power, argues Perrow, E & F N Spoon. 439pp, £14.95. New York. 386pp, £7 .50. exhibits both interactive complexity and tight coupling. Given these By the virtue of a well written and This book predates Chernobyl by two characteristics, an accident that structured text book, the authors have years, but the arguments it explores would in other contexts be minor can provided a unique essential reference and the conclusions it reaches ore lead to a catastrophe - os was shown book, for anyone interested in only confirmed by the Russian by Chernobyl, which was a systems renewable energy. disaster. In Perrow's terms, Chernobyl accident par excellence, being The first chapter, "Principles of was a "normal accident": that is, it compounded by operator error and a Renewable Energy", stands well on its occurred in a system which, because particularly unforgiving reactor design. own as a rational treatise expounding of its inherent characteristics, was As Perrow (pre-Chernobyl) says, "the a sane energy strategy; it postulates predisposed towards having such an case for shutting down all nuclear that renewable energy would promote accident. plants seems to be clear. There will a "just and sustainable society, Charles Perrow is a sociologist, be more system accidents; according to increasingly free of poverty and the and a specialist in organisational my analysis, there hove to be. One or threat of cataclysmic war." theory. He served on the President's more will include a release of The independence of the chapters Commission on the accident at Three radioactive substances to the and comprehensive index ore the key Mile Island (the Kemeny Commission) environment in quantities sufficient to to its value as a reference book. A and it was this experience that kill many people, irradiate others, and basic science knowledge is preferable formed his ideas around a theory of poison some acres of land. There is but specifics ore not, as each chapter accidents in high technology systems, no organisational structure that we takes the reader through the and brought him to write this book. would or should tolerate that could fundamental principles to their wider It is a vital book for the anti­ prevent it." rellev·ance in UPIP"'"u' nuclear movement, because for the What distinguishes this book from first time it puts on a firm the many others arguing against foundation that uneasy yet ill-defined nuclear power, is that it is not only feeling that we have when the risk about nuclear power. There is on experts talk of probabilities of "one enormous amount of reference detail accident in a million years", or similar on all kinds of systems accidents - statistics. We know that such figures marine transport, petrochemical ore wrong: they offend commonsense. plants, aircraft and airways, , But how ore they wrong? What mines, lakes - which serves to characteristics does nuclear power reinforce Perrow's analysis. have, in common with other high-tech Flixborough, DC-I Os, liquified natural Fimte source- of systems, that make them wrong? The gas tankers, non-collision course T ener!) po1enual answer is here, in this book. collisions, Apollo 13 and the Grand D Perrow's thesis is that accidents T eton Dam all make on appearance. ore inevitable ("normal") in systems Recombinant DNA research (bio­ that hove two characteristics that he technology) is flogged os perhaps terms "interactive complexity" and having the potential for the "ultimate "tight coupling". His theory accident". It is also (for a scientist) concentrates on the systems extraordinarily well written. Sink themselves, rather than on the errors Dovid L Sills, Perrow's erstwhile that designers, owners and operators boss at the Social Science Research make in running them. Council, reviewing the book in Nature, The full spectrum of disciplines are covered, from the obvious solar, wind and wave, to biomoss, including anaerobic digestion for biogas and agrochemicol fuel extraction. It provides interesting general descriptions, clear concise definitions and simple illustrations. For example, we find that the definition of renewable energy is "energy obtained from the continuous or repetitive currents of energy occurring in the . The authors, who have extensive experience in both the field and the classroom have a gift for clear communication. Originally targeted as a course companion for physical "Complex interactions" are those said that it "will markedly improve science undergraduates, it contains in which branching paths, feedback discourse on the nuclear power a chapter an "Essentials of Fluid loops, jumps from one sequence to debate; it should not hove attempted Mechanics" and one on "Heat another allow system components to to decide it." In no way does Perrow Transfer". Although the authors interact in ways that were not attempt to decide the issue, he simply expect "a basic understanding of foreseen in the system's original draws conclusions and puts forward his calculus", I feel this is not design, and which could not be opinions. After Layfield's necessary to understand the anticipated or reasonably guarded pronouncements on Sizewell the anti­ fascinating principles of this against. "Linear interactions", in nuclear movement in this country may increasingly important subject. contrast ore those in which one action well feel some despair at the apparent Although applications are follows another in a straightforward, powerlessness of reasoned argument. undergoing rapid change this will comprehensible and predictable way. Perrow's book provides powerful continue to be an essential definitive "Tight coupling" is an engineering intellectual support for the case; it volume on the principles of renewable term, meaning that two elements are should be widely read and its energy resources. joined in a way in which there is no foundations should be built upon. slack or buffer or give between them, TIM WILLIAMS MIKE TOWNSLEY 22 SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 Reviews Nuclear Power and Jobs: the economists. But this pamphlet will orders will not keep pace with hopefully be the beginning of a new closures of older ones, so the total Trawsfynydd Experience by line of research which will directly number of operating reactors in the Or Brian John; Rural Wales confront the nuclear industry's latest world will start to decline from the Energy and Employment Study. line of attack. The industry are projected 1990 figure of about 400. obviously hoping that their task will A major reason for this move away 36pp, £3. be mode easier by convincing from nuclear power is the aging of (Available from Trefelin, Cilgwyn, communities around existing stations the "young heroes", who began its Newport, Dyfed SA42 OQN). that they are "hooked" on nuclear development after the War, into the power. If this can be proved, they "grey-haired, rather disillusioned men The publication of a study about the will find it a lot easier to introduce on the verge of retirement". They economic impact of the closure of the PWR. understand each other, but they don't T rawsfynydd has sent a ripple of Unfortunately the "jobs panic" understand others people; they regard confusion through the political world appears to hove set in already in them os a problem of "public in Gwynedd. The report comes to the north Wales. But, if we use Brion acceptability". The young technological alarmist conclusion that nearly 1000 John's ideas to research the areas geniuses today ore found in other jobs presently dependent on the power around other magnox plants, coupled technologies. station will be lost on closure. with plans for alternative job creation Politicians are, as a result, seriously (unfortunately missing from this considering inviting the CEGB to build pamphlet), we can expect the support a PWR on the site to avoid this of an increasing number of anti­ employment disaster. nuclear local politicians, and make the A.SA MOBERG It is perfectly understandable thot nuclear industry's hopes turn into some local authorities and politicians nothing more than a bad dream. BEFORE AND AFTER CHERNOBYL: have started to panic and decided to press for the continuation of nuclear PETE ROCHE power in north Wales. In this pamphlet, Brian John explores some of the myths which have led to these NUCLEAR fears. Before and After Chernobyl: Nuclear Power in Crisis, A Nuclear Power and Jobs: Country by Country Report POWER by ~sa Moberg; Greenpeace The Trawsfynydd Experience Sweden. 107pp. (Available from Greenpeace Sweden, IN CRISIS Box 7183, 402 34 Gothenborg, Sweden~ A COUNTRY BY COUNTRY REPORT Research undertaken as part of the This is a valuable book for anti­ nuclear power activists. It examines Rural Wales .F.ner!J'/ anct Employment Study the nuclear power programmes, country by country and contains a very useful appendix showing the reactors OR BRIAN S. JOHN on-line worldwide os of March 1986 (by the end of 1986 the total number only has increased by about 10). Aso Moberg produced the booklet The booklet contains a chapter in Swedish at the beginning of 1985 which gives basic information on following a request from a Swedish nuclear power; one on the nuclear publisher to prepare a short power crisis in the USA; six chapters collection of facts about nuclear covering Canada, Europe, the Middle power in the world. As she writes in East and Africa, Latin America, Asia, Sponsored by the Society for Environmental Improvement the acknowledgements, her work with and the Soviet Bloc; a chapter on the Swedish Energy Research developing countries' programmes; and Commission mode the book possible. a Chernobyl postscript. The economic impact study, he Much of the information arranged In short, a booklet I would strongly alleges, is seriously flawed. In the here has been drown from Nucleonics recommend, and the author will permit first place, economic theory which Week, the nuclear industry newsletter. reproduction of the information in any may be suited to the investigation of She finds their reporting to be "more form free of charge, so long os the national or large-scale economic down-to-earth" than the official source is given. relationships, has been inappropriately information from governments and the STEVE MARTIN applied to a small rural area. industry. But; she also points out that Secondly, the real impacts of the "unfortunately an annual subscription power station have been greatly costs $1120." The information has been exaggerated. updated to take account of events in By looking at local statistics, he 1986, not least of which was shows that the station has actually Chernobyl and its effects on had a negative impact on local worldwide nuclear power. employment. To make matters worse, She took out a sub to Nucleonics ach local job created by building a Week in 1980, after the Swedish Trawsfynydd PWR would cost £8m; light referendum vote to phose out their industrial jobs. can be created at a nuclear contribution by 2010, "with cost of £20,000. So, for the cost of the purpose of finding out exactly one local job in the nuclear industry, which countries were doing such no fewer than 400 equivalent non­ profitable nuclear business" os Swedish nuclear jobs could be created. nuclear advocates claimed. The facts SCRAM have h~ndreds of smiley badges Brian John looks at rural were very different: apart from the for sale, in dozens of languages. Price: economics in a new way. I have no communist bloc, only Japan and 30p each (a third discount for over 50). doubt that some of his methodology France hove ordered new reactors in Please state alternative choice, in case will be challenged by other the 1980s. And, after 1990, new your first choice is not in stock: 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh EHl JLE. SCRAM Journal May/June 1987 23 Another split in the Alliance over short notice. pressed him. Lord Dounreay? Jim Wolloce, Liberal MP Officially the event, entitled Morsholl eventually for Orkney and Shet land, has gone on "Tomorrow's Technology Today", was odmi tted that he held record in the Orcadian (2.4.87) os postponed because the Prototype Fast out some hope for a forecasting that on Alliance Reactor was not operating ("tomorrow's solution - if the Government would not give the go technology"?). However, the reactor's SSEB would reduce ahead for the European Demonstration problem was announced in February, the price! So, the Reprocessing Plant. and the invi tations were not sent out technical He is quoted os saying: "I cannot until March. difficulties con be imagine any circumstances in which on The real reason (according to the overcome if the Alliance Secretory of State for trade unions) was that there was to price is cut. Scotland would not conclude that the be o picket at the gate to bring the go ahead for the Dounreay union's current dispute to the development should be refused, should attention of the media. The UKAEA that decision land on his lop in his indur trial workers' union is pushing for • • • • early days in office." The double a pay rise to achieve parity with George Foulkes has also been in negative (on Alliance speciality!) BNFL workers doing the same work contact wi th the SSEB. He wonted a makes it difficdt to understand at at Sellofield. copy of the Hunterston emergency first glance, but persevere. plan and asked his researcher to get The problem for the Alliance is • • • • • • • one. The researcher phoned the Board that Bill Rogers of the SDP is their FQllowing the allegations in the lost but was told that he hod to make the Energy Spokesperson for the coming SCRAM that the CEGB Chairman ~ord request in writing on headed note election. In a reply to a letter on the Marsholl is refusing to buy electricity · paper. This George duly did. subject of Dounreay, Mr Rogers wrote: from the SSEB because of a difference The document arrived with a "Frankly I cannot anticipate how on of opinion over the choice of the next covering note: "When you hove read it Alliance government wi ll deal with the reactor system, Little Block Rabbit please return it because somebody else matter." has been doing some burrowing to wants it." He went on to say that the confirm the claim. When George returned it he feelings of the local MP will be token A meeting in the House of enclosed a covering note thanking into account when a decision is Commons between Gearge Foulkes, the them for the loon of the plan, and token. (Does that mean that the MP for Corrick, Cumnock and Doon pointed out that he hod discovered decision is o political one, and not Volley, and Lord Morsholl was meant a wonderful new invention - the based on the technical merits?) But, to shed some light on it. George photocopier! the most local MP is the SOP's asked him for on explanation. Robert MocLennon who is in favour of The Boron tried to blind the MP the development. How can the Alliance with science: "Not being on electrical • • • • • • • square that circle? engineer, you won't understand the News on the Dounreay Inquiry, or details"; that sort of thing. But to more precisely on the Inquiry papers. summarise,. there ore overriding A colleague of LBR wonted to do • • • • • • • technical reasons why it is difficult some research so went to the A prestigious international press open for the CEGB to import Scottish Inverness public library to check on day scheduled for 7 April at the electricity. (They con import it from the papers. They hod mystedously Dounreay fast reactor development F ranee, though). disappeared. centre in Caithness was postponed at George was not sat isfied, and It transpired that there was nothing sinister ofc.ot - the Reporter hod begun to write his report and discovered that he didn't hove o copy of all the Inquiry papers, so the Scottish Office appropriated the set from Inverness. After all, Inverness is SUB FORM WAGES FORM 80 miles from Dounreay, a nd it was o local inquiry. Please fill out the standing order I would like to subscribe to SCRAM. form below and send it to us. • • • • • • • I enclose cheque/postal order, payable to SCRAM for: To the Manager: Remember the full-page advert from Bank Friends of the Earth in the Guardian Address . asking for support for their opposition to Sizewell B? One reply was very Concessionary £5 interesting. It hod a note attached: "Please help me. My editor keeps Ordinary .. £10 publishing letters saying I am a Supporting .• .. £15 Please pay on •.. (1st payment) lunkheod suffering from astigmatism £25 the sum of • . . from my account of the brain who would hove difficulty Institutional , number • • . . • to the Royal Bank of £50 reporting the activities of Thomas the Life sub. Scotland, 142 Princes Street, Edinburgh Tank Engine. I only do it because I (83-51-00) for the credit of SCRAM think you ore very wonderful people Name .... number 2 account 258597 and moRe and the sooner your party comes to Address.. similar payments monthly/yearly until power, the soooner I will be able to cancelled. prove my very famous theory that man con live by ethyl alcohol a lone . . • Tel Signed • • • • . . • • • • Dote • • • . • PS. Why not propose me for a Nobel~~~ · ·- The ddress w~~---- -~ Fiction ~e~~... k;·- Return this form to: Guordi " . ..i.~ · f , correspffdent couldn'tt bt: verified as SCRAM, 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh the for was si_g~cJW,v ltt.0o~rs x". EHl 3LE. Tel: 031 557 4283/4. Dtg1ti.zed 2017

: .____... ~:-::.-: mrmT!: , CHERNOBYL npeAynpe>KA8HV18 - A Warning

Shortly after 1.00 am on 26 April 1986 two explosions face of all this Peter Walker; the UK Energy Minister, ripped open the Unit 4 reactor building at Chernobyl ln gave the go ahead for Sizewell B. the Soviet Union; and with it the fragile myth of safe This special supplement looks at some aspects of the nuclear power. disaster. The UK monitoring agencies were totally As information filtered through, nuclear industry unprepared and under-resourced to cope with an accident spokesmen appeared on our television scree~s, their once over 1000 mlles away: could they deal with a British, or complacent expressions wiped from their faces to be French, accident? Our government preferred to sit it replaced with expressions of fear: the public had found out and hope the problems wouldn't be too great. There that the nuclear Emperor indeed hod no clothes. should have been a ban on milk; and the ban on the It didn't take them long to regain composure: "It movement of sheep came too late. Farmers are angry at was a major disaster for the Soviets, but it couldn't the poor compensation and the government's delays. happen here," became the line. Certainly, the 'Series of But we must also remember the plight of the Soviet events which led to the Chernobyl accident could not people: the emergency services who gave their lives; the happen here, because we don't hove that type of reactor, scientists who ore grappling with a totally new situation; but an accident on the same scale could; and according and the thousands of ordinary people who had to leave to some industry spokesmen the odds are that it will. their homes and who will have their health monitored The effects of Chernobyl have been felt all over the for the rest of their lives. northern hemisphere: fallout was detected from America The Soviets ore reported to have mode improvements to Japan. Some foods were banned in some countries; to their reactors, at a 20% increase in the cost of a ban was placed on sheep in the UK; the lifestyle of nuclear electricity. ihis will not ensure that another the Lopps in Scandanavia has been destroyed because of disaster will not happen. The only way to ensure that is high levels of radioactive contamination in the reindeer. to phase out nuclear power now, and introduce benign The political fallout was just as great. The Swedes energy systems: energy conservation, clean coal have accelerated their phase out; the Italians, Spanish technology and the renewables. Without this policy shift and Belgians have declared a moratorium; West Germany we will forever be hostage to an unforgiving technology, are looking seriously at their nuclear programme. In the with the threat of destruction hanging over us. Cock-ups and Cover- ups The NRPB produced their estimate, that a "few tens" to the critical group of babies must be close to 20mSv, of people in the UK would eventually die of cancer os os originally suggested by Baverstock. What is more, the a result of Chernobyl, on 6 May lost year. This was first-year committed effective dose equivalent (whole later refined to. 40-45 in early September, when it was body) to the critical group of babies is put at 1.16mSv, also stated that there would be an additional 110 above the principal annual dose limit of lmSv. This non-fatal thyroid cancers. They have not yet conceded confirms what I wrote in my New Scientist article that there will be any serious hereditary defects, (9 .1 0.86). The authors say that these are likely to be although some 25-30 would be impUed by these figures. overestimates - but a host of omissions and reservations Nor hove they discussed the risk of mental. retardation point the other way. to unborn children in the 8th to 15th weeks after Doses would hove been greatly reduced by selective conception, estimated by the ICRP at 1 in 2500 per mSv milk bons in the worst areas, ond even by simple These cancer estimates ore very controversial, and warnings that children should not drink undiluted form many scientists would put them much higher. What milk and that the Milk Marketing Board should use the really matters however is the risk to the most eKposed least contaminated sources of supply to meet the individuals in the population. The NRPB hove been very slow to divulge these figures. At the end of September Keith Baverstock of Garmany the Medical Research Council estimated that Infants in the worst affected areas had received thyroid doses of Thyroid dose to the 10-20mSv, increasing their risk of thyroid cancer by up critical group (infants) to 40%. John Dunster, NRPB Director, responsed that the maximum thyroid dose w

''Sacrificed to • • • Nuclear Power'' Security for on informal gathering of EEC Agriculture for removing livestock from outdoor grazing. MAFF Ministers lost September was unusually tight. Armed refused to follow the advice, mainly because hill farms police patrolled the hills and all roads leading to their don't hove the necessary indoor accommodation, but hotel in the Westmorlond and Lonsdole constituency of they did start a programme to test slaughtered lambs Michael Jopling, Britain's Minister, were sealed off. for radio-caesium. These precautionary measures were an attempt to By mid-May the first results showed Cs-137 levels ovoid angry formers protesting at the delay in well above the EEC-approved 1OOOBq/kg limit at which compensation payments following Chernobyl. These fears restrictions should come into force. Yet, at the end of were not exaggerated. A couple of weeks earlier two the month, Jopling was still claiming that "we have Welsh Office officials hod been token hostage by always been a long way from the stage when we need formers in the Conway Volley; t~ir release was only to contemplate any restrictions." secured after the farmers were promised a discussion The delay in imposing a ban sprang from the with the Welsh Secretary on compensation. Government's commitment to rescue the tarnished Thi!t formers had been kept in the dark about image of the nuclear industry. Roger Ward, secretary contamination of their livestock and the subsequent of Cumbria's National Formers Union, who was to fight disruption to their livelihoods. The first inkling they for better compensation for his members, realised this: had of the problem was on 20 June, when Michoel "1986 was an appalling year for nuclear power, Jopling announced a ban on the movement of sheep on especially here in Cumbria. Then come the terrible 1500 forms in south-west Cumbria and north Wales. He disaster in Russia. Banning of sheep was a foiled to tell MPs that he had been contemplating this straightforward political decision aimed at restoring the for the previous six weeks. industry's credibility. Before Chernobyl, the action level A notional survey by the Institute of T errestriol was lO,OOOBq, so when we heard that some of our Ecology within days of the Chernobyl cloud reaching sheep were over the 1000 limit we weren't that Britain pinpointed upland areas as the most severely worried. As far os we are concerned, our livelihoods contaminated by coesium-137 (Cs-137). All the have been sacrificed to preserve nuclear power." Cumbrian samples exceeded the NRPB's "action level" Roger Ward cannot forgive MAFF's failure to day. None of these measures would have carried any of bungling, with a reluctance from the first to admit significant cost or risk. The later" rather costly, action it. Unfortunately, there is also evidence that the on lamb, vital though it was, has not been able to government put pressure on the NRPB to play down the make up for these omissions, as the NRPB's own effects of the accident. In the Ustener ( 18/25.12.86} figures now show. Dunster said that Kenneth Baker, then Environment So what went wrong? The government's position, Secretory, expressed his displeasure on at Dunster's from Mrs Thatcher down, is that no mistakes were reference to a "few tens" of deaths - which mode at all. Implicitly, though it is accepted that there contradicted Baker's statement to Parliament on the should have been a contingency plan to deal with a same day that there was "no health risk." major overseas nuclear accident {but not a British one!} Sut it must have been the NRPB who supplied the and we ore now to get such a plan. extraordinary catalogue of misleading an!;wers given to The NRPB has blamed primitive communication MPs by Ministers in May and June, and they hove systems ~including handwritten tables and blocked certainly played the episode down since. And they hove telephone lines} and geographical gaps in emergency compromised themselves by wrongly claiming that doses monitoring cover. Whtle these cannot have helped, lt is below the "emergency reference levels" of 5mSv hard to see them as important in this case - monitoring whole-body and 50mSv to the thyroid can be was best in exactly the places where fallout was worst. disregarded altogether; that the need for And if these problems were so serious, why did Kenneth countermeasures ean be decided on the basis of a single Baker tell P-arliament cm 6 May that "the effects of the "derived emergency reference level" even in a cloud hove already been assessed. multi-radionudide accident; and that the main requirement is to limit total collective dose rather than doses to individuals. INITIAL MISJUDGEMENT ON MILK What should be done now? Seven MPs have called for an inq..,iry into the official handling of Chernobyl. Ounster has claimed the cloud "crept up on us" and In fact there has been one - by the Civil Contingencies "it was not obvious that it was coming here, and if it Unit of the Cabinet Offn:e. It should be published. did, .it was felt it was not going to be serious." The Moreover, the new emergency plans should be published first port of this statement does not square with the as a Green Paper, for consultation, contrary to the admission that they had two day's warning of its present proposal. arrival. In relation to the latter part, it is possible that The NRPB also needs reform. In order properly to "mental set" could have played a role. Dunster was protect the public interest they need funding and Board prominent in tracking fallout from the 1'157 Windscale members from sources other than central government. fire, when there was no significant rainfall, and may Likewise the absurd provisions whereby staff and Board have expected the Chernobyl cloud to behave in the members are subject to the Official Secrets Act, and some way. the Atomic Energy Authority has a privileged position Allowing a 1mSv critical group dose to trigger a in relation to consultation, should be scrapped. There lamb ban but not a milk ban is certainly consistent must be many people at the Board who would welcome with the view that there was on initial misjudgement. such changes. Moreover, Mrs Thatcher has stated that the 11 government's assessment of the situation following the Davld Webster wrote the article "How Ministers misled Chernobyl accident changed with time as our extensive Britain about Chernobyl" in New Scientist (9.10.86). He monitoring provided detailed information • • • Advice is o senior housing officer for the City of Glasgow. was given on the basis of that assessment." There seems therefore to have been a large element

forecast how long the ban would last. In a circular to July, on the lower fields for an extra month. This Cumbrian farmers explaining radio-caesium's effects on deprived the suckling cows he normally kept there of sheep, MAFF claimed that, os the fallout had lasted their pasture, so they had to be fed on the newly-cut only 6 days, the restrictions would last for a month at hay which was earmarked for winter silage. Arthur most. Six months later, levels of Cs-137 in sheep were Lancaster lost £5000. os high os they had been in May. If Chernobyl is in danger of slipping out of the MAFF's mistake was to base its advice on erroneous public's mind, for Cumbrian formers the events of lost assumptions built into the NRPB's model. The model year ho'(e posed a question they had hoped they would compares Cs-137 with naturally occurring potassium-40 never have to answer: if an reactor accident over 1000 (K-40} but Cs-137 stays in the body longer and miles away can wreak such havoc, what would happen concentrateS' in muscle and liver tissue, whereas K-40 is if Sellafield went up? Some remember pouring their spread evenly throughout the body. milk away after the 1957 Windscale fire. More crucially, the NRPB model is based on studies Even more believe BNFL vented Sellofield's stacks of lush lowland grazing, and not of the harsher under cover of the Chernobyl cloud. Wild as this environment of fells and mountains. Lowland soils allegation may sound, the fact that it is uttered contain clay which binds the caesium, preventing its suggests that any goodwUl remaining among the farming absorption by livestock. This contrasts with the thin and community towards their nuclear neighbour is rapidly peaty soils of the uplands where the caesium collects draining away. In the words of Geoff Brown, Cumbrian on vegetation, . thereby allowing a greater uptake. County Councillor and one of the formers affected: "A lot of farmers came out of the closet over nuclear GOODWILL RAPIDLY DRAINING AWAY power after Chernobyl. They know how important it is for local employment but, with its dreadful accident Sheep forming on the uplands is a precarious record it has forfeited their trust. Sellafield is now seen business, and depends on a delicate balancing act as totally incompatible with a rural way of life." between resources and systems. Over the year Arthur Lancaster, whose farm corr.bines land in Wasdale Valley with extensive fell grazing, would move his sheep This is a shortened version of "Green and Poisoned between the two to maximise their grazing and allow Land" by Charles Searle which appeared in the April time for the pasture to regenerate. But, he was forced issue of Sanity. He is CND's NFZ worker. to 'keep lambs, which would have gone to market in The Soviet Experience The first victim of the Chernobyl methods had to be devised to been diverted and two new artesian disaster was Valeriy Hodiemchuk, contain the core's radioactivity - wells have been bored. If necessary an operator on the unit 4 reactor; a mixture of boron, lead, dolomite, these will be used when the his body will remain in the now sand and clay was dropped onto the water from melting snow reaches entombed reactor building. Most of remains of the still-burning reactor. the river. the other fatalities were The high "radiation field" meant In Kiev I met the head of the firefighters and emergency workers that each helicopter pilot could Nuclear Research Institute of the had to deal with the immediate fly only 22 missions, during which Ukranian Academy of Sciences who effects of the disaster; and the time 33 tons of material were told us of measures taken to operators who remained at their dropped with great accuracy onto monitor food for each of the most posts to close down reactors 1,2 the reactor. Radioactive emissions important radionuclides released. and 3. were said to have ceased by 6 May. This information is used to monitor By the time the secondary fires, Cleaning up operations still had their movement in the environment. initiated by the ejected red-hot to be carried out. Rapid sorties, New discoveries have been made - radioactive debris, were brought timing exposure to the second on tomatoes don't seem to take up under control the firefighters were stopwatches, were made by the very much radioactivity, whereas in poor condition. There were 300 emergency teams. Fears of a blackcurrants do; fish concentrate with high radiation doses, of whom possible meltdown required the the activity. Snow was also 129 were transferred to a special installation of a protective layer monitored. Moscow hospital by 3 flights the in tunnels dug under the reactor. Reactors 1 and 2 were brought following day. Despite desperate Miners from many places were back into operation five months efforts, such as bone marrow recruited for this task which was after the accident, with crews transplants, 28 of these died. accomplished manually. Experiments working on higher poy ond in The heroic efforts of the with tungsten, uranium and concrete strictly rotating shifts; they live in emergency workers helped to were conducted in Moscow to design a new complex 50km away. Reactor contain a desperate situation and such a layer. The clearing of debris 3 is said to be decontaminated but was crucial in lessening the around the plant was performed by it is unlikely to be operating in the releases in the early stages. remote-controlled vehicles or by near future as it shares a building with the ill-fated Unit 4. Construction of two further reactors on the site has been halted. An official at Kiev, with the benefit of hindsight, was critical of sighting the complex in the vulnerable Kiev basin. To cope with the movement of radioactivity in this area, the Academy of Sciences has constructed an elaborate computer model with which they are confident they can predict what may happen. The disaster has so far killed 31 or more people with estimates from 1000 upwards of the possible excess cancer deaths. All the evacuees will Pripyat, the workers' dormitory lead-shielded manned vehicles in the be monitored over the long term, town; was evacuated the morning less badly affected areas. but it will be many years before after the accident - one report said The final stage at the plant was the results can be evaluated. What that residents were instructed to the construction of the enormous Chernobyl can tell us now is that stay indoors overnight, where they concrete tomb. Ventilation shafts, the level of preparedness for such would be safer•. The radiation level, with built-in sensors to continuosly a catastrophe is pitifully low. although initially high, had begun to monitor the remains of tht· core Although same precautions, such as fall - it was to rise again later. A were included. Recent pictures distributing potassium iodide pills, convoy of 11 00 buses, stretching indicate that this 2o-storey were taken, in the early stages few 20 miles, led people to safety. structure is complete. knew what responsibilities they had Further evacuation of the area Decontamination of the or should take. Indeed the very within 30km, and other high risk surrounding area had to wait until nature of the disaster meant that areas, led to over 100,000 people civil engineering work had been new methods were being invented being rehoused - new accommodation undedaken to ensure surface water all the time, with no previous has been bullt for all of them. did not reach the Pripyat and experience by which to guage Some have since been allowed back Dnieper rivers which flow through possible success or failure. to collect belongings, and they the contaminated zone to the Black Unfortunately we now have that describe the area as overgrown and Sea, and provide most of Kiev's experience, which the Soviets are desolate. When I visited Kiev in water supply. Topsoil was removed clearly willing to ,share with us. We February I was told that a 200km from various areas and when all should not ignore it. fence had been built to exclude this preparation had been done, the those desperate to return home - roofs of houses in Pripyat were people who had evaded the patrols hosed down to remove fallout. Alan Walker is a physicist at the Pripyat, remains uninhabited. University of Edinburgh and a had been found to have returned to member of Scientists Against their houses. To prevent fallout affecting Nuclear Arms. He visited the USSR The accident was such that novel Kiev's water supply tributaries have earlier this year and spoke to scientists in charge of the clean-up This special Chernobyl supplement was produced by SCRAM, operations after C.hernobyl. 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh EHl 3LE. Tel: 031 557 4283/4.