--CoMMENT

ESCRIBED by T ony Blair, Labour • s AGRs, particularly Hartlepool, Dungeness Shadow Energy Spokesperson, as ••a and Heysham A. Dhumiliating farce," last months decision to abandon the privatisation of the Magnox Why is it that investors who were reluctant reactors was mostly overshadowed by acres to stump up the costs of decommissioning of comment on Mrs Thatcher's botched the youngest Magnox station at Wylfa in cabinet reshuffle. the year 2002, can be expected to foot the bill for decommissioning the oldest AGRs at This "most expensive exercise in the politi­ Hunterston and Hinkley only 5 years later? cal history of clearing one's desk" will, ac­ cording to Blair, cost the taxpayer at least £4,500m, for the decommissioning, fuel CHEDULE 1~ in the Privatisation Bill reprocessing and eventual site clearance of allows the Government to make all nine Magnox stations. John Large, a S£2,500m available to meet nuclear consultant for the local authority objectors liabilities in the privatised industry. Parkin- at the Hinkley Inquiry, put the figure at a son told the Commons this money would be staggering £ 15,000m. for "unforeseeable costs arising from changes in Government policy.•• But in the In a widely acclaimed speech, Blair asserted Lords it was described more loosely as a that the •motivation for this is quite fund for factors •outside the industry's con­ transparent - that [Parkinson] will sacrifice trol.• anything, including normal commercial prudence, the interests of the taxpayer and What this package amounts to is an at­ the consumer and the future energy needs tempt to partially privatise the nuclear of this country, provided that, above all power stations while the privatised com­ else, he can sell his privatisation to the panies incur few if any risks - the risks City." all remain with the taxpayer. It remains to be seen whether the City will agree that the attempt has succeeded. HE new Energy Secretary, John Wakeham will have a tough job con­ Tvincing a sceptical public that the deci· N THE age of the 'Green Consumer' sion is anything more than an attempt to the Government has made a tactical appease the Tories• friends in the City. I error in rejecting the Lord's amend-- Power in Europe, a Financial Times Busi­ ment which would have given the ness Information magazine, said in an electricity Regulator the power to force editorial at the beginning of July that the the private companies to conserve energy. Treasury were concerned that nuclear power It is now clear that a significant minority would jeopardise the whole flotation, of the British electorate attach a high im­ whereas the Department of Energy wanted portance to environmental issues. The all nuclear stations included in the sell-off. Government, having squandered an important opportunity to prove the sincerity of their What has been arrived at is obviously a statements about global warming, have left compromise worked out at Cabinet level. their electricity privatisation strategy on The question is whether it will be enough very shaky environmental ground. to convince the City. "Opinion among UK financial analysts and fund managers is So far, electricity privatisation has failed more or less unanimous in rejecting the to capture the public imagination. But, by government's nuclear proposals as unwork­ the same token, the Government has been able,• says Power in Europe. largely unsuccessful in convincing the public that nuclear power has a role to play in John Wakeham will now have to convince solving the Greenhouse Effect. It's up to us the City that the AGR stations and the to make sure that the environmental con­ yet-to-be-built PWRs will be worth the risk. sequences of privatisation spark off a public But the logic which dictated that the Mag­ storm against nuclear power, which is so nox reactors should remain in public owner­ fierce that, in the image conscious 90s, no ship should also be applied to most of the private company will be able to weather it.

2 SCRAM 72 CoNTENTs

Conunent 2 News 4-7 __-pATURES Features 8-21 Safe Energy 22-25 Independent radiation 8 monitoring Reviews 26-27 Paul Watts proposes a system for coordinating Little Black Rabbit 28 and collating the results of the various independent groups that have sprung up around the country. Least cost planning 10 lan Brown outlines the success of least cost planning used in utilities around the world. Britains nuclear dustbin 12 Stan Openshaw co-author of a new book on nuclear waste dumping assess the geogra­ phical problems posed by nuclear waste. Legal screw turns on Sellafield 14 Martin Day, the lawyer representing Sellafield leukaemia victims, discusses the Legal Test cases with SCRAM. Windscale fallout 15 Core (Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment) also offer practical advice to Sellafield victims. here they discuss their activities with SCRAM. Where there's muck there's gas 16 Mike Townsley examines the potential for producing energy from landftll waste sites. Arnott untangles Webb 18 Don Amott profiles contravertial American scientist and UK inquiry objector Dr Richard Webb. FRG aid for Pakistan's bomb. 20 Nicola Liebert examines German aid in developing Pakistans nuclear capability.

Views expressed in articles appearing in 1bls Journal is produced fOr the British Anti·Nuclear and Safe 1b subscribe to the SCRAM Safe Energy this journal are not neceuarily those of Energy movements by the Scottish Csmpmgn to Resist the Journal see the subscription tOnn on the SCRAM. Atomic Menace (SCRAM). back page.

New: Pete Roche We welcome contributions of articles, news, graphics and SCRAM Safe Ener&r. Mike Townaley photographs. 11 Forth Slreet Layout: Ol'aham. Stein Edinburgh EH1 SI.E Cover drawiq: WU1i LaD~ Deadline fOr feature articles for the next Issue: 4 September. Tel: 031557 4283/4 ISSN 0140 7340 Bi-monthly (Please try to keep contributions to 800 words per page.) Fax: 031557 5448

Aug!Jst/September '89 3 ONEWS~------~ NRPB's assessment of the dose to plutonium could be one factor which the public both failed to provide a Sellafield, Dounreay, Aldermaston For the third time the Committee clue as to why the number of can­ and Burghfield all have in common. on Medical Aspects of Radiation in cers are significantly higher. The Exposure in adults could theoreti­ the Environment (COMARE) have authorised and accidental atmos­ cally lead to the induction of can­ found a high incidence of childhood pheric discharges are "most cer in children. leukaemia near nuclear installations. unlikely" to provide an explanation The Department of Health have But the cause of the excess is still because they are too low. And an accepted the· Committee's recom­ a mystery. "unknown pathway" involving liquid mendations for a wide-ranging study The Government-appointed com­ discharges is "most unlikely to into the health of children of mittee of independent scientists was cause an increase in radiation levels nuclear workers; detailed childhood asked to investigate whether there sufficient to explain the observed cancer registration to see how the is an unusually high incidence of increase in childhood cancer." spread of the disease compares with childhood cancer in West Berkshire COMARE find themselves unable the distribution of nuclear install­ and North Hampshire (the area to exclude "some other mechanism ations; and the measurement of around Aldermaston and Burghfield of radiation exposure". They suggest household dust around Aldermaston and if so whether this was as­ that the exposure of workers to and Burghfield. sociated with environmental radioac­ tivity. Leukaemia and other cancers at ages 0-4. 5-14. and 0-14 in \\'est Berkshire and Basingstoke/Nonh Hampshire District Health Authorities by distance of the electora1 ward of residence from a nuclear establishment. COMARE have previously found "evidence of a raised incidence of Distance of electoral wards from a nuclear establishment Comparison of "'10 km leukaemia at both Sellafield and wilh >IOkm Dounreay" whic.h tends to "support Diagnosis "'IOkm >IOkm the hypothesis that some feature of Age Source and 95% Time Period Number of Number of Ra1io of confidence these two plants lead to an in­ registrations Registralio registrations Regis1n11ior Registration intCrval creased risk of leukaemia in young ralio' ratiol ratios" people living in the vicinity." Observed Expec~ed' Observed Expeeled1 Like the Sellafield leukaemias, 0-4 Roman Leukaemia 29 14.4 2.01 24 19.6 1.23 1.64' 0.9210 2.94 the high incidence around the two .rill 1972-$5 CCRG Other cancers 30 19.4 1.55 33 26.3 1.25 1.24 0.73to 2.09 nuclear weapons plants was ex­ 1971-& amined by the Yorkshire TV team Combined Tola!Canccr 59 33.8 1.75 57 45.9 1.24 1.41' 0.9610 2.06 led by James Cutler in their 1985 Data3 1971-$5 film "Inside Britain's Bomb". COMARE looked at three studies 5-14 Roman Leukeamia 12 14.2 0.85 24 21.2 1.13 0.75 0.34 to 1.56 .rill 1972-$5 by Roman et al. (London School of CCRG Other cancers 31 2&.1 1.10 49 42.0 1.17 0.94 0.58 to 1.51 Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and 1971-& the Royal Berkshire Hospital), the. Combined Total Cancer 43 42.3 1.02 73 63.1 1.16 0.88 0.5910 1.30 Office of Population Censuses and Dala 1971-$5 Surveys and the Childhood Cancer 0-14 Roman Leukaemia 41 2&.6 1.43 48 40.8 1.18 1.22 0.78to 1.89 Research Group in Oxford. et Ill 1972-$5 From this data the Committee CCRG Other cancers 61 47.5 1.2& 82 68.3 1.20 1.07 0.75 IO 1.51 concluded, there was "evidence of 1971-82 r a i sed r e g i s t r a t i on r a t es f or Combined Total Canc:er 102 76.1 1.34 130 109.1 1.19 1.12 0.&6 to 1.47 childhood leukaemia and other Dala 1971-SS childhood cancers in the vicinity of 1. Expected numbers based on age·spccific registration rates in England and Wales Aldermaston and Burghfield and that 2. Ratio of observed to expected number of registrations 3. Combined data includes leukaemia registrations from 1972 to 1985 and registration for other cancers from 1971-1982 these are unlikely to be due to ran­ 4. Ratio of registration ratios for <10 km and > 10 km electoral wards dom variation or biased selection." The MoD's discharge data and the • P<0.05. one sided test

NRPB 2 : ICRP 0 Food irradiation

The rift between the National veiled criticisms. For example the The 22 year ban on food irradiation, Radiological Protection Board ICRP has in recent years "been in­ in this country, will be lifted some (NRPB) and the International Com­ creasingly criticised for moving too time during the next parliamentary mission on Radiological Protection slowly and not explaining itself in session, it was announced in June. (ICRP) will almost certainly have the clearest of terms." John MacGregor, the Minister for been exacerbated by an editorial in The NRPB point out, perhaps sar­ Agriculture, told parliament that the June issue of the NRPB's Bul­ castically, "the importance of ICR P food irradiation is not "a panacea letin. maintaining its initiative in protec­ for food safety ...irradiation cannot The break between the two or­ tion standards." improve appearance. It cannot dis ganisations opened up in November The Commission will be meeting guise taste. It cannot mask 1987 when the NRPB made recom­ in October this year and the NRPB unpleasant odours.'' It would mendations independently of the want its proposed new recommenda­ however be another weapon of ICRP to reduce the annual radiation tions to be floated on the inter­ protection and extend choice to dose limits for workers in the national scene, before they are consumers believes MacGregor. nuclear industry and members of finally published as the formal ICRP Whilst Labour's agriculture the public. The ICRP had earlier recommendations. "It would do a spokesperson, David Clark, described deferred a change in the dose limits great deal to enhance the it as "like using gloss paint to until at least 1990, despite impres­ Commission's status," according to cover up rotten window frames.'' sive scientific evidence. the editorial "to let people know The Food Bill due to be presented The editorial, entitled "A new that it is not inactive but is to the next session of parliament ICRP" (despite the fact that only 4 tackling a number of philosophical will contain the control and supervi­ changes have been made to the 13 problems which need to be sion processes without which the member committee) is full of thinly resolved.'' Government would not proceed.

SCRAM 72 ~------NEWSO Shutdown vote Sub disposal quandary AT-SEA DISPOSAL Voters in Sacramento County, A claim by Sir Albert McQuarrie, California, voted on 6 June to shut Conservative candidate for the down the troubled, 15 year old Highlands and Islands in the Euro­ Rancho Seco nuclear power station. elections, that the Department of Plant officials say they will shut it Energy (DoEn) had cleared the way down as soon as possible. for Dounreay to secure contracts to This is the first time US voters decommission nuclear submarines have voted in favour of closure. 13 has been met with a puzzled reac­ previous referendums on shutdowns tion from the DoEn, the Navy and over the last decade have all failed. Dounreay. After spending $1.5m on the Rancho The Navy will have to dispose of Seco campaign the industry can no 10 nuclear submarines, including the longer claim popular support. Dreadnought which has already been The shutdown has put the utility, taken out of service, by the end of Sacramento Municipal Utility Dis­ the century. The House of Commons trict (SMUD) in a precarious finan­ Defence Committee has called on cial position. "What was seen as a the MoD to make up its mind about $700m asset is now a $250m how to dispose of them. liability" according to SMUD Vice Rosyth Dockyard's new Trident President, David Cox. re-fitting facility could also be "Citizens will now know they can adapted for decommissioning sub­ take on the operators of costly marines. The Dreadnought has been sitting at Rosyth since 1982, and Rising Operating and Maintenance Expenses the two Fife Labour MPs, Dick at U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Douglas and Gordon Brown, are concerned that Rosyth could end up 80 with the rest of them• of worldwide over the next 25-30 70 • The debate over the best method years. Although the fuel rods would .L_ for decommissioning the submarines be removed first, the reactor vessel ,...... ------is still highly contentious. The MoD and cooling system would both _., insists that it is still considering remain contaminated. the best method of disposal, but Besides sea disposal, the reactor .;' environmentalists are convinced they compartments could be disposed of will try to get round the interna­ in a shallow land burial site, the tional ban on the dumping of method favoured by the US Navy, 10 ----- nuclear waste at sea, and sink the or the reactor could be cut up for 0 ' . submarines. Greenpeace plans to disposal in Nirex's deep repository. 1974 1976 1978 19ED 1982 1984 1986 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 call on the next meeting of the In keeping with their on-site, 'tEAR Londo.n Dumping Convention to be above ground storage proposals for RUNAWAY COSTS held in London at the end of Oc­ waste from nuclear power stations, tober, to foreclose this option. Greenpeace are calling for the fuel nuclear plant and win," says Scott Dumping nuclear submarines at to be taken out and dry stored, and Denman of the Safe Energy Com­ sea could create a dangerous prece­ the submarine hulls to be dry­ munication Council. dent with around 544 nuclear docked where they can be The vote comes at a time of powered vessels due to be disposed monitored. growing public concern in the US about the safety and cost of nuclear plants, exacerbated by Letter: Shareholders for Safe Energy problems in the nation's nuclear weapons facilities (SCRAM 70). Dear SCRAM so, why? To protest against privat­ isation of a national asset? To Beleaguered Shoreham For a number of years in this and protest against nuclear power? The other countries, campaigning groups experience of people who have at­ The deal hatched between the have used the ability to buy single tended AGMs as single shareholders, beleaguered utility, Long Island shares in a company in order to at­ and know the mechanics of buying a Lighting Company (LILCO), and New tend Annual General Meetings to batch of privatised shares for im­ York State has come under attack make their voices heard. In this mediate redistribution to a number from Federal officials and the respect campaigns against Barclays' of single shareholders could be House of Representatives. involvement in South Africa, and in drawn upon. The deal, which was agreed by pursuing RTZ's activities around the Prior to AGMs 'dissident share­ LILCO's shareholders at the end of world, can be said to have had holders' would meet to discuss the June, calls for the $6 billion plant some success in a) influencing the forthcoming AGM, questions to· be to be sold to a State agency, Long company aJld b) educating more asked, notification of the press etc. Island Power Authority (LIPA) for people to the company's activities. $1. In return LILCO wi 11 receive Barclays lost so many student ac­ Pete Lennard three annual price increases of counts that they were forced to about 5% with the promise of seven change. Partizans (People Against SCRAM would be interested to hear more, and state assistance in build­ Rio-Tinto Zinc and subsidiaries) has from its readers their views on the ing new baseload capacity. supported Aboriginal organisations in above letter. Could shareholders Department of Energy Deputy their assertion of Land Rights and meetings be usefully used to stop Secretary, Henson Moore, has said brought the issue to the attention companies like the East Midlands his department ''will continue to do of people in this country. Electricity Board and PowerGen everything possible to prevent the Should people buy single shares in getting involved with the Safe In­ senseless destruction" of Shoreham. a privatised electricity industry? If tegral Reactor, for example? AugustJSeptember '89 s ONEWS~------~ Safe reactor? Westinghouse with their 600M PlUS 600 is handicapped by • Advanced Passive Reactor Sweden's energy policy which will The winner of a technical competi­ (APR600) based on their PWR. not allow ABB Atom to build a tion for $.50m of public funds that demonstration reactor in their own the US government are prepared to US General Electric with a country. However, the company are put forward for a 'simpler and • 600MW advanced passive ver­ currently looking at a site in Italy. safer' nuclear reactor is expected sion of their boiling water In Britain, Winfrith in Dorset, site to be announced in August. reactor (SBWR). of the UKAEA's experimental Steam The competition is an attempt to Generating Heavy Water Reactor, rethink reactor design and come up ABB A tom of Sweden, which is has been identified as the likely with a smaller and cheaper reactor • working in conjunction with site for a prototype SIR. The reac­ which has fewer components and a United Engineers and Construc­ tor has already been tentatively shorter construction time. tors on the 600M W PlUS. backed by PowerGen and several of The reactor design should also be the Area Boards, including the East le ss heavily dependent on SIR - the Safe Integral Reac­ Midlands Electricity Board. "engineered" safety systems, which • tor - the newest and smallest Roger Jump, deputy director can be mishandled by operators as of the concepts. It is only designate of PowerGen, who will be the accidents at Chernobyl and 320M W and is being promoted left without any nuclear power Three Mile Island have shown. It by UKAEA, Rolls Royce, who after privatisation, said that his should be a passive design which build small PWRs for the Navy company's interest in SIR was "an needs no intervention by operators and two US engineering groups, acknowledgement of the fact that to prevent the reactor overheating. Combustion Engineering and this company cannot afford to turn Bidders for the $.50m prize are:- Stone and Webster. its back on nuclear energy."

Emergency plans under attack German waste for Sellafield facilities. Now that there is less in­ terest in saving plutonium for fast The Advisory Committee on the BNFL have reached an outline reactors, and more interest in recy­ Safety of Nuclear Installations agreement with the West German cling it as mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel (ACSNI), which gives independent Government to reprocess about half for existing reactors, a jointly advice to the Health and Safety the nuclear fuel that would have owned MOX fuel plant is a pos­ Commission and Ministers on g one to t he now abandoned sibility. nuclear safety policy, has criticised reprocessing plant at Wackersdorf. Meanwhile Lord Marshall sees no existing arrangements for dealing The abandonment means that need for National Power to even with a large-scale emergency at a West Germany will be placing .500 discuss a contract for reprocessing nuclear plant. Their report on the tonnes of nuclear fuel per year on fuel from its pressurised water committee's work from 1987 to to the market for reprocessing at reactors (PW Rs). They will have 1988, says that ACSNI concentrated the end of the 1990s. enough capacity to store their spent on the review of emergency ar­ Cogema had offered to reprocess fuel for about 18 years. In contrast rangements which was carried out about 400 tonnes per year at La the Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors by Government Departments follow­ Hague for OM 1,.500 per kg. BNFL (AGRs) have storage capacity for ing Chernobyl. have undercut them, however, by between only six and 12 months. The Government review concluded offering to take 2.50 tonnes each This is one reason why National that existing plans were adequate, year between 2000 and 201.5 at a Power are planning to build a but ACSNI "is continuing to seek cost of DM 1,200 per kg. £200m dry store for AGR fuel at clarification about certain aspects Critics of the plan to reprocess Heysham - they don't want to be of existing arrangements and their German spent fuel abroad say that forced to shut down the AGRs be­ development". In particular ACSNI safety measures at Sellafield and La cause the fuel isn't being will be looking at "the extendibility Hague are not as strict as they reprocessed fast enough. of emergency plans in the remote would have been at Wackersdorf. These developments could mean event of a serious accident beyond Despite the closure, German that from early next century Sel­ the design 'basis." utilities are still keen, along with lafield is reprocessing only foreign They will also be looking at the the Japanese and BNFL, to invest spent fuel, whilst all UK spent fuel role of the Government Technical in internationally owned fuel is kept in storage. Adviser (GT A) who is expected to co-ordinate advice to those or­ ganisations who would be involved Magnox fallout ownership of the Magnox reactors in responding to a nuclear emer­ after privatisation, Hunterston A gency. "Given the number of The Long Term Safety Review will still be shut. According to Government Departments and other (L TSR) for the Hunters ton A Mag­ Scottish Office Minister, Ian Lang, organisations involved, the Com­ nox power station was released at this is "for economic reasons" and mittee will wish to satisfy itself the beginning of August. It con­ is appropriate given "the increased that there is a clear line of respon­ cluded that the station would be costs of spent fuel reprocessing and sibility culminating in someone with safe to operate up to 1994 subject decommissioning of which we are overall executive authority." to the completion by the SSEB of now aware." ACSNI will continue to consider certain modifications. The next L TSRs to be published any further conclusions which arise However the SSEB have an­ will be for Calder Hall and Chapel from the Government review of nounced that Hunterston A is likely Cross (fully commissioned in 19.59 emergency arrangements. During to close by March 1990. The and 60 respectively). BNFL insists 1989 they will also be looking at Nuclear Installations Inspectorate that both are in excellent condition the Heysham Dry Store and the have therefore agreed with the and hope to run them for another safety implications of the Nirex Board on a limited number of 10 years. Simultaneously it wants to decision to abandon the search for modifications to allow operation up build larger reactors, probably PWRs a shallow disposal site for nuclear to March 1990. at both sites. The company has waste, resulting in an accumulation Despite the glowing end of term asked the National Nuclear Corpora­ of intermediate level waste at report from the Nil, and the fact tion to draw up details of four op­ nuclear sites. that the government are to retain tions for the BNFL board.

6 SCRAM 72 ~------~NEWSD Nirex notes scientists from the University of the land. Stage 1 is complete and New Mexico discovered brine, salt­ consists of the surface storage The UKAEA are to appeal against laden water, seeping into the under­ buildings, a tunnel system, and the Highland Regional Council's ground repository. They believe the storage space for 60,000 cu.m. of refusal to allow test drilling at brine could turn the radioactive waste. Stage 2 will bring the total Dounreay, to assess the rock's waste into a pressurised slurry of storage capacity to 90,000 cu.m. In suitability for a national nuclear radioactive and toxic waste. It is contrast a UK repository will be waste repository. Councillors on the_ for this reason that it has been 200 to 1,000 metres deep, but it Region's Planning Committee voted dubbed the 'champagne' nuclear will be designed to dispose of 2 16 to .5 to throw out the applica­ dump. If ever it was punctured, million cu.m. It will therefore be tion. radioactive brine would spurt to the over 20 times the size of Forsmark. This follows a similar application surface like uncorked bubbly. Forsmark is not intended to per­ for test bores at Sellafield which Cracks have also been recently manently contain the radioactive was opposed by Cumbria County discovered in WIPP's storage room waste, but only to act as a barrier Council, but, former Environment ceilings and floors. Critics of the to slow down leakage and eventual Secretary, Nicholas Ridley overruled scheme are concerned that brine dilution in the sea. It is accepted their decision on appeal and test contaminated with plutonium could that it will fill with water after a bores are now being sunk. make its way into the nearby Pecos few years and that radioactivity The five councillors who voted River and "destroy agriculture, ur­ will eventually leak into the Baltic against the refusal wanted to defer ban drinking water and ocean fish­ Sea. It is in fact simply a form of a decision until they had visited the ing resources for thousands of delayed sea dumping. Forsmark nuclear waste dump in years." SFR-1 is intended to be the final McRoberts contends that storage area for all the operational "Transportation [to WIPP] is im­ low- and medium-level waste from pressive. It's almost all done by Sweden's 12 nuclear reactors. But trucks, which are constantly tracked unlike a UK repository it will not and monitored by two separate take long-lived intermediate-level satellite systems - one for voice waste. The Swedes have decided to communications and the other for phase out nuclear power, so it's automatic tracking." Fazzino argues easy to eastimate accurately the that "even before the waste can be of waste to be deposited at shipped, a suitable container must Forsmark, and they know it will be found. Approximately $2.5m has close in 2010. In the UK we don't been spent designing and building have that luxury, and after the first TRUPACT 2 (transuranic packaging repository has completed its .50 year transporter). It has failed impact life, another one could be built next tests even after three series of to it. redesigning and testing, and has not As in the UK, site selection in been approved by the Nuclear Sweden seems to be based more on Regulatory Commission." political expediency than geology or Concern over transportation and the long-term integrity of the potential leaks has led to the state facility. The local Municipality of Texas and a coalition of en­ voted in favour of the dump, but if Sweden. One councillor put forward vironmental groups threatening legal a motion to approve the test bores, action to stop WIPP opening unless but failed to find a seconder. the Department of Energy can In the run-up to the Caithness prove it is able to isolate radioac­ referendum on the nuclear waste tive wastes from the environment. issue, due to take place in October, Lastly, McRoberts contends that more and more significance is being "local (New Mexico) liaisons are attached to the methods of disposal good." State Senator Rutherford told used in other countries. Douglas the local press "We have waste we McRoberts, Head of Information aren't sure about, stored in con­ Services at Dounreay, writing in the tainers that haven't been approved, John O'Groat Journal, a Caithness travelling over roads that haven't local paper, reviewed nuclear waste been improved and being put in salt disposal methods in other parts of beds we don't know about. We'd the world. like to put the brakes on before we To illustrate the potential success get to the edge of the cliff." of n u c 1 ear w as te d is p os a 1 , Nirex flew around 30 local busi­ McRoberts made the unfortunate ness and community representatives, Phase 1 Development of the SFR choice of the Waste Isolation Pilot including Caithness District council­ Project (WIPP) in New Mexico. The lors to Forsmark in Sweden at the they hadn't they could have vetoed information he gave on WIPP was end of May. McRoberts said "There it. If Dounreay were in Sweden the described in a letter to the 'Groat' are many parallels between the Highland Region's vote could have by Jean Fazzino of the US Radioac­ permanent deep repository at simply stopped the proposals. tive Waste Campaign as "an out­ Forsmark and Dounreay. This visit•• However, Highland Region and right lie". will give people a good idea of one Caithness District are not going to McRoberts claimed that WIPP "is in action." However, delegates were be the soft touch Nirex might have already receiving shipments" and the warned by Shetland-based Northern expected. Many people are angry repository "is dry, and has remained European Nuclear Information Group that the Government seem to be stable for over 22.5 million years." that the facility is an excellent ex­ working to a hidden agenda and Fazzino points out that WIPP is not ample of how not to dispose of have already made their mind up. opened. Construction work on the radioactive waste. Councillor Michael Foxley echoes dump began in 1981, and it should The Forsmark repository, SFR-1, their feelings, about Nirex, when he have opened in July this year. It was constructed .50 metres under declares "You wouldn't even trust remains unopened because in 1987 the seabed, and is accessed from them to bury your dog."

August/September '89 7 Independent radiation monitoring

The discovery of a 'hot OR many years the public have low, this information would put been told that a major nuclear people's minds at rest, but high spot• on Skipton Moor Faccident would only happen once readings would indicate areas that after Chernobyl led to in a million years. Twenty nine should be a priority for further, years after the Wi ndscale fire, more detailed, monitoring and com­ accusations that the seven years after the Three Mile pensation. Ministry of Agriculture Island accident and four days after the cloud of radioactive fallout had been negligent. In from Chernobyl eventually reached Chllclhood leukaemia 1986 the lamb bans the UK, the Government stated that levels were nowhere near those at The authorities have consistently were expected to be which there was any health hazard reassured the public that the situa­ quite short-lived; and that it was perfectly safe to tion around Sellafield is 'within the drink tap-water and milk. Since recommended limits', 'insignificant' nobody in official then, it has been estimated that and 'perfectly safe'. Yet, at one circles predicted that over 150 people in the UK will die stage, 25 miles of beaches were of cancer as a result of Chernobyl. closed following a spill, there is an some areas would It has also been estimated that half abnormally high incidence of remain under restric­ of the radiation dose to the UK childhood leukaemia in the area (a tion for over three population was from contaminated number of families, in the area, are milk. taking British Nuclear Fuels to years. All this has con­ court) and the company have been tributed to a very low forced to spend £200 million on Monitoring unit cleaning up its act. public confidence in government science. The level of mistrust in the As part of an on-going monitoring authorities was evident when, fol­ programme around Sellafield, FoE lowing the Chernobyl accident, examined a four mile intertidal Exposure to radiation Friends of the Earth (FoE) was inundated with requests from mem­ is an emotive subject. bers of the public, particularly from Since Chernobyl there the farming community, for inde­ pendent information. It was not, as has been a prolifera­ a general rule, easy for the general tion of organisations public to get a hold of information carrying out radiation monitoring. These or­ ganisations serve to reassure the public when radiation levels are found to be low, MAFF and highlight areas of high contamination which need to be looked at more closely. Map of the River Esk area showing whece FoE took nmples Now that Local stretch of the River Esk, five miles down the coast from the plant. This Authorities are begin­ provided by the Ministry of Agricul­ lead to the discovery that the banks ning to co-ordinate ture (MAFF). Even when the infor­ of the river and the adjacent low­ mation had been discovered, for lying land were extensively con­ their work, PAUL people to relate this information to taminated with a cocktail of WATTS, co-ordinator of their own situation was an even radionuclides, including ruthenium- more difficult exercise. 106, caesium-134, caesium-137, Friends of the Earth's americium-241 and plutonium-241, radiation monitoring In response to these requests FoE to concentrations up to 50 'times established a mobile radiation the level which the NRPB recom­ unit suggests a monitoring unit. The aim was not to mends that exposure to radiation strategy for co­ duplicate the work carried out by should be investigated (SCRAM 70). the official monitoring agencies, but ordinating the non­ to clarify the situation that existed However, when the preliminary affWated groups. at the time, in order that many of results were first reported in the the fears, rumours and allegations media, both MAFF and British could be cleared up. Where con­ Nuclear Fuels refuted the findings tamination levels were found to be accusing FoE of bemg 'alarmist' and

8 SCRAM 72 stated that there was 'no risk'. In addition, since the spring of where it was used, a summary of Despite both BNF and MAFF claim­ 1986, many non-affiliated indepen­ the data collected and the way the ing prior knowledge of the con­ dent local monitoring groups have results were interpreted. FoE would tamination, information on the es­ been established in the UK. At collate the submissions into a tuary is not regularly published and present many of these groups seem newsletter format and would take the area is not discussed in their to be carrying out their work in a an editorial role providing advic-e respective annual monitoring vacuum, using different equipment, and addressing any issues that arise reports. Consequently, until FoE different survey techniques and dif­ from the submissions. released the preliminary results of ferent methods of interpreting the this survey in February, people data collected. It is unlikely in the 1 i v i ng in t he a r ea we re n o t event of a national emergency, or Practical advice generally aware that high levels of even a local contamination problem, contamination existed. that these groups will be a sig­ The overall aim is to enable groups nificant help in providing a reliable to reliably highlight discrepancies in source of information and advice. the official data, or indicate where Independent information Neither is it likely that they will there is a potential radiological be able to provide a basis on which hazard, and to provide practical ad­ The public's confidence in the the adequacy of the official vice and help, where needed, to 'experts', particularly those from monitoring program me can be those people most affected. Ul­ the nuclear industry, has been assessed. However, there would be timately, a data-information ex­ seriously eroded. As a consequence enormous potential if the energy change system between the local of the Chernobyl fiasco and the and enthusiasm of these grou;>s groups should be via a computer defensiveness of organisations such could be channelled in such a way communications network eg. as BNF and MAFF, there has that the monitoring methods were GREENNET. developed an obvious need for an standardised; resulting in reliable independent source of information, data which is compatible with data FoE has demonstrated that indepen­ to give a balanced view to an often from other groups. dent monitoring serves to identify confused public. The nationa.l bodies the areas where problems exist and and the regulating central govern­ where they do not. Broadly, inde­ ment ministries clearly are not ac­ Quarterly bulletin pendent monitoring serves to bridge cepted by the public as fully inde­ the gap between the 'irrational' and pendent. Supplementing the official The need to establish a local groups 'ignorant' public and the scientific monitoring programme, local author­ communication network has led to 'experts'. By providing easy to un­ ity environmental health depart­ FoE offering to co-ordinate a derstand and freely available infor­ ments with their existing pollution quarterly information exchange sys­ mation to members of the public, monitoring, responsibilities and estab­ tem. This proposed system would independent monitoring offers the lished relationship whh the local work by registered groups submit­ chance for people to assess the population are ideally suited to ful­ ting to FoE a quarterly bulletin out­ risks for themselves and take action fil this role. In September of this lining their activities over the pre­ accordingly. It is about helping year local authorities will launch vious three months. This bulletin people to take control of their own their monitoring and information would contain a detailed description lives rather than relying on self in­ collation network. of the equipment used, how and terested experts.

AugustJSeptember '89 9 Least cost planning A holy grail or a tried and tested approach?

Last Month, July, the HANGING the 's' in the e.s.i. seen by utilities as something that Government rejected a from 'supply' to 'service' will they are limited to predicting, in Cbe the most profound alteration order to ensure that sufficient gen­ vital change to the in the way that the electricity in­ erating capacity is available to dustry will be run in the 1990's. meet that demand. Whilst such Electricity Bill. The With privatisation now impending in utilities argue "least cost" is part Lords amendment the UK it is reasonable to conclude of their mission, it is 'least cost of would have given the that our industry - like that in the generation' which is alone con­ USA - is to undergo a period of sidered. post privatisation rapid and fundamental change. electricity regulatory By contrast, in the more enligh­ Energy consumers do not require tened 'suppliers of energy services' body the power to electricity as a product per se, but school of thought, the utility ac­ force companies to rather they require electricity for cepts that 'demand' is the sum of the services it can provide: thus millions of end uses: appliances, conserve energy or consumers need not kilowatt hours motors, heating and cooling systems, face the rejection of but the heat, light and mechanical and lighting, all of which use drive which kilowatt hours produce. electricity with differing degrees of applications for price The most progressive utilities, and efficiency, and that the utility can increases or capital improve the efficiency of end use through deliberate demand manage­ projects. ment programmes.

Least cost planning, as Energy management exists in other Thus least cost planning involves countries, ensures viewing demand not as given, but as energy efficiency and a variable, since the efficiency with which electricity is used in the maximises profit. As multiplicity of end uses can be im­ Commissioner Fredrick proved, through utility investment in energy management programmes. R Duda of the Public These energy management pro­ Utility of California grammes can deliver differing de­ grees of end use efficiency im­ says: "It has saved bil­ provements, or amounts of •saved' lions of dollars for energy, for differing costs. California and in­ The essence of least cost planning creased competition in is that energy efficiency is a electricity generation• 'resource•, the cost of which can be evaluated in comparison with the Profit and competition; cost of 'traditional' supply alterna­ something the Govern­ tives. Utilities should invest in the utility regulators in the United mix of resources, whether supply or ment seem totally un­ States, have recognised this self demand management programmes, able to create through evident truth, and have understood that allow them to satisfy the that they are in business not merely needs of consumers for energy serv­ their privatisation to produce and deliver kilowatt ices at the lowest cost. proposaL With the hours, but to satisfy the energy needs of their customers at the rejection of this least cost. Comparisons amendment they have Any discussion of least cost plan­ truly nailed their Planning im.pHcatlons nmg in Britain revolves around two colours to the mast. principal questions: can energy At first sight this may seem to be demand and energy supply resources a small redefinition of the role of be meaningfully compared, and can Here IAN BROWN of the electricity utilities, which has energy efficiency be acquired with fundamental implications for utility sufficient accuracy for utility the Association for the planning, opening the way for, and planning? The attitude of the Conservation of Energy being a necessary precursor to, Department of Energy, last publicly 'least cost integrated planning'. stated at the time of the Sizewell describes how least Inquiry, is that neither is the case. cost planning can and In the 'suppliers of kilowatts' school The overwhelming weight of evid­ does work abroad. of thought electricity demand is ence from both North America and 10 SCRAM 72 Scandinavia, is that the answer to both questions is an emphatic yes. American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy In the United States of America and Scandinavia much expertise has

been developed in assessing the -I potential for improving energy ef­ -c ficiency, and the degree to which ~ utility programmes can influence that improvement. In Scandinavia, e Oslo Lysverker (Oslo City Light) ~ have undertaken least cost planning 0 LEAST COST 0 RANGE for a number of years: as a con­ w sequence of such planning they 0 promote energy efficiency invest­ >a: ments through a system of grants w and loans that covers all classes of (I) end use. These incentives have 2 succeeded in improving energy ef­ ficiency exactly in line with their tw predic~ions. _, w_, SUPPLY­ SIDE VaHdation e~ COST The US Department of Energy is funding research to further refine ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION (thouaand MW) the methodology used in least cost planning, as is the electricity Least-cost energy planning identifies the optimal mix of Jeneration industry's own research body, the Electric Power Research Institute. and conservation resources for a given level of energy service. However these efforts are only supportive; the bulk of the work the best interests of both the lot less expensive to shave demand undertaken to date to demonstrate utility's consumers and shareholders. than it is to add capacity. the validity of least cost planning To quote from the Public Utility ••• Nevada Power is counting heavily has been carried out by the utilities Commissioners responsible for intro­ on demand-side solutions to meet themselves. ducing the regulations in Nevada: future resource requirements. The "Least cost planning works. Our Company's years of experience with As an example, one State in the utilities in Nevada have been doing load management and conservation U SA w h e re u t i I i t i es h a v e it for five years. As a result, we give reason for confidence in this demonstrated to their satisfaction have financially healthy utility com­ aspect of the overall Resource that energy efficiency and energy panies with lower tariffs." Plan." "Least cost planning has become accepted as standard utility regula­ Sound investment tion over the past decade. It has been accepted by utility companies What is perhaps more illuminating is as well as regulators." - Steven the attitude of the investment Wiel, Public Service Commissioner, community: in the last five years State of Nevada, and Chairman of the bond rating agencies have the Energy Conservation Com­ upgraded their assessments of the mittee of the National Association bond ratings of the Nevada utilities of Regulatory Commissioners. demonstrating clearly their belief that far from overburdensome im­ position, least cost planing has im­ Demand and supply proved the financial health of the utilities. Lessons The latter point, that least cost planning is now accepted by the Utility regulators in a majority of privately owned electricity com­ US States now require their utilities from panies in the USA is confirmed by to show that they have considered the utilities in Nevada. The two all options, including energy conser­ electricity utilities in Nevada have vation and load management, when developed considerable expertise in requesting permission to construct .America the process of least cost planning, new generating or transmission and have much confidence in their facilities. By this means they seek ability to accurately assess the to ensure that the utility invests in supply options can indeed be mean­ potential for both demand and that mix of resources - and energy ingfully compared through the supply options, as the following efficiency is a resource, like any process of least cost planning is the quote from the 1984 Resource Plan other - which offers the lowest cost State of Nevada, where a State law of the Nevada Power Company means of meeting consumers needs. has for five years required gas and illustrates: electricity companies to undertake Least cost planning is an approach least cost planning. "A kilowatt of demand permanently whose hour is at hand: if the golden removed from peak has essentially opportunity to introduce it in the Five years of experience with least the same result as installing a UK, through a clause in the cost planning in Nevada has con­ kilowatt of capacity to meet grow­ Privatisation Bill, is lost then the clusively demonstrated that least ing demand. The difference between electricity industry, its consumers cost planning is both possible and in the two approaches is that it is a and shareholders will all lose out.

August/September '89 11 Britain's nuclear dustbin

•srttain's Nuclear E disposal of nuclear waste the practical problem of having to resents many difficulties to handle, fairly soon, increasing quan­ Waste: Siting and everyone. Anti-nukes have to tities of decommissioning waste. Safety, •• is a new book live with the knowledge that quite large quanti ties exist, if nuclear The Ministry of Defence has an in­ by Openshaw, Carver power is abandoned then even larger creasing fleet of old radioactive and Fernie, who quantities will be created and the submarines to dispose of, and probtem could conceivably become British Nuclear Fuels (BNF) is lum­ believe that -nuclear totally unmanageable. The Govern­ bered as housekeeper to Europe's power is becoming es­ ment (any government) has to live hottest collection of radioactive with the massive unpopularity that waste. sential to the future of radwaste dumps readily engender Britain and the world•, and that crippling the Abadldea nuclear industry will Obviously no community is going to 11 be thrilled at the prospect of being probably also fun­ neighbours to x billion becquerels of damentally damage fu ... radwaste, no matter how safe it ture standards of living may be claimed to be. Yet it took an amazingly long time for this in Britain.• simple fact to be understood by and poor old NIREX have been those involved. Common sense sug­ given the largely impossible task of gests that disposal under, or near, The book attempts to solving the problem as soon as pos­ major population concentrations is a •provide an independent sible. bad idea. It gets a lot of people very excited and creates a situation geographical view of The Department of Environment has in which the prospect of subsequent the disposal of radioac­ to somehow provide a coherent cancellation is nearly certain. regulatory response in an area tive waste_.•• The notoriously deficient in long term Yet, it has taken a long time authors want to be strategy. The Central Electricity before reasonably pragmatic (and Generating Board and South of Scot­ not purely engineering optimal "provocative to both land Electricity Board (or the locations) have started to be dis­ sides• and hope to private successor companies) have cussed. The sites at Sellafield and •draw the venom out of the debate and • • • Key policy statements provide a basis for an acceptable pragmatic Date Event solution to a very im­ 1955 White Paper (CMND 9389) announcing civilian nuclear power portant problem.•• programme 1959 White Paper (CMND 884) Control of Radioactive Wastes 1971 British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) formed from part of UKAEA If no acceptable solu­ 1976 Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Sixth Report: Nuclear tion to the radwaste Power and the Environment (Flowers RepQrt) 19n Government's Response to Flowers Report (Cmnd 6820) setting out problem can be found basic principles then •the ultimate fu• 19n Windscale Public Inquiry ture viability of 1978 Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMAC) created nuclear power would be 1982 White Paper (Cmnd 8609) said HLW not an immediate problem NIREX created threatened." 1984 Department of Environment, Radioactive Waste Management: the National Strategy In the spirit of debate 1983·85 Sizewell B Public Inquiry 1986 House of Commons Environment Committee: Radioactive Waste we publish this article White Paper (CMND 9852): Government's response to Environment by STAN OPENSHAW, Committee Lecturer in Geography 1986 Special Development Order, July 7th, to allow investigation's to proceed. Near surface facility only for LLW ot Newcastle Univer­ 1987 Way Forward: NIREX discussion document sity. On page 26 David 1989 Short list of sites announced Lowry reviews the book. 1992? Public Inquiry

12 SCRAM 72 Dounreay may still appear unaccep­ dumping, the site is going to be theory. Finally, there needs to be a table but they are clearly far more either land based or land accessed. degree of long term planning with a realistic than either Billingham or Therefore the only real uncertainty time horizon of a few hundred Elstow. is where. years, rather than 5 or I 0. Storing nuclear waste around the Now in tackling this difficult country at Britain's nu lear sites, as problem a number of key principles Remaining chaJJenge some people have suggested, is seem to be at stake: (I) you need a probably even worse than returning long time horizon, (2) you need to It is likely that the need to dispose be able to demonstrate the op­ of radioactive wastes will now al­ timality in a national context of ways exist, it will not go away and whatever site or sites are preferred, has to be faced. The problem can, and (3) you need to pay attention however, be managed in a broadly to engineering AND public accept­ acceptable and common sense man­ ability criteria. ner, this now seems (at last) to be to Billingham. There is nothing really wrong with planning a 50-I 00 Solutions year surface storage facility as an interim measure, indeed this would Fortunately, the macro-geographic probably be an ideal strategy, but questions can be answered using to distribute them around the Geographical Information System country would only serve to in­ technology. The public acceptability crease overall anxiety levels; so problems can be reduce9 by mini­ many people would feel themselves mising the populations living "near" "threatened" in some invisible way to a proposed site (near might be happening. Nevertheless, the chal­ that it would be inviting cancella­ within 30 miles, on the principle lenge remains. Locating Britain's tion and that might be disastrous. "out of sight out of mind"). radwaste dustbin is a most difficult problem. The long term moralistic concern Choosing a site about legacies for future gener­ There is a continuing need by all ations can be reduced by planning concerned for flexibility, dialogue, It is worth remembering that the long term storage rather than dis­ and understanding, as well as some option not to have a nuclear dustbin posal until such time that the en­ attempt to work together to ensure is no longer available. The radwaste gineers can demonstrate they really the best possible solution that will has to be stored or dumped some­ know what they are doing rather most benefit future generations of where and with the end of sea- than having a good grasp of the Britons (English, Welsh and Scots).

BRITAIN'S NUCLEAR WASTE: Safety and Siting Stan Openshaw, Steve Carver, Newcastle University and John Fernie, Dundee Institute of Technology Anyone concerned about their own environment and that BRITAINS of future generations should read this forthright book which will equip them to understand not only the scientific dimensions of the problem but also the NUCLEAR political and economic issues which will determine the outcome of radwaste dumping. Contents Preface * What's all this about radioactive waste? * A review of Britain's radioactive waste problem * The WASTE policy story: rules, regulations and White Papers * The NIREX story * Britain's radwaste dumps: past, present and proposed *How NIREX select sites for a radwaste SAFETY & SITING dump *Searching for radwaste dump sites using geographic information systems * Meeting Britain's need for a radwaste dump * Index July 1989 180 pages Paperback 1 85293 005 5 £8.95

Please send me: _... ___copies of Britain's Nuclear Waste £ ____ (£8.95 Paperback) Plus postage and packing of £1.00 per book £___ _ Total: £___ _ Name and address

BELHAVEN PRESS ------(Block Capitals Please A DIVISION OF PINTER PUBLISHERS Please send cheques 2!!1Y, payable to SCRAM to: Peter Roche, SCRAM, 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LE ~ 25 FLORAL STREET, COVENT CARDEN, LONDON WC2E 905 August/September '89 13 Legal screw tums on Sellafield British Nudear Fuels ate now fac:ing a barrage of legal cases resulting from their activities cat Sellafield, with the first one due to come to court in October. SCRAM put a number of cptstions to the lawyer representing the West Cumbrlan families, Martyn Day.

We understand you are bringing three different What is the basis for the leukaemia claims? groups of cases against Sellafield, could you Q• deacribe what they are? It is now clear that there is a tenfold excess of leukaemias in the Sellafiead area, there is also a six­ On 2nd October the case· of the Merlin family fold excess around the Dounreay area (the only other will commence in the High Courts in London. nuclear reprocessing plant in Britain), and there are A• They used to live in Ravenglass, just a few known excesses around other nuclear plants, such as miles down the coast from Sellafield. Their action re­ has been shown in the recently published report on Al­ lates to the discovery of large levels of radioactivity dermaston and Burghfield. It is increasingly being ac­ in their home resulting from the radioactive discharges cepted that these excesses cannot simply be coin­ at Sellafield. As a result of this discovery back in the cidences and that there must be a link with the plants. early 1980s the family lost a great deal of money The crucial question is whether it can be proved that when they tried to move out of the area only to find it is the radioactive emissions causing the leukaemia&. that no-one wanted to buy their house. We are suing Sellafield for those financial loses. What stage has the case reached? The second set of cases re­ We are now in the process. of lates to the high incidence of determining which cases are leukaemias that have been most likely to succeed. We discovered around the Sel­ are likely to take forward lafield plant. I have been in­ four or five cases to con­ structed by over thirty LEUKAEMIA: centrate our energies with families from the area to the intention of coming back consider whether it would be for the others if we are possible to claim for the pain successful with the first and suffering incurred by batch. Once those test cases their children who have con­ Legal Test Cases are agreed upon we will be tracted leukaemia. commencing proceedings in

Oftlcial Surwp haw: dcmonstratal that then= ila ~~Fillcanr CKCCSI the High Court in London. The third set of cases re­ of leukaemia amanpr children living in the vicillity of the Sellaficld and lates to local farmers who Dounreay nuclear. pn~CC~Sins plantl. Scientific opinion now acceptl that What do you think are your have been had difficulties there may well be a link between the leukaemiu and the nuclear planta. chances of success? Under the Nuclar l111tallatian /Kt, Britith Nuclear fuels an: selling their farms as a result ltltuturily mJU!red ID compcn11te any individual who hu aufrcrecl injury u of the radioacti.vity leveis in 1 ftalllt of their opaationt. ~believe that there may,_ be lllllicicn&: I think we have a strong the area. We will be claiming ecicntirlc evidence ID persuade the Courtl in this country that .10111e case. Clearly BNFL will put ·~eukonni•·•.e caused by the action o( Britilh Nuclear Pucb,which would here for their economic loss. efiiiiJic the 'Victims ID be cnmpcnaattd. every ounce of eff.ort into Our firm ia c•pericnco:d in dcalin1 with radiation CIICI and haw: opposing these claims and Has anything like this been been iriWiw:d in a number of caste against British Nbclear Pueb and the my job is to put together a tried before? United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authorit)t ~ CIIIUrc that, whcRm" legal team capable of paaible, our dients -financially pmtectcd by aleplaid -tillcale. withstanding all that BNFL lhvurchild autrmd or ilatiU aufrcrins 6om leubailia, if!IOU liw: in Before these actions the only the aunuunding am oEScUafield and if !IOU U'c intcreatcd in making a claim will throw at us. I think we claims against BNFL have apinat Britilh Nuclear Fuel• then why nor telcphanc us. lbur Cllll Will be have a pretty reasonable been from the workers at the trcaf&d in ablolute canlicJcncc. chance of succeeding. Plc- calephenc MARTYN DAY on 01·242 1775 and be will Sellafield plant. About 25, or arn111p ID visit !IOU at your house on one ofhil FCgUiar visits ID Cumbria.~ . so, workers have bee·n ·com­ can guarancae tliat whetha: or not !IOU - elcciblc fOr lccal aid the &nt. What are the implications if pensated for cance-rs they appointment will-!1011 nothing. you win? contracted whilst working at Sellafield.. These will be the -LEIGHS- In my view they are enor­ first cases where local people 37 Gray's Inn ao..J. London WC1X SPP mous. If the British courts not working for the company were to accept on the have taken on BNFL. balance of probabilities, which is the civil court level of proof, that these We understand that BNFL attempted to prevent the nuclear plants were causing the leukaemias, as a result families receiving legal ·aid. Is that the case? of radioactive emissions, it would fly in the face of the propoganda being pushed out year after year by Y~sl In all of the cases I have tried to obtain legal aid ~NFL that the emmissions are not causing any harm to for the families because of the huge costs involved in anyone. Who could ever accept their line again? And, taking on such an enormous body as BNFL. In the if its true for the Sellafield area what about the other leukaemia cases, I applied for legal aid and was nuclear plants in the UK and all over the world. originally told that the Law Society intended to issue legal aid certificates to all those who fell within the Are there implications for other green issues? financial parameters of the scheme. Yes! Again if we are successful here it would perhaps However BNFL 's solicitors wrote to the Law Society encourage individuals to take on other multinational p1,1tting pressure ora them not to grant legal aid, follow­ companies who have been polluting and causing illness ing which the applications were turned down. l ap­ in local communities for decades with impunity. pealed against that decision· and following a hearing the Law Society was persuaded to grant legal aid. We will update readers as these actions progress.

14 SCRAM72 Windscale fallout Simon Boxer, of Cumbrlans Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (CORE), talks to SCRAM about the help they give to people who feel they have a just claim for compensation as a result of radiation at Sellafield.

We understand that CORE takes up claims on away. His finger and toenails were pared down to min­ behalf of Sellafield workers, ex-workers or their imum and his ears scraped out, even his watch had Q• relatives. Can you tell os about what you do? been taken apart and decontaminated. People contact CORE because we're a local Like most of the men at Sellafield, Fred did not dis­ group: they've heard we help with compensation cuss freely his worries about the effects of radiation. A• cases if one of the family dies or they have a In 197 5 he began to fall ill with a number of minor legal problem relating to Sellafield. We get a lot of complaints. He was diagnosed as having lung cancer calls every year, not all of which are followed up, per­ and many secondary cancers. He died in 1979 aged 58. haps because they haven't got enough evidence, or there are too many problems or they just want a sym­ Mary Thomas came to Core in 1973. The union have pathetic ear and don't want to take legal action. consistently refused to release papers they have on his Once we have a definite case we carry out interviews case. As a result of this delay medical papers relating with the people involved and pass the main particulars to Fred have been destroyed. It was only after several to our network of solicitors. We also contact doctors solicitors letters to BNFL that a reply was received. and scientists, if there is any need of extra medical or The company have now agreed to review the case, un­ scientific input. At present we are dealing with I 5 der their' own compensation scheme, in the light of cases including members of the public, workers suffer­ further information. Neither the union nor the company ing from cancer and widows of Sellafield workers. But have ever written to Mary to tell her what the new we don't just cover Sellafield, we've also got cases informartion actually is. Until the compensation scheme from Dounreay. case is settled Mary will not get legal aid. Now 8 years after her husband died she is still waiting for Can you tell us about the Radiation Compensation Sup­ word on her claim. port Fund, and why you are asking for ~onations for the Fund? Arthur Wilson (real name), aged 32, looked through a gag port in plutonium pile No. I, on I Oth October On 30 October 1987 ( the 30th anniversary of the 1957 1957, and saw the flames which signalled the beginning Windscale fire) we set up the Radiation Compensation of the Western World's worst nuclear catastrophe. As Support Fund. It isn't used to cover legal costs, as an instrument technician Arthur's job had been to fit most of the cases should be covered by legal aid - but legal aid doesn't cover all expenses, such as travel costs; sometimes medical expenses may be incurred.

We don't believe that the Sellafield workforce get a fair deal from either the unions or management, so we aim to get justice for local peopl'e but also to set legal precedents, which will help people all over the country. The support fund is kept completely separate from campaign funds - it isn't very large and we're always looking for more funds.

What is CORE's involvement with the leukaemia cases which Martyn Day is dealing with? thermocouples which measured the temperature in the reactor. Due to bad design they were put in the wrong We've got nothing to do with the leukaemia cases that places, alllowing temperatures to build up unnoticed Martyn Day is taking forward, although some of the until the fire began. After the accident Arthur began families came to us first and we passed them on. to get tingling sensations in his legs - he then began to experience difficulty in walking, neither his local GP Besides Sellafield workers we are also looking at some nor the Sellafield doctor could diagnose his illness. Un­ land blight cases - mostly farmers near Sellafield able to work, Arthur retired in 1962. He never whose farms have been heavily effected. received a penny in compensation. Now 64, he has been wheelchair bound for 12 years, and recently spent the Can you give us some examples of the type of cases last of his savings on an electric wheelchair, to retain you are dealing with? some independence. He has had no help from the unions or the Sellafield Charity Fund. Once a month he Two cases iHustrate the cases we're dealing with: gets BNFL News. Until we took up his case no-one had shown any interest, yet as far back as 1968 neuro­ Mary Thomas (not her real name) was not long married surgeons agreed that his illness could be radiation ih­ when her husband Fred began working at Sellafield in duced. When he sent word up to the control room that 1952. The problems began when he phoned home to say there was a fire he was told "don't be so bloody daft". he was working late on a 'ghoster'. She remembers The man who said that was plant manager Henry Davy him complaining that he had to go into an area where who died in 1960 of the bone marrow cancer multiple plutonium had come through a wall and had to clean it myeloma, the only known cause of which is radiation. up. The real shock came when he arrived home late one night after doing another 'ghoster•. He'd been Donations to the Radiation Compensation Support Fund scrubbed red raw. Small fifty pence sized pieces of his should be sent to CORE, 98 Church Street, Barrow in scalp showed through where his hair had been cut Fumess, Cumbria.

August/September '89 15 Methane - the Landflll Gas .. is a major contributor to Global Warming and poses a danger to public health from explosions. Yet, as MIKE TOWNSLEY discovers, it could provide up to 5% of our electricity needs. Where there's muck there's gas

AND FILL sites, in which 90% of New legislation should make the 400 cubic meters of 'biogas' over a the UK's 20 million tonnes of controlling of gasses produced by period of 10 to 1.5 years. Ideally Ldomestic and non commercial landfill a necessary prerequisite for this gas would be bur:ned in the waste are 'dumped', were described the granting of a licence, and will vicinity of the site in boilers, kilns as "time bomb" sites in Her make the option of using the or furnaces to satisfy some or all Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution metnane gas an attractive means .of of the requirements of a local in­ (HMIP) annual report, published in recouping some of the cost of dis­ dustry. However, often this is not March of this year. posal. practical. Electricity generation provides another option. Fears over the potential dangers of Of the existing sites in the UK the nations 3,330 active landfill some 1,500 may require pumping of Anthony Biddle, managing director sites led the Inspectorate to call gas at some time during the period of Packington Estates Enterprises for a closing of loop holes in waste of waste dumping or the following L td, who operate 6 licensed landfitl disposal legislation and a tightening 15 years, for which they ·remain ac­ sites, argues: "Here is an alterna­ of controls under which landfill tive. This involves sinking plastic tive form of energy which could operators operate. pipes into the heart of the site or satisfy up to 5% of the nations for new sites laying pipes as the needs in electricity demand and Methane, an explosive gas, is filling progresses. However in many consumption. It needs to be nur­ responsible for a phenomenon that cases the amount of gas would not tured rather than neutered." Pack­ travellers in the middle ages called be sufficient for use. In 1986, a ington generate 3.7MW for export the 'will-o'-the-wisp' - a malevolent Government survey identified 300 to the grid from their landfill site fairy that would lure greedy travel­ sites in England and Wales where at Little Packington, half way be­ lers to their doom, with the significant quantities of landfill gas tween Birmingham and Coventry. promise of gold. However, the eerie could be harvested. Currently, only The project won the Commemora­ phosphorescent light, which hovers 26 sites are exploited for their tive award from the Institute of over marsh and bog lands is no energy potential. Wastes Management as part of their more than the flaring of methane contribution to the European Year generated in the bog lands. The gas has a calorific value of of the Environment. roughly half that of natural gas. The potential output from one tonne Last year HMIP disclosed that .500 Anaerobic digestion of landfill waste is of the order of landfill sites in England and Wales

The process was identified in the Decomposition of materials occurlng in domestic waste. late sixties as 'anaerobic digestion'. It also occurs in Landfill. Under this process organic matter, such as.. PROTEINS LIPIDS plants, is broken down, in the ab­ sence of oxygen (anaerobic), into •'f~l ":7{l?. sugars then acetic acid and finally methane gas and carbon dioxide. AMINO ACIDS GLYCEROL AND LONG Methane production is roughly twice SIMPLE SUG~S CHAIN FAnY ACIDS that of carbon dioxide, and it is the ~ ~-~. ~....'.":'1~- ~-~ \ "!;.;,"":.;···.~,. methane which poses the biggest \ ~..),_ lt* • threat. Not simply because it is ex­ -'~,,~. plosive and poisonous; it is a green­ house gas - a gas which contributes to global warming. ~ .'· NH4' . ' Methane from landfill can be used "' constructively, by burning it to PROPIONATE, BUTYRATE generate heat and electricity. Yet . ISOBUTYRATE, VALERATE the current legislation, which '· ISOVALERA TE, CAPROATE Nicolas Ridley, the former Minister for the Environment, had promised t to reform, is so lax it discourages .~~,l~~;~ :;,{f:!~~~'":'~.';tf<,...,·-~~~~1.. ""':~ . :.·'{~;;. ... -·· the uptake of this option. This fol­ >;,. ' ~~~#.~?' \. •• ACETATE "•',~ · . H •C0 lowed a report from the Commons ' . 2 2 Environment Select Committee ·, ·. ...'#!',.,.,..,, L"f~l!'· ~ ~ -~ which criticised the history of ; 3 ·•r .$ ._.. "';;?;·~ ~ neglect over waste disposal in this . :· country. The report expressed its V disbelief over a clause in the legis­ lation that allows licensed landfill operators to simply hand in their licence and walk away from sites where the evolution of methane has reached an unmanageable level.

16 SCRAM 72 amount released into the atmos­ Typlcallandfill gas extraction well phere. Annually 54 million tonnes of COz equivalent - about 10% of UK Topworks COz output - are pumped into the protection atmosphere from U K domestic waste disposal. However, if landfill Flowmeter gas is burnt the methane is oxidised Gas sompllng into COz. Methane is a more valve viruJent greenhouse gas than COa - 27 times more. Its combustion would reduce the landfill contribu­ Landflll cap Approx lm tion to about the equivalent of 16 million tonnes of COz.

Methane production The Energy Committee's 6th Report - The Policy Implications of the Greenhouse Effect - "recommends that the Government and local Perforated authorities take further steps posi­ well casing tively to promote the use of methane from landfill sites. This Well diameter will act as a considerable spur to the development of these sites for =~~~~ Pipe clearance electricity generation. The potential .:::;: I above base is enormous: if half of all the ~==~ to allow for waste produced annually were used ------settlement and to generate heat and electricity, water table that would reduce emissions by the equivalent of five per cent of our Base of annual COz production." landfill Cecil Parkinson, the Energy Secretary, told the Committee that were emitting levels of methane perhaps the public fuss caused by by the end of 1990 he expects and COz that pose a danger to the the Cornish proposal that led the 42MW of electricity to be generated public health. Thelma Hillman, of Government to announce new legis­ from landfill, involving about 20 the West Midlands Hazardous Waste lation, rather than the continued sites. Unit, told a conference held at criticism of the law from official Harwell, last year, that the number bodies. The legislation is to be in­ Energy paper 55, published during of incidents being brought to her troduced in the new session of par­ the summer of last year, the most attention was "quite alarming", liament as part of the much dis­ recent Department of Energy publi­ adding: "One can rarely speak to a cussed green bill. cation on alternative energy waste disposal authority which sources, classifies landfill gas as hasn't had either a near miss or an Both methane and CO a are green­ "economically attractiv.e", but incident." house gasses, and are released into without the necessary legislation to the atmosphere by all landfill sites. ensure that waste dumps are Effective waste management and operated safely these will remain Tougher legislation burning the biogas reduce the hollow words. In the US, where tougher dumping legislation controls waste manage­ ment, the use of landfill gas to generate electricity is used at just under half of all landfill sites. It was that tougher legislation that led to a plan to import 2 million tonnes of US refuse to Cornwall for use in Landfill. The company Power, Water and Waste planned to generate electricity for local industry. Public outcry led to the proposal being abandoned.

The US pay $120/ tonne for waste disposal, whereas in the UK it costs between £5 and £10 per tonne. The main reason being that American companies must isolate the waste from the surrounding environment, above and below ground, to prevent the noxious gasses from polluting ground water and the atmosphere. "In this country we only use clay," said George Pritchard, the architect of the scheme, "and in Cornwall they don't even use clay." It was The explosive power of uncontrolled landflll gas at Loacoe, Derbyshire

AugustJSeptember '89 17 Arnott untangles Webb

Or Richard Webb HE essential facts about Dr About ten years ago he had the served for four years Richard Webb will be sufficient enormous courage of his convictions Tto explain why this most essen­ and opted out. Weapons and power in the Naval Reactors tial article has been all but impos­ apart, a nuclear scientist has almost sible to write. He is an American nowhere else to go except Into Division of the US citizen, aged about fifty but looking limbo - whatever his abilities and Atomic Energy Com­ younger. For all of his professional qualifications (there are examples of mission, and went on life he has been a nuclear scientist tragic loss in Britain today). Two and holds a PhD in reactor physics things inevitably happened. to earn a Doctorate in and engineering. Nobody of worth Nuclear Reactor ever remains within the framework imposed by their academic qualifica­ Pro safety Physics and Engineering tions, he is actually a theoretical from Ohio State Univ­ physicist with marked mathematical First, he was subject to character ability who has devoted his life to assassination attempts, which he ersity, in 1972. Since studying the safety of nuclear successfully refuted - unavoidably at 1970 he has been re­ power. From that study he has con­ the cost of much work and sense of cluded that all existing reactor hurt. I have read some of these searching the accident types are unsafe. attemps; Richard being ruthlessly hazards of nuclear po­ honest and concealing nothing. I Within that very broad framework give one short example of the sort wer stations; including he has concentrated his effort on of thing he has been up against. both PWRs and AGRs. studying their cap a c i ty for catastrophic explosions, to the ex­ Being convinced that all present clusion of other accident scenarios. reactor types are inherently unsafe He gave evidence to One misrepresentation of his views he is seeking chapter and verse in is so important that it must be dis­ substantiation. If he encountered a the Hinkley Inquiry on posed of the moment it arises, he reactor type which was inherently behalf of Commander safe ie. no matter what happened to it, he would believe in it be­ Rob Green, who has cause, as Robert Green once put it campaigned against the 'he is concerned he is not so much anti-nuclear as PWR since the murder pro-safety. (Incidentally, this could happen. So far as I know he has not of his aunt, Hilda Mur.. with massive fires examined the High Temperature Gas reil. DON ARNOTT, and steam Cooled reactor which might, just former IAEA consultant might, prove the exception.) and radiation physicist explosions ' profiles Richard Webb, Vituperation the man whose is not alleging that reactors can Probabilistic analysis, in the context explode like nuclear bombs and has of reactor safety, seeks to evaluate evidence ran to over often said so. He believes, as I do, the efficacy of safeguards, usually 100 pages, and ana­ that recriticalities and prompt engineering ones, as protection lysed the accident neutron excursions (as at Chernobyl) against inherent defects ie. those can contribute to disaster (SCRAM which are Webb's concern. It there­ hazards of the PWR. 64); but in the main he is con­ fore plays only a subsidiary role in cerned with massive fires and steam his thinking - he is not concerned explosions. with probability only whether or not His claim that AGRs an accident is possible. Perceiving could suffer from a this, the critic to whom I referred PWR experience went on to deduce that, therefore, Chernobyl-style explo­ Webb thought that all accidents sion elicited a some­ Many of us believe similar things, were equally probable and that his but Richard has one qualification views were without value. Recognis­ what prosaic response which we lack. He has operational ing that this was vituperation, not from the SSEB: 11There experience. He worked as part of argument, and affronted that a Los Admiral Rickover's team on the Alamos scientist could put his name is no limit to the first PWRs - most of his working to such drivel, I read no further. things man can imagine experience has been with that reac­ Some other criticisms are better tor type - and there can be no but, in general, his critics are pre­ - that is the basis of doubt that the advice he gave, vented by their own way of thinking science fiction, after which was acted upon, at the time from getting to grips with his point of the TMI-2 accident, at least, of view. all." prevented bad from becoming worse. His critics in this country might But he is at grips with theirs. He reflect - and, to be fair, probably does not deny the value of experi­ do - that not one of them has his ments on reactor safety but he does working experience of PWRs. point out its limitations: the

18 SCRAM 72 ultimate test can only be the full­ Firs t1 y, theoretical physics is was probably the most valuable scale one on the finished article - tautological: it explains itself in its point which he established. He cal­ something which, so far as reactors own terms, frequently unconstrained culated that if an AGR lost all its are concerned, is economically im­ by the rigour of experiment, always forced gas-cooling, whilst all control possible and environmentally unsafe. unconstrained by contact with any rods were withdrawn, the fuel clad­ The whole of industrial history other experimental science. Its ding stainless steel would melt very proves him right. So far as possible practitioners frequently theorise quickly. Brian George, leading the one foresees and prevents accidents themselves clean off the ground in CEGB Safety Team, in fact con­ - but eventually there is nothing consequence - and Richard is no ex­ firmed (transcript, Day 54) that it left but, so to speak, to suck it and ception. These, of course, are the would do so in about 35 seconds. see. occasions on which his opponents Slumping of the oxide fuel pellets seize. His other limitation arises, in would result. There would also be In purely scientific terms the com­ part, out of the first. For the sub­ an increase of reactivity since the mon ground, without which all ar­ ject which he has made his own is cladding itself absorbs neutrons. The gument is sterile, is certainly dis­ in fact interdisciplinary; it involves temperature would be in excess of coverable. What stands in the way both chemistry and biology. On such 1400°C. All the preconditions for an is the Freedom of Necessity: the matters, as I have found before extremely dangerous fire would be politics of heavy prior investment now, physicists are inclined to skate met with the additional possibility (intellectual as well as financial) over, or take for granted, or even of catastrophic steam explosion in The French, for example, are forced invent their own - and Richard's the event of water ingress. Hardly to believe in nuclear power because chemistry, in particular, does not a fail-safe situation in Webb's view; begin to be adequate to his needs. and he was right. But is it a rebuke to say that one man cannot know everything? 'Nuclear critics Dangerous conditions everywhere are Basic sympathy But the Industry argued that such extreme situations could never arise desperate for minds At the purely personal level I in practice. They could concede hardly know him; yet sufficiently so that there were circumstances in suchashls' to realise that he only requires two which all forced cooling could be things of you, both reasonable. lost. But when a new fuel charge of Firstly that, even if you do not maximum reactivity potential is in­ they have no nationally-based alter­ agree with him, you should have a stalled the control rods are fully native. Scientists are no more im­ basic sympathy with what he is inserted; they are withdrawn slowly mune to these pressures than trying to do. Secondly, that you as reactivity is used up; so a condi­ anybody else. Webb deals with them should know your subject. I fee 1 tion in which they are fully by simply ignoring them - which is that, professionally, we might get one of his biggest shortcomings. on splendidly together. Meanwhile he remains for me the only person Inevitably Richard got overloaded who has had the intellectual reach 'seeking a reactor w i th w o r k. N u c I ear c r it i c s and audacity to take on the whole everywhere are desperate for minds field of nuclear reactors in a criti­ design which falls such as his. So it was the AGR cal and highly fundamental sense: here, the Fast Breeder in Germany uncomfortable to contemplate, im­ safe whatever - and then again the PWR in possible to ignore. Britain, and with almost no time to happens' prepare for it. Had it not been that he works like a force of Nature he Inquiry system would have accomplished nothing at withdrawn from the core never Hinkley. What has all this to do with arises. Though the argument is in Hinkley? Everything: in this thumb­ detail somewhat shakier than that, nail sketch I have expressed the they too are right. But they are Brilllantly clear writer most important truth of all. You talking, as ever, about different are now to contemplate, if you can, things. Webb is seeking a reactor Such pressures take their toll and the impact of this larger than life design which fails safe whatever do not turn men into saints. One figure upon our Public Inquiry sys­ happens. The Industry is talking casualty has been his writing. His tem, originally established to cope about the successful containment of only finished work is his book "The with local issues and now uncomfor­ potentially dangerous conditions. Accident Hazards of Nuclear Power tably grown to encompass national Plants" which must be mentioned ones. It simply failed to cope with Obviously, we are going to agree because it reveals him as a bril­ him, nor would it have done had he with Webb. But I am still not going liantly clear writer - given the had time to prepare his case in the to believe that it is to be forever chance. His voluminous other works detail that he would have wished. impossible for scientists to bridge are incomplete, each having been To take the poi!'lt which sticks out this gap. I therefore briefly sup­ overtaken by events demanding his like a sore thumb - cross­ ported, at the Inquiry hearing, attention. Many contain mistakes, examinations. These are carried out Webb's proposal for an independent subsequently acknowledged - and on the Government side, by QCs commission of Inquiry which could Webb is severe with himself about who are not able, off the cuff, to go into the whole matter properly. his mistakes. cope with extremely obscure techni­ Although it remains a superb cal arguments - but this is not said educator of people the present At the human level his experiences as a rebuke. Public Inquiry system has lost its have driven him in on himself and usefulness for pronouncing on highly he has become overly self-sufficient Things were better when he was technical matters of greater than intellectually; probably he has had cross-examining the Industry's local importance. Probably the most too many rebuffs to make it easy scientists; yet here again they were useful thing which Webb managed to for him to seek the opinions of talking from standpoints which do was to demonstrate this in his others. This limits his effectiveness never really met. One instance must own person beyond the point at in two ways, both remediable. suffice; if you take them singly this which it can any longer be disputed.

August/September '89 19 FRG aid for Pakistan's bomb

The history of N FEBRUARY of this year the Pakistan is a case where German P a k i s t ani A m b a s s ad or i n suppliers stepped in after Canada Pakistan's nuclear I Washington announced that his and the USA imposed an embargo development is a country was poised on the threshold on the country because of its of producing nuclear arms. Until suspected military plans. Pakistan's major example of the then, the government had always only commercial reactor, Kanupp clandestine acquisition asserted that its nuclear programme near Karachi, a heavy water reactor served only peaceful purposes. which could produce weapons-grade of reprocessing and plutonium as a by-product, was built uranium enrichment Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's Prime by Canadian General Electric. In Minister, has repeatedly denied that 1986 Siemens/KWU initiated business equipment in defiance her country has nuclear weapons or connections with Kanupp. First, of the international has any intention of developing Pakistani engineers were trained in non-proliferation them. However, she says she wiJl KWU works, and in 1988 an order not sign the nuclear Non­ came in for a neutron flow gauge, regime. Proliferation Treaty or allow inter­ an essential part for the reactor national verification visits unless In­ requiring governmental licence ac­ dia agrees to follow suit. cording to the regulations of the Pakistan is now Nuclear Suppliers Group. believed to have the The Federal Republic of Germany always wanted to believe these as­ capability to make sertions, as they suited its export Indian bomb nuclear weapons, lead­ interests, since the European market is shrinking dramatically. For ex­ This deal met with a barrage of in­ ing to fears of an ample, the German reactor builder ternational protest, especially as arms race between In­ KWU has not had a single European KWU had already come to India's order since 1975. aid when the USA and other dia and Pakistan, or a countries placed an embargo on it pre-emptive Israeli The country has signed the non­ after the explosion of its first proliferation treaty (NPT) and is nuclear bomb. The venture came to bombing against what also a member of the Nuclear Sup­ light just after the USA intervened it is thought could be­ pliers Group, whose aim it is to against the German companies who control and prevent the spread of built a factory, capable of poison come ·the 'Islamic sensitive technology. Nevertheless, gas production, in Libya. Bomb'. it has never hesitated to export sensitive nuclear technology to the Until then the German government nuclear threshold countries such as always asserted, when there were NICOLA LIEBERT, Brazil, Iran, India, South Afr lea - criticisms of German nuclear ex­ reporting from Berlin, and Pakistan, allegedly for ex­ ports to threshold countries, that clusively civil use. such deals could only happen on the examines the assistance black market and were illegal. In Pakistan has received the case of Siemens/KWU, a Safeguards renowned multinational firm was in­ in developing its volved. It had received explicit nuclear capability, For the German exporters it is par­ governmental approval, at least for ticularly difficult to compete on the the Indian contract. Nonetheless in from the export hungry international market as they cannot the Pakistani case the deal was German nuclear in­ offer a continuous supply of planned secretly and was to be uranium to the buyer nor can they carried out via another firm. dustry, and the half­ take back and reprocess spent fuel. hearted attempts by In order to make up for this disad­ the German Govern­ vantage, they endeavour to sell the Secret location complete nuclear cycle to the im­ ment and the United porting countries. This, however, in­ In March of this year, the USA States to prevent the creases the chance of the importing made new allegations. It now countries producing their own lieves that Pakistan is building or spread of nuclear weapons-grade material. has completed a 50 megawatt reac­ weapons in South Asia. tor, at a so far unknown location, Moreover, German nuclear com­ from which both weapons-grade panies managed to present them­ plutonium and tritium, a booster for selves as especially attractive to A-bombs, could be obtained. Unlike their trading partners by largely Kanupp and another small research abstaining from strict safeguard reactor, this one would not be un­ requirements. Unlike the United der International A tom ic Energy States of America, which usually Agency safeguards. The proposition demands full-scope safeguards in begins to make sense of the various countries to which it expotts, Ger­ contracts awarded for the delivery many at most requires safeguards of sensitive equipment which have only for the plant which is been uncovered over the past few delivered. years.

zo SCRAM 72 tries responsible chose to ignore the warnings. Washington, which is ex­ tremely annoyed about the West German export policy, especially since the poison gas scandal, will be watching the conduct of the Kohl Government with regards to non­ proliferation very closely.

Diplomacy Unfortunately, strong pressure from the US Government is unlikely, be­ cause it might upset the delicate negotiations over the modernisation of short range nuclear missiles in Germany. Consequently, the new draft bill concerning illegal exports of sensi­ tive goods, which is presumably the result of US pressure, turned out to be rather lax. It penalises arms proliferation with a 15 year sen­ tence only when "negligence and thoughtlessness" can be proved. Like the Non-Proliferation Treaty the bill emphasises that the civil use of nuclear power should be promoted. In other words, the bill continues to perpetuate the rather dubious claim that civil and military uses of nuclear power can be separated. This is precisely the kind of think­ Illegal deliveries to Pakistan from Private companies aren't the only ing which led to the discredited the Hanau firm NTG and another ones embroiled in the nuclear deals German export policy and the company, PTB, were discovered by with Pakistan. Three renowned re­ various nuclear scandals uncovered the public prosecutors during the search institutes have also been im­ so far. NUKEM scandal of last year. The plicated. For instance, the Nuclear authorities had permitted NTG to Research Centre Karlsruhe (KFK) The Germans appear to be trying to export technology for the purifica­ has helped the Pakistan Institute for lea.ve themselves the option of tion of heavy water (which in itself Science and Technology (Pinstech) developing their own nuclear is scandalous enough). In reality, near Rawalpindi. Now, the Institute weapons and continuing with their however, the installation purifies can now generate over 40 pounds of export strategy as before, whilst at­ tritium - and cannot be used for plutonium each year. tempting to reassure the United either of the two known Pakistani States and polish up the image of reactors. According to evidence German exporters. provided to the public prosecutors it Closer watch is actually restricted to military As Green MP Otto Schily com­ use. Since 1983 various, worried, mented, "the fulfilment of the non­ memoranda have been sent regularly proliferation treaty by the FRG is from the Foreign Ministry to the by no means guaranteed." Fissile material Ministry of Economy, requesting that KFK be watched more closely. Deliveries from some other com­ These warnings were given not be­ panies also hint at the existence of cause of a concern that Pakistan a secret reactor. NUKEM is known might develop nuclear weapons, but to have entered into negotiations in the fear that the United States with the Pakistan Atomic Energy of America might discover the co­ Commission (PAEC) about the sale operation with Pakistan. of nuclear technology and fissile material. Last year a scientist from the Max­ Planck-Institute, who for years had Meanwhile legal proceedings have traded with Pakistan, was refused been started against 70 German permission to make another trip companies which are believed to be when the Ministry of Science involved in the nuclear trade with declared their concern. Does this Pakistan, after a list of trading mean that the Ministry knew about partners was found during a raid on the illegal deals - without interven­ the National Bank of Pakistan in ing - long before the public Frankfurt. prosecutors began to investigate? From special steel, optical equip­ The US Government and even the ment and computers to tritium, the West German and the Soviet secret German companies have delivered services had warned Bonn many practically everything that is needed times about the export of sensitive to construct an atomic bomb. material, but the government minis-

August/September '89 21 ·r\iii,."'· ~.. '' , ' •, llk~: .~:-._. __ SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, IT'S JUST ALOT OF HOT AIR. llicholas Ridley, the Government, BIIFL, and the CEGB And the scope for energy efficiency measures is huge in claim that nuclear power is an answer to the greenhouse effect. our energy-profligate world economy. This view is mistaken. The hundreds of billions of dollars which would have to Moreover, 100 of the country's leading scientists, doctors, he spent on an expanded nuclear programme would drain the and engineers, 40 of whom are listed below, have signed the resources available for energy efficiency and other measures. following declaration: Energy efficiency measures can he introduced far more "IUCLEAR POWER IS lOT AI AISWER TO THE GREEIHOUSE EFFECT. quickly than can nuclear power stations. The nuclear industry is right when it says that the green­ Time is not on our side when it comes to tackling the house effect is a threat to civilization. greenhouse effect. lt is wrong when it says that nuclear power has an lt takes a minimum of six years to build a nuclear power important part to play in reducing emissions of greenhouse station, and a matter of months to implement energy saving gases. measures. This is so because the amount of carbon dioxide produced Finally, the nuclear waste issue is unresolved. hy coal-fired power stations around the world constitutes only Decommissioning has essentially yet to he addressed. a small percentage of the overall greenhouse gases currently The problems of nuclear weapons proliferation remain. added to the atmosphere. And the track record of the nuclear industry involves a Even a decision to eliminate that small percentage hy long history of over-ambitious appraisals of cost and reactor replacing coal-fired power stations with nuclear stations is a safety. An expansion of the nuclear programme will compound mistake. these problems. This is so because energy efficiency measures offer far The greenhouse effect is a serious environmental more scope than nuclear, £-for-£, in reducing the demand for phenomenon which requires serious and urgent solutions. fossil fuels. Nuclear power is It is cheaper to save a unit of energy than to generate an irrelevant to the prevention additional unit. of global war"ming."

------us:r OF SIGNATORIES------Pro!.,_ IIIUIJ C.I.E., F.R.S. Emeritus Professor of Experimental Philosophy, Umversliy of Oxford · Pro! Jock loq Ementus Professor of PhySICS Applied to Med1c1ne. University of London · Pro! John lurllllll F.Eng. Professor ol CIVIl Eng1neering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine · Prollor loUorllold Professor of Civiltngineenng, University of Southampton Pro! Joko Cbrlstloo f.R.S. Emeritus Professor of PhySical Metallurgy, UniVerSity of Oxford Pro! Pul flU U.S. Professor of Biophysics, University College. London · Dr llchR Fortor Senior Pnncipal Scientific OHicer, British Museum of Natural HIStory Pro! lllciiHI lroH F.R.S. Professor ol PhySics, Queen Mary College, London · Prol Aldrow Holaos Professor of Primary Heallh Care. University College, London · Pro! DHII HIH Professor of Physics. Heriot·Walt University · Pro! Plfor Htua f.I.S. Professor of Theoretical Physics, Umversity of Ed•nburgh · Pro! RoNrt Hill Professor ol PhySics, Newcastle Polytechnic · Pro! loHrl HIIH C.I.E., f.I.S. Royal Society Research Professor, Un!Vers•ty ol Cambridge Pro! lorotllr HoQIIIe 0.11., f.R.S.IIoHI Luroott Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, UniVersity of Oxford Prlf lrlan Jor••• O.I.E. Professor of Primary Heallh Care. St Mary's Hos,ital Mldical School · Prlf ToMKIIIIIII U.S. Professor of Theoretical Physics. lmpenal College ol Science. Technology and Medicine · Pro! Ror Klot Professor ol Soc111 Theory and lnstituilons. Umversily College of North Wales Pro! lllcllotu Klrll C.l~ .. F.I.S. Emeritus Professor of Physics. University of Oxford · Pral lorunl Ltlkt Professor ol Geology, University of Glasgow · Pro! Pttrlcla Lluop Emeritus Professor of Radiobiology, UniverSity of London · Pro! D1¥1dlltlcollt Professor of General Practice. University of Manchester Medical School · Dr St1¥HIItorhtk U.S. Reader in Geology. Umversity of Oxford · Pral Dovld llorltr Emeritus Professor of Child Heallh. UniVerSity of Lond•n · Dr lan lluaro Former Editor, The Lancer · Pro! lan hrclnl F.I.S. Professor of Applied Mathematics. Queen Mary College, London · Pro! Jonpk PI•• Professor of Chemistry. Henot·Wan University· Prlf Corl Pldl-Professor of Physics. Heriot·Walt University· Pral KINk Puttlck Professor of Physics. UniVersity of Suney · lr R..... llllllltr U.S. Formerly Senior Principal Scientific Officer. Ministry of Overseas Development · Prolllortle Rou f.I.S. Professor of Astronomy, Umversity ol Cambridge · Prlf JottpiiRotilllt Emeritus Professor of Physics. University olloftdon · Prlf lllclletl ...... _ Prolessor of Physics. Queen Mary College, ,London · Pro! 111 Slllltb Professor of Geotechmcal Engineenng. UniVerSity of Manchester · Pral Dovld S•rtkl Professor of Geophys•cs. Umversity of Glasgow Prlf Frod Ylet U.S. Professor of Environmental Sciences. University of East Anglia · Prll Alii Wotsan Professor of Physics. UniVersity of Leeds Dr lllckotl Wbtlso f.R.S. Reader 1n Metallurgy, Unlter~ity ' Oxford Pro! llurtco •-• C.I.E., F.R.S. IIIHI Loortott Emeritus Professor of Biophysics. UniversUy of London · Pro! RuHr! WIHt- f.R.S. Napier Royal Socltty Research Professor. Oxford · Sir 8ordoo WolsttHtiMt O.I.E. ActiOn m International Med1c1ne. London.

22 SCRAM 72 ~------~SAFEENERGYO Greenhouse Effect developments to overstate the case for nuclear nuclear power can remove the need power, and argue for increased for between 5.5kg and 7.2kg of COz Proposals introduced into the RD&D into renewable energy emissions from coal-fired power Electricity Bill by the House of sources. plants, whereas on £ invested in Lords, which would have given the The nuclear option is a non op­ compact fluorescent lighting instead Director General of the privatised tion according to the latest Green­ of incandescent lighting displaces industry the power to force com­ peace Report (2), "Combating the some 27 .4kg of carbon. Hence in­ panies to consider energy efficiency Greenhouse effect: no role for vestment in that particular form of before increasing generating nuclear power." As it sounds, they energy efficiency is four to five capacity, have been rejected by the have set out to burst the nuclear times more effective than invest­ Government. bubble. The report is backed by ment in nuclear power." The amendment had the backing over I 00 UK scientists including 2 ACE, the Association for the of over 40 tory 'rebels', but the noble laureates and 15 members of Conservation of Energy, echo the Government's enormous majority the Royal Society. Its conclusions view of Greenpeace in their latest won through. It was defeated 310 to are simple. The nuclear option is contribution to the greenhouse 216. too expensive, too dangerous and literature (3). Ace research However, in an attempt to ap­ technically not possible, the Third "demonstrates clearly that in the pease the disaffected conservatives World could not support a nuclear UK at least, far from requiring the then Secretary of detrimental draconian State, Cecil Parkinson, changes to our lives or conceded to the role of relying upon risky, the Director General in unproven, technology the p r o m o t i ng e n e r g y initial target of 20% [as e f f i c i en c y: " The ne w agreed at the Toronto con­ Director-General, is set to ference in 1988] can be become a major figure in achieved if the will is promoting energy ef­ there." Indeed the ficiency in this country - programme they promote indeed [he/she] will have a would achieve the 20% and statutory duty to do so - allow "our overall standard once the electricity bill is of living" to improve. passed." However these Their programme relies en­ powers will exist in name tirely on proven efficiency only, unlike the body the technology. Lords had in mind, the If, as now seems likely, Government will not give the Government continue the Director-General any to ignore the opinions of powers of enforcement, so the scientific community any standards set will be the effects could be fur­ in fact only recommenda­ ther reaching than we tions. suspect. A study (4) under "A mixture of regula­ taken by the Institute for tions, penalties and incen­ terrestrial Ecology (ITE), tives - all designed to en­ on behalf of the Depart­ sure a rising level of ment of the Environment, energy efficiency, in the with changes not only in UK is clearly required," temperature but in land argues the Commons Select use and in plant and Committee on Energy. animal life. Given a sea They have just published level rise of between 0.8m the results of an 8 month and 1.65m over 100 years survey into the i mplica­ "improving sea defences to tions of energy policy on with stand such a rise in the Greenhouse effect (I). sea level would cost at "It is unquestionably short least £5 billion." sighted of the UK to Throughout the recent neglect those energy ef­ publications on the green­ ficiency investments which Areas of Gre.tt Britain vulnerable to a rising sea level house effect there seems yield a genuine economic to be growing unease about return." the Government's inaction. They call for a "vital" separate programme of the size which would Yet, if they do not take positive Department of State where the sole be required to have any effect on action the consequences in human concern is energy policy, they say: the greenhouse problem: "Studies and animal suffering and the loss of "However important issues like the have shown that even moderate ex­ a stable environment will be enor- pr i va tisa tion of the gas and pansion of nuclear power in Third mous. electricity industry, or the support World countries would cost in for the coal industry have been, excess of $50 billion per year. The they are dwarfed by the crucial im­ total public spending on electricity (I) Energy Committee 6th Report. Energy policy in such countries is currently only Implications of the Greenhouse Effect (Vol 1). portance that we have a coherent (2) Combating the Greenhouse effect: No role energy policy applied across all sec­ $7 billion per year." for Nuclear Power. Greenpeace. HMSO £8.70. tors to deal with problems which Energy efficiency is a tried and (3) Solving the Greenhouse Dilemma: A strategy for the UK. ACE and The World Wide Fund for almost certainly lie ahead." tested technology which can be Nature. The Committee does not view implemented in a matter of months (4) Climatic Change, Rising Sea Level and the renewables as the only solution to and time is of the essence in com­ British Coast. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology bating the greenhouse effect. It is and the Natural Environment Research Council. the greenhouse effect, nor does it HMSO £, ..m. reject nuclear power. It does also more cost effective. They cal­ however warn the Government not culate that "each £ invested in AugustJSeptember '89 23 0 SAFE ENERGY...... ______,

Safe reactor? announced: "We found nothing, no home of the bomb - claim to have gamma rays, no neutrons and no detected "significant amounts" of The idea that nuclear fusion can be heat." Williams said of Fleischmann, tritium, in two experiments on cold achieved at room temperature, in a consultant to the UKAEA, "What fusion. what amounts to no more than a we have to realise is that brilJiant Tritium is described as an unam­ test tube (SCRAM 71), has been people have mad ideas. A brilJiant biguous by-product of a nuclear described as "mad" by scientists man has had a mad idea. Not every reaction. It is also an essential in­ from the U K A E A 's H a r w e 11 mad idea works out." gredient in Hydrogen bombs, and is Laboratories. Harwell's results are being widely used to increase the yield of con­ A team of 10 Harwell scientists accepted as the final word on cold ventional nuclear weapons. tried to replicate the results of ex­ fusion in this country; the Govern­ Or Edmund Storms said after the periments conducted by Prof Stan ment do not intend to fund further results of the Los Alamos experi­ Pons and Prof Martin Fleischmann research. ments were leaked to the local into Cold Fusion. Their work began In the US a committee of scien­ paper - the Desert Times - that the on March 13, ten days before the tists brought together by the level of tritium found was a infamous press conference held by Department of Energy to examine genuine product of nuclear fusion: Pons and Fleischmann, which divided the claims have reported: "Evidence "It is not possible that it was the the science world and made for the discovery of a new nuclear result of contamination." But, newspaper headlines around the process, termed cold fusion, is not remembering the fate of previous globe. They conducted over 100 ex­ persuasive. So far we have seen no pretenders to the cold fusion p er i m e n t al v a r i at i o ns on t h e experimental results sufficiently throne, would be drawn no further: Fleischmann/Pons design, over a clear of ambiguities and calib1 ation "Unfortunately we cannot discuss period of 3 months and spent problems to make us confident that our results until they have been £320,000, to no avail. heat can be expected." through the traditional process of Professor David Williams, head of However the US nuclear research peer review and publication in a the Harwell team, regretfully 'establishment' at Los Alamos - scientific journal."

North West ener y lan CHP scheme colla ses George Rufford, Chair of the As­ sociation of Independent 'Electricity North West England could be gain­ A major independent combined heat Producers (AIEP) is "dismayed that ing up to 12% of its electricity and power scheme, which planned to such a promising project has been need from renewable energy accord­ make use of a disused power station brushed aside." ing to a study by the North west in Leicester, has been shelved The demise of the Leicester Electricity Board (Norweb). amidst recriminations between the scheme has triggered complaints Norweb, whose area stretches consortium of developers and the from would-be private generators from the Scottish Border to the East Midlands Electricity Board that there will be little scope for Peak District, has identified (EMEB), which was to have pur­ any genuinely independent new economic schemes which could chased the electricity. power stations in the first years of supply 400MW. The full potential is Suspension of the £80m scheme privatisation. in fact six times higher, so further was announced after negotiations AIEP say "the independents offer schemes may become economic in had reached an advanced stage to competitively-priced, environment­ the future. construct a 110MW combined cycle friendly power. They have been One of the most promising gas turbine and an associated heat trying to negotiate contracts but, sources identified in the 296-page distribution grid. Leicester Energy with their investment plans gather­ report is methane gas from decom­ L td (LEL), a consortium of six large ing dust, they are now losing posing rubbish. The North West af­ private companies, local authorities, patience." ready has two landfill sites where EMEB and the CEGB, had nego­ They accuse the generators and methane is used to generate 4-6M W tiated a long-term gas supply Area Boards of carving up the gen­ of electricity. Further plans exist agreement, and was on target for erating business and using delaying for more than 20MW, but the full completion by 1991. tactics to. keep out future com­ potential could be as much as Jim Keohane, EMEB contracts petitors. "The electricity boards 7.5MW, produced from 30 or 40 of manager, said that negotiations had have still not agreed terms with the largest landfill sites in the broken down over the question of National Power and PowerGen and Region. who should shoulder the risk of fu­ they refuse to do deals with inde­ Other sources include industrial ture fuel price increases. pendents until they. have." and domestic waste incinerators, wind generators, small hydro­ electric power stations using upland Renewable 'Ring Fence' The obligation is an attempt to streams and rivers, and incinerators reassure small renewable generators using forestry waste. The Government have outlined who fear that they might be ex­ More than 12 potential sites are details of the targets which the dis­ cluded from supplying the market identified for tidal barrages, al­ tribution companies will have to created by the non-fossil fuel though they are not considered meet for purchases of renewable obligation. They had feared that economic yet. These range from a energy. National Power would secure the 20 mile barrage across the Solway After 1992, they will have to buy vast bulk of contracts for the non­ Firth which could generate 10,000 an initial .50MW from renewable fossil fuel obligations before their GWh per year, to a Wyre barrage sources, as part of the non-fossil technologies are fully developed. at Fleetwood with a capacity of fuel obligation. This will be in­ The minimum proportion of non­ 47MW. creased in tranches of an additional fossil fuelled generating capacity The area's large, open hillsides 1OOMW-1.50MW by 199 .5, another the distribution companies will be and coastlines include some of 100MW-1.50MW by 1997 and a fur­ reqWred to buy by the year 2000 is Britain's most promising wind power ther 300M W by 2000. expected to be 12,000MW. So sites. However, Nor web do not en­ The phased tranches will ensure renewables will be expected to visage being able to use some of that the final target, already an­ provide a minimum of only .5% of the best sites because of damage to nounced (SCRAM 71) of 600MW by the non-fossil fuel obligation by the scenery. 2000 will be achieved. end of the century.

24 SCRAM 72 ~------SAFEENERGYO Wind developments Such an opinion is strengthened by Capel Cynon will be the site of comments· made the UK 's first wind park, if the re c en t ly by CEGB's application for planning former Energy permission is approved in August. Secretary, Cecil Lord Marshall said, the Boards Par ki nson, who preliminary studies were now said, with just a complete and that they will be hint of self ful­ publishing an environmental filling prophecy, statement: "If all goes well we "What we have to hope to start work on the site f i nd o ut i s early next year. The wind farm whether the could start producing electricity public will accept in the following autumn and be them, because fully operational in the spring of they certainly are 1991, when it could provide n ot t h i n gs o f enough electricity for around beauty." .5,000 people." At t h e Capel Cynon will be the first European Wind of three windparks planned by Energy Con­ the CEGB. Also under investiga­ ference, which tion are sites in Cornwall and a b s o r b ed t h i s the Pennines. The projects are years British Wind jointly funded by the Department Energy Con­ of Energy, PowerGen and Na­ ference, Ian Lang, tional Power. Their aim is to Minister of State test "the technical and economic for Scotland, told 7.0·8.0 400·600 viability of generating electricity delegates, Our in­ 5.5-7.0 200-400 7.0-8.5 400·100 from the wind," and "examine the tention is to '------'-'-'=---"-=-----'--=------'--=--~~ ~- <.~. .5 < 200 . ::....!:~-"'-~~~- effects on the environment and stimulate develop­ the reaction of the public." ment and try to Reaction from the people living ensure the maximum contribution The UK has the best potential for around the Cape! Cynon site has from the se technologies so that wind energy in western Europe, ac­ been favourable. However con­ Britain does not lose out in develop­ cording to a new 'wind' atlas troversy has sprung up around the ing renewables where they are produced in Denmark. other proposed sites. Farmers economically competitive and en­ Since 1980 the Danes have tried near Cold Nortl)cott, were con­ vironmentally acceptable. and tested an atlas technique for cerned about allowing the Board "However we must be realistic ••• it establishing an area's suitability for access to their land, even for is not inconceivable that those who wind turbines. It has been used preliminary investigation work. are urging us today to commit more successfully in siting about I ,.500 of "They feared the loss of their and more resources to renewables their 2,000 machines. farming livelihood" says Or will tomorrow be criticising us even The system has now been applied Count, CEGB wind project more vociferously for ruining the to the whole of Western Europe. manager. The fears were perhaps countryside." Using data collected from 200 fuelled by the fact that farmers Despite the Government's stated meteorology stations they have pub­ were not told about the proposal commitment, Or David Lindley, lished a 6.50 page atlas, including a until two days before the an­ Chair of the Wind Energy Group computer programme to calculate nouncement that the area was and President of the European Wind the exact wind conditions at any under consideration. One farmer Energy Association, said at the con­ location throughout Western Europe. was not informed until 11 pm the ference, "The Scottish Boards have It was sponsored by the Direc­ night before. As George Prit­ not been particularly interested. torate General XII of the European chard, a Cornwall based environ­ "Technologically, Britain is num­ Commission, the DG with respon­ mental consultant, puts it, "The ber one, but in the implementation sibility for wind power, and is pub­ situation you have there is a of windfarms we lag well behind lished as "The European Wind At­ farmer who is very irate because Europe. The Danish Government las." he has been told his farm is have already met their own target going to be taken, or part of his of 1,OOOM W by 1992. They have one farm is going to be taken, for a tenth of our land and population, wind farm by the CEGB." yet we only have .5MW. Realistically "Power from the Wind" is the title The other site under considera­ figures show that 10% of the UK's of the CEGB's latest video. It tion is Langdon Common, in the electricity could be met from 1,000 "examines the centuries old chal­ North Pennines. Here the case is wind farms with 2.5,000 machines." lenge of harnessing the wind." not just one of the Board riding Clearly all is not rosy in the Presented by David Bellamy and roughshod over local feeling. It is park, the conference was held in shot on location in Barbados, Hol­ a site of outstandiAg natural the wake of one of the world's land, Orkney and mainland Britain, beauty, and the Countryside leading windpower companies, James it also discusses the role and Commission intend to raise an Howden of Glasgow, pulling out of development of modern aero­ objection. the industry. Johnny Johnsen, How­ generators and their likely role in Many people are now concerned den chair, explains, "Buying deci­ future electricity production. that these excursions into wind sions for this equipment [wind parks are no more than a process turbines] have been postponed by a For further information contact: of setting wind power up so it number of customers, both in CEGB Film and Video Library, Sud­ can be knocked down, as they did Britain and overseas, and earlier bury House, 1.5 Newgate Street, with wave power, thus leaving markets for this equipment have London ECIA 7AU. Tel. 01-634 the nuclear industry without proved to be optimistic." .54.56. competition from renewables.

August/September '89 2S OR.EVIEW·S Uranium and Nuclear ~------~Energy: 1988. tonnes of fissile plutonium. The.re ishes with the increased burn-l,Jp of The Uranium Institute; 418pp, £50, are some interesting snippets about the assemblies from which they 1989. the usefulness of reprocessed derive." Reading between the lines, material. Plutonium becomes so this suggests that increasing fuel It's always useful to know how the contaminated with daughter products burn-up may become a more opposition thinks - and the Proceed­ after 3 years that it is unuseable in economic alternative to reprocess­ ings of the Thirteenth International PWRs without further reprocessing. ing. Symposium of the Uranium Institute Enriching recycled uranium isn't Uranium flag swaps; local give us an insight. simp1e either - gamma and alpha authority radiation monitoring; world The 400 participants at the con­ activity are both higher than in uranium resources; and the need to ference share the belief that natural uranium, so the enrichment develop trust through better com­ nuclear power "is both economic plant requires greater protection munication with the public, par­ and, from an environmental perspec­ against radiation. ticularly doctors and journalists, are tive, the most benign of any of the Hidden behind the debate about all subjects covered. But the sec­ options which exist today for the economics of recycled uranium tion that perhaps gives most away electricity base load supplies." and Mixed Oxide Fuel, which makes about the thinking of the industry is Uranium spot prices have declined use of recycled plutonium, there the section on social factors. In to depths never seen before, yet seems to be a suspicion that Australia, for example, it is sug­ the nuclear industry is said to be reprocessing is becoming too much gested that Aboriginal people would "on the verge of .revitalisation" be­ of a weight around the industry's come to terms with uranium mining cause of concern about the Green­ neck. when they "accept the economics of house Effect and Acid Rain. There Fuel designers and users are now the developed world and the tan­ was even talk of a shortage of seeking to increase fuel burn up. gible benefits which flow from the uranium early next decade. One paper concludes that "uranium optimum use of land." By 1993 there- will be over 1000 savings from recycling are linked to tonnes per year of reprocessed the energy quality of plutonium and uranium available in Europe and 3 reprocessed uranium, which dimin- PETEROCBE Britain's Nuclear Waste: Safety and "neither anti-nuclear, nor in the pay ie. LLW and ILW, not spent fuel, Siting by Openshaw, Carver and of the nuclear industry, but as which is targeted for a different Fernie. Belhaven; 205pp, £8.9.5, geographers we sincerely believe Swedish facility the CLAB, at the 1989. that nuclear power is becoming es­ Oskarsham reactor site in the south. sential to the future of Britain and They assert (p25, 49) that re­ One thing that is predictable about the world." The preface is peppered processing "is quite simply an un­ radioactive waste is that the with pro-nuclear sentiments, rein­ avoidable corollary of having Mag­ volume will increase; that is pretty forcing this belief, which however nox power stations". Now although clear. Another predictable thing sincere, has it would seem no Magnox fuel was designed to be re­ about nuclear waste is the increase relevance to the authors' profes­ processed and was consequently only in the volume of books about the sional expertise as geographers. expected to be stored for a short problem. This book is one of the They also naively opine that first in a growing number addressing "there is no conspiracy, merely a a politically intractable problem. strongly motivated group of nuclear Due to the ever changing nature interested people in the key posi­ of the issue, any book on radioac­ tions who honestly and sincerely tive waste policies can only ever be believe that an all nuclear future is nearly up to date, regardless of the the only future." One might expect promptness of the publishers in get­ considerable more academic scep­ time, there is no technical evidence ting the book out. This book, its ticism over motives than expressed to demonstrate that it has to be; a timeliness notwithstanding, has its here, especially as there is ample point stressed by consultant en­ flaws, many of which may be iden­ published literature analysing and gineer John Large, in evidence to tified in the author's preface. But exposing the complex conspiratorial the Environment Select Committee let us start with one incontrover­ way the nuclear enthusiasts often in 198.5. tible statement, which has to be operate. The book itself comprises a the starting point of any analysis It is perhaps because the authors detailed analysis of the political "whether we like it or not, Britain address the nuclear waste problem geography of nuclear waste, explor­ today has a sizeable nuclear waste in terms of a geographical poser: ing the role of NIREX (and its disposal problem, and regardless of 'where do you put your first rad­ problems) in depth. This exposition waste dump?' that the book suffers is the strength at the heart of the from a failure to ask a broader book. range of relevant questions. A Various assertions are made, geographical focus leads to the without supportive evidence, which diminution of key socio•political show the bias of the authors views. questions. Some examples are (p.5) "Once it The authors have also either been starts, provided the nuclear fuel people's attitudes for or against too accepting of the veracity of the cycle is closed, the numbers of nuclear power, something will have nuclear industry's arguments, or too FBRs can be increased fairly to be done about it sooner or slapdash in their research, for a quickly." Yet no country has built a later." series of avoidable factual errors single commercial FBR, and no To be sure, one of the baseline are dotted through the book. country has more than a handful arguments over nuclear was,te To highlight a few more impor­ (USA, France and USSR) of (recognised by the authors) is over tant areas: prototype FBRs. So where does the whether any form of "disposal" as On page 5 they claim "the recently "fairly quickly" assertion find its against long term monitored and commissioned Swedish facility is for support? retrievable storage is preferable: the storage of spent fuel rather ihey claim (p51) that for high but the very existence of volume of than reprocessing wastes." This is level waste "while deferral is cur­ radioactive waste is an incontrover­ untrue. The facility, SFR-1, below rently popular, there is little sup­ tible problem. the Baltic Sea at the Fo.rsmark port for the idea that indefinite · The authors assert they are reactor site is for operating wastes storage is a substitute for disposal

26 SCRAM 72 ...______.REVIEWS D of HLW." The !eve! of support for On a more positive note, the talisingly warn (p37) "will anyone be storage vs disposal option depends authors are correct to stress the surprised when Elstow, Killingholme, crucially on whom one asks. It is secrecy surrounding military nuclear Billingham and Fulbeck are again true there is "little support" waste (p 69) and the ambiguous connected with radwaste dump in­ amongst the nuclear industry, but position of NIREX (p 73) once the terest. If it does not happen soo.n, what of environmentalists? electricity industry is privatised. there is every prospect of it hap­ When the authors claim, after Despite the various errors, the pening before too long." reviewing the filtration plants authors have collaborated on an im­ They say this with regard to retrofitted to Sellafield to reduce portant book, containing a rich decommissioning bulk waste, the liquid discharges, that "the Sellafield bounty of information on the biggest unresolved problem. Just experience is interesting, but not nuclear waste situation in the UK. when you thought it was safe to directly relevant to radwaste A useful book for those who want stop campaigning! dumps" (p63), they overlook the fact to find a "solution" as well as those that any radioactivity contained by keen to oppose any solution for DAVIDLOWRY SIXEP and EARP, (the new plants) nuclear waste. I would recommend will become solid nuclear wastes at least ordering a copy from your * Dr David Lowry is co-author, that will require future manage­ local library. with A Blowers and B Solomon, of ment. This, in effect, becomes Lest anyone be sanguine enough an international comparative study part of the inventory of material, to believe that siting a "dump" at of the politics of nuclear waste for which the authors are set on Dounreay or Sellafield will be the management to be published by finding a suitable final home. end of the matter, the authors tan- Macmillan at the end of the year.

The Greenhouse Effect: A Practical Montreal Protocol ------~------­ Guide to the World's Changing wili have little or Climate by Stewart Boyle and John no e f f e et f o r The Greenhouse Effect Ardill. New English Library; 298pp, several decades. £3• .50, 1989. CFC's have a high fflf!J~~==sHOia'WAVE. &QU'IAt Turning Up the Heat by Fred at m 0 SpheriC reS- II!AI>IA77DN HITS '7?1e EALTH'S .w.r,16f!YtCM1'11.Y12/iFU!C.Tet>~'N1DS/I'IIf&E ....., Pearce. The Bodley Head; 230pp, ' ' 71-fE. ~T tiETifCIItVtHfTVP 1/V 7ltE l!!ltA771S , • • •• : · · • ·· .. £ 12.9.5, 1989. y e a r s. They a r e ,.~ wHI!A4tr tttBTHS.. &:A77BIU!!P. ·. • • . h l!lto4U:HV10~~),PEI'U!C1lfD-n:> m a J or green ouse 11fESllf!NMce(Z7!) c.L.t.YMPLY . "Whenever people talk about the gases, playing a Jt&~f.l5'9 . lf. ·.. ·. weather, I always feel certain that role directly in they mean something else" global warming by OSCAR WILDE vir t ue of t he i r p r e se n ce in t h e When people discuss the greenhouse atmosphere, and effect the conversation inevitably indirectly through turns to the weather. Will it or the destruction of won't it be hotter in Skegness? the ozone layer. That's one question that neither Turning Up the book ean answer. Heat is an enthrall­ In fact they provide few hard and ing read but some­ fast rules. They don't even prove what disappointing that global warming - the result of in its treatment of our unbalancing the natural green­ t he n u c l e ar v s house effect - is happening. This is energy efficiency hardly surprising. The scientific debate, giving over community, where the general con­ only 3 pages to its sensus is that global warming is the tlirect discussion. most serious environmental threat His preferred vi­ facing the planet, has not been sion of the post able, so far, to unravel the complex greenhouse era is chain of mysteries which conspire of a "high-tech to create our biosphere. Eden in which we However there are theories - both took the apple and volumes present many. Almost all lived to te 11 the of which are fascinating and tale." Boyle and Ardill, lATENT f(&!Tfz'!S plausible. A S/HIIRc.fNTR:DW Of the two, that written by Fred also have an im­ Ot:ENI!II!IIY WHICH~ pressive pedigree. ALSD A/M'Dfi!I¥D lW Pearce, news editor of New Scien­ 7Hl5 ltT/1110~ tist and an unashamed 'techno Stewart Boyle, fixer•, presents the most elaborate former FoE energy schemes. campaigner, is the Energy and En­ reasonable, which for my money He cites Leon Sadler of the vironment Programme Director of they manage extremely well, University of Alabama who believes the Association for the Conservation producing a 26 page quest to find that we could counteract the effect of Energy; John Ardill is the something constructive to say about of CFC's by injecting ozone into Guardian's environment correspon­ the industry whilst extinguishing any the stratosphere. Pearce writes, dent. Their book is far more attrac­ flicker of light Ol) the nuclear "You could hitch small generators to tive to those who are worried about horizon. ordinary commercial and military a future based on nuclear power. Their vision is most likely to aircraft, which could spray ozone as As both books are on the same succeed and least likely to be they go about their usual flights; subject they have many similarities, adopted. you could use 'guns' to shoot frozen however their treatment can be at I recommend both. Books to read ozone 'bullets' into the upper at­ times surprisingly different. This is whilst listening to Leonard Cohen mosphere •••• " This is necessary, he best iJlustrated by their treatment records. believes, because the reductions of nuclear debate: Boyle and Ardill that wiU be brought about by the t ry e x t r e m e ly h a rd to b e MIKE TOWNSLEY

August,/September '89 27 _ £1TTLE BLACK R ,;,__;AB;::;...... ::B;:,_;__IT.;..______

Little Black Rabbi t 's pond. But du r ing February and Bruce for the Liberal Democrats friends in the Nuclear Free March, Ranger released water from asks Cecil to acknowledge that he Local Authorities have RP4 on three separate occasions is only interested in maximising the wriggled out of a po ten­ in to the Magela Creek. These industry's share price. "The only tially sticky situation by "irresponsible actions" are making it thing that is green about Conserva­ declaring that "the current increas i ngly difficult for the tive Members is the colour of their debate over Labour's defence policy Aboriginal people to trust the min­ wellies." is not an issue" for them. ing company. They weren't even Tony Benn, who ordered Torness "Unilateralism" t he y told LBR "is told about t he release and are and Heysham B asked Cecil if he but one process that can be adopted demanding a full inquiry. Hence the was aware that "nuclear power in by Central Government to achieve a need for a PR stunt. LBR wonders Britain is not, and never has been, nuclear-weapons free Britain." NFZs if, like Michael Howard, Barry economic in any sense of the term strive to inform the publ ic about Coulter was ill the day after. . .. how could he say that he had nuclear developments, because "only Meam•·hile the Australian Labor no idea of the cost of nuclear an infor med public opinion can Party is t..arrying out its own Policy power until he tried to sell it off?" judge how it wishes to see a Review . The antipodean ver sion Presumably Tony Benn knew all nuclear-free Britain achieved." specifically deals with Uranium about the cost of nuclear power LBR is not going to be drawn Policy and includes public hearings when he ordered Torness. Parkinson, into the messy debate about how to around the country (see SCRAM 7 I). of course points out Tony Benn's rid these Isles of nuc lear weapons. The response from anti-uranium record and says "for him to come Suffice it to say that the 'fast activists has so far overwhelmed over at his sanctimonious worst is breeding' fraternity are generally of the Policy Review Committee. Of almost beneath contempt". the o pi n ion t hat an end to course they will not have been slow Alex Salmond (SNP) asks if "there reprocessing would be a good start. to point out that another way to [is] any limit to the amount that stop nucle'ar weapons is to leave the Government are prepared to Michael Howard, the MP uranium 1n the ground. spend to keep the nuclear show on who drank a sample of the the road?" liqu id effluent from the Tony Blair's famous Bruce Grocott (Lab) asks Cecil if Magnox Dissolut ion Plant speech on the de cision he realises that he has exposed "the at Dungeness, (and would­ not to pr ivatise the complete absence of principle be­ be Water privatiser) has Magnox reactors isn't hind the Government's privatisation star ted a new trend. the on ly amusing speech policy? lt is based upon the politi­ In Februar y, not to be outdone by LBR found in Hansard cal expediency of rewarding friends the "Poms", Northern Te rr i tor ies on 24 July. in the City." Minister for Mines and Ene r gy, Ceci l Pa r kinson congratulated Alan Williams, one of Labour's Barr y Cou It er, drank a glass of Tony for "a fine display of rhetoric" environment spokespeople calls the water from Retention Pond No4 but e xplained that "the magnoxes, statement "a miserable climb-down". (RP4) at the Ranger Ura nium Mine. virt ually to a station, were commis­ He asks is it not true that the City Run-off from waste uranium ore sioned and built during the lifetimes "is just as unhappy about AGRs and is supposed to be retained in the of Labour Gover nments." Malcolm PWRs as it is about Magnoxes?" Three ways tc;> fight the nuclear industry

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