Journal
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Fuel Store Controversy p 3 Magnox - Are They Safe? ~~ ~ -- ·-- 1 Coal Emissions - No Easy Solution 11.::=:.~~ CONTENTS COMMENT .Fuel Store Controversy 3 A year ago Babcock, the West of Scotland boiler STEVE MARTIN reports on the growing manufacturers, made 620 workers redundant due opposition to dry store proposals. News 4-6 to a lack of orders. They have now announced a Finnish Nuclear Power 7 further 475 job losses, despite securing Following a visit to Finland this summer, contracts for steam generators and pipework THOM DIBDIN reveals faults in their reactors. for Sizewell B. This makes 5000 redundancies Hinkley C - The Campaign Begins. 8 in 5 years. The STUC believe the Government CRISPIN AUBREY explains how the campaign against the second PWR is building. should hove brought forward orders for coal Mognox - Are They Safe? 9 fired stations instead of freezing orders during The Nil have given Bradwell a conditional the Sizewell Inquiry. However, it's difficult extension. JAMES GARRET asks whether to imagine, such a pro-nuclear government Berkeley will get the same treatment. announcing coal stations in the middle of o Energy Review Continues 10 MIKE MALINA gives the background to the nuclear inquiry and so soon after the miners' TUC's decision to continue their nuclear strike. energy review. The future of the UK Power Engineering US Waste Mess 11 Industry now looks pretty bleak. Lord Marshall PETE ROCHE has been looking at the current has already mode it plain to the TUC Energy US nuclear waste management proposals. Juggling With Figures 12-13 Committee that he does not wont two British DAVID WEBSTER analyses the NRPB's suppliers of power station equipment. In other technical appendices to their EEC Chernobyl words, after privatisation, NEI-Porsons would report, and concludes it was misleading. be superfluous. GEC-Bobcock, Morsholl's Playing With Robots 14 preferred choice, would probably be forced to With the announcement that the Windscale piles are to be decommissioned PETE ROCHE compete with overseas suppliers like Mitsubishi examines the present status of decommissioning. of Japan. Business As Usual 15 The NUM in Sheffield reckon that 100,000 PATRICK GREEN reports on the ICRP's jobs ore at risk because of privatisation, and decision not to change their regulations. another 70,000 jobs could be lost by the knock Cool Emissions - No Easy Solution 16-17 on effects. MIKE TOWNSLEY investigates the different systems for limiting emissions from coal-fired There is no doubt that we urgently need power stations. changes in the way our electricity industry is Cornish Energy Study 18 organised. We need to make sure that energy CHARMIAN LARKE reports on the progress conservation con compete fairly with new of the Cornwall Energy Project's work to supply; we need to ensure small generators - reduce energy consumption in the County. Appropriate Technology. 19-21 preferably dominated by local authority-run Reviews. 22-23 CHP stations and small-scale renewable Little Black Rabbit 24 projects - con receive o reasonable price for electricity which they produce; we need to CRISPIN AUBREY is a journalist and local introduce more democracy into what has organiser for Stop Hinkley Expansion. become o bureaucratic monster. JAMES GARRETT is a freelance journalist However, we are not convinced, as some working in Bristol. people seem to be, that privatisation is the MIKE MALINA is eo-choir of the Socialist best hope for closing down nuclear power on Environment & Resources Association. the grounds of econpmics. Cecil Porkinson has DAVID WEBSTER is a senior housing officer made it quite clear that he is determined to maintain 0 substantial nuclear programme. with the city of Glasgow. After all there ore plenty of ways of hiding PATRICK GREEN is FoE's radiation consultant subsidies to the nuclear industry - top secret CHARMIAN LARKE is Director of the defence payments for plutonium, for example. Cornwall Energy Project. They hod better think again before they find Views expressed in articles appearing in this themselves supporting something which Journal ore not necessarily those of SCRAM. threatens 170,000 jobs. Editor: Steve Martin News Editor: Thorn Dibdin Features Editor: Pete Roche Appropriate Technology: Mike T ownsley This Journal is produced for the British Anti-Nuclear and Safe Energy movements by the Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace. We welcome contributions of articles, news, graphics and photographs. Deadline for the next issue: Articles (900 words/pdge), 4 December News & graphics, 11 December ISSN 0140 7340 Bi-monthly.
SCRAM, 11 Forth Street, Edinburgh EHl 3LE. Tel: 031 557 4283/4. 2 SCRAM. Journal November/December 1987 Fuel Store Controversy below those of foreign contracts. At Rumours of a dry storage facility to be built at Chapelcross, the signing of the £1.6 billion contract have intensified the anti-nuclear waste struggle in South West for the first ten years' worth of AGR Scotland yet again. STEVE MARTIN analyses recent develop fuel in April 1986, the electricity board chairmen announced that they ments and the nuclear industry's motives. were getting a better deal than The nuclear industry are trying to Lancaster City Council's Policy overseas customers. maintain a low profile over plans for a Committee in April, Labour Group The current dry store proposal is £200 million spent fuel dry storage Leader Abbot Bryning said, "I have seen os an insurance policy against facility, despite an announcement mode sometimes thought in the post that we increased costs, or THORP being out in April lost year that they were ore a bit of a soft option when it of commission for long periods due to interested in building such a plant. comes to the construction of nuclear accident or maintenance - it will be The announcement was mode jointly power sites." capable of storage for up to 100 years. by the Central Electricity Generating In south-west Scotland political Because the plant is a CEGB/SSEB Board (CEGB) and the South of opinion is divided - Nithsdale District initiative, BNFL would like to have it Scotland Electricity Board (SSEB) when Council and Dumfries and Galloway on their land so they can have an they signed contracts with British Regional Council hove both passed input into management and operational Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) for reprocessing motions opposing the development; decisions. The CEGB ore reported to irradiated fuel from their Advanced Stewortry District ore marginally in be in favour of their site so they con Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs). Two favour; and Annondole and Eskdole dictate terms and use it os a possible locations have been suggested District, in whose area the plant lies, bargaining counter when the time - the CEGB's Heyshom nuclear power "do not oppose" it. comes to negotiate the terms of the station near Lancaster, and BNFL's At a public meeting in Dumfries next ten year contract. Chopelcross works near Annon in south on 17 September nearly 100 people west Scotland. voted overwhelmingly to oppose the TRANSPORT CONGESTION Observers see the emergence of the plans, and a 'watchdog' committee has two possible sites os the public been set up to monitor developments Whereas dry storage of spent fuel manifestation of a bitter feud within and focus opposition. is preferable to reprocessing because the nuclear industry. The CEGB would it does not disperse radioactivity like to see the plant built at Heyshom, JOBS BLACKMAIL throughout the environment, one single but BNFL have proposed Chapelcross. In centralised facility is not the answer. either case the plant is to be built by The proponents of each site hove It will mean spent fuel from all the the electricity boards. advanced employment arguments to UK's AGR and PWR stations (and high The proposed dry store, which will support their choice. At Lancaster level waste from Sellafield) converging cover an area of 20 hectares, is meant construction work is nearing on tile chosen site; overseas spent fuel os on interim 'buffer' store for spent completion on Heyshom 2, the second should also not be discounted. fuel from the UK's 14 AGRs awaiting AGR power station there, with the The store has been designed by the treatment at Sellofield. The Thermal consequent effect on unemployment National Nuclear Corporation and could Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) is le.,els. Chapelcross is the second oldest handle ten spent fuel flasks a day, currently under construction, and will nuclear complex in the country, the requiring 3 to 5 trainloods arriving not be fully operational until 1992. first of its four 60MW(e) plutonium each day. Chapelcross does not production mognox reactors was presently have a direct roil link and OPPOSITION GROWING commissioned in February 1959, and spent fuel from the site, and its according to BNFL, "We hove to look nearest railway station at Annan has The CEGB soy they need the buffer to the long-term future of Chopelcross. now been downrated to an unstaffed store because the stainless steel The power station is not going to run halt; without a rail link the south-west cladding of AGR fuel slowly corrodes forever." Sir Hector Munro, Tory MP corner of Scotland faces the prospect if kept under water, the current for Dumfries, is backing the plans of ten slow-moving low-loader nuclear storage system, for over 10 years. because it could create 100 full-time transports a day moving through a The store will also be capable of jobs and 1700 construction jobs - the particularly congested section of taking spent fuel from Pressurised complex currently employs 650 people. motorway. Water Reactors (PWRs) and even However, employment is on issue It appears that the communities of vitrified high level nuclear waste. which the nuclear industry is fond of Lancaster and Annon ore being used os Concern has already been expressed using in these days of increasing pawns in a dispute within the nuclear in both areas. At a meeting of opposition to their activities. They foil industry: they are being bribed with to draw attention to the loss of jobs the prospect of a few permanent jobs in the coal mining industry as a result and slightly more construction jobs NUCLEAR BRITAIN of nuclear power policies, or the which, on post experience, will go to potential loss of jobs if the electricity outside sub-contractors. industry is privatised. The employment NIREX is about to begin a "public problem in such areas os Sellofield and consultation" on nuclear waste disposal Dounreay is because of the nuclear routes - the go-ahead for a dry store industry and the planning blight which at either site, with a capability of it creates, not despite it. storing spent fuel and nuclear waste for up to 100 years, would pre-empt INSURANCE POLICY this consultation. Opponents believe that allowing this development would The real reason behind the give the nuclear industry a back door competing locations for the dry store solution to nuclear waste. It is not is internal nuclear politics. In 1984 a likely a decision on siting will be CEGB memorandum recorded a decision made in the near future because, os to postpone "os far as possible" the Mr McDougol, the Chopelcross reprocessing of spent fuel from the Superintendent, admits, the electricity Sizewell 8 PWR, and opted instead for industry "have a lot on their plate at its long-term storage along with AGR the moment" with plans for fuel. It is widely believed that this privatisation. Strong opposition should was a ploy to put pressure on BNFL be mounted now, before a planning to reduce domestic reprocessing costs application is lodged. SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 3 News l...... Le ...... u~k ...... ae...... ,m __ ia __ __.l lFast Breeders
Conclusions from three new cancer The European fast reactor programme continue to reverberate for some time. studies add weight to the argument received a setback when it was Research into whether the reactor that childhood leukaemias cluster revealed that no new fast reactors can run without the flask is not due around nuclear instalotions. will be built for at least five years. to start before next year. Until this Two of the studies, reported in the The announcement, made in happens, it will not receive a British Medical :Journal,* ore a result September by the five countries commercial licence. of recommendations made in the 1984 involved: France, Belgium, West According to Mycle Schneider of Black report into the increase of Germany, Italy and Britain, means WISE Paris, this could have severe cancer in West Cumbria. They examine that plans to build three large fast implications for safety, as many of mortality in children who attended reactors, to individual countries' the contractors at the plant w111 not school in Seasc:ale, but were born designs, have been withdrawn. The get paid until the licence is granted. elsewhere (the school cohort), and countries now intend to seek a This will make the incentive to get children born to mothers resident in common breeder design by 1992. the reactor back on stream, come Seoscale (the birth cohort). Seasc:ale is The agreement could also scupper what may, very high. the closest parish to Sellafield. plans f.or the European Demonstration Local authorities are also loosing The third study, reported in Reprocessing Plant (EDRP} at out, as they were promised financial Nature,** examines the incidence of Dounreay. The French now claim that incentives for hosting the reactor. cancer mortalities near nuclear spent fast reactor fuel could be Although they w111 not receive any installations in England and Wales, "coprocessed" alongside conventional cash until the licence is granted, irrespective of place of birth. fuel. This would get round the need many of them have already started to Using information from the Office of for EDRP. The UKAEA, however, are spend it. Population Censuses and Surveys reported to remain sceptical that (OPCS), it concludes that there has coprocessing would be cost effective been "no general increase" in such for commercial scale use. IDounreaY-, __ ___. mortalities. However, "leukaemia in The decision on where the next young people may be an exception, reactor would be sited has also been The "findings of fact" from the though the reason remains unclear". put off. Siting of the first of the Dounreay inquiry have been reworded The BMJ studies show that while original three reactors has always by the Mr Bell, the Inquiry Reporter, there is no leukaemia increase in the been an obstacle to progress, with on the question of leukaemia clusters. schools cohort, leukaemias in the birth France and West Germany both vying The draft has been changed to cohort were ten times those expected. for the dubious privilege. read: "the statistical evidence supports According to the reports, this raises The European breeder programme the claim that the West Thurso the question of whether any locality has been hampered for some time, leukaemia cluster is unlikely to be due specific: factors before birth or in with the licensing problems at Kalkar to chance, but the evidence is early life caused the excess. Although (SCRAM 61) and the sodium leak at inconclusive", and that "there is a the authors say that the studies Superphenix in France. cause for concern requiring further cannot answer this, they hope that Another implication of the investigations." another, control, study in West decision could be that Italy may have Following further representations Cumbria will "provide relevant to withdraw from the collaboration. from the Shetland Area Medical information". One of the issues in the Referendum Committee, the need for an Previously, the Oxford Survey of on 8 November, concerns the investigation was accepted as being Childhood Cancers, has shown strong portic:ipation of the State electricity "urgent". The final report is expected evidence that all juvenile cancers authority, Enel, in the construction to be presented to the Secretary of have foetal origins. Dr. Alic:e and operation of nuclear stations State for Scotland before Christmas. Stewart, who lead the Oxford Suivey, outside Italy. The Shetland Times have hailed the told SCRAM that "once again it is e Although the Sodium leak at changes as a "famous victory" for the coming down that the really dangerous Superphenix was found on 5 objectors, won by their "persistence time is during foetal exposure". September, financial and safety and' scrupulous adherence to purely A problem with the Nature survey repercussions from the leak will factual evidence". is the crudeness of the OPCS statistics. It seems that the leukaemia cluster debate will continue until ISellafield Waste surveys, similar to those reported in the BMJ, are carried out around all UK BNFL are proposing to dump kilometre from the coast. Access nuclear installations. Intermediate Level Waste (ILW} in a would be via tunnels sunk within the *British Medical :Journal, 3/10/87 repository under the seabed near Sellafield site. This would "minimise Volume 2!1S, pages 81!1 to 827 Sellafield. provocation and possible disturbance **Nature, 8/10/87, Volume 32!1, The project is said to be only one by anti-nuclear activists", according to pages 4!1!1 to SOS of several options being studied by documents obtained by Cumbrians BNFL, who have been told by Opposed to a Radioactive Environment Copeland District Council that they (CORE). IDemo have to solve the ILW problem before The CORE documents also indicate the Enhanced Actinide Enrichment that the waste would be neither A demonstration will take place at Plant can became operational. retrievable nor monitorable. It will be Capenhurst fuel fabrication plant on 14 The waste position at Sellafield placed in galleries perpendicular to November. is becoming increasingly precarious, the access tunnel. Once the galleries Joint organisers, the Anti-Nuclear as discharges to the sea are reduced are full, they will be back filled with Network and Merseyside CND say that and the Low Level Site at nearby concrete. they have chosen Capenhurst for its Drlgg becomes full. According to the The plans are independent from involvement in both the civil and latest report from the Government's the NIREX proposals, although BNFL military nuclear cycles. Radioactive Waste Management claim to have informed members of Assemble: Unemployed Centre, King Advisory Committee, estimates for the the NIREX committee. However, BNFL Street, Ellesmere Port, Wirral, at total volume of waste expected at have not ruled out the possibillty 12.30 to march to the plant for Rally Drigg have been revised upwards by of an international facility at CONTACT: Merseyside CND, 24 30%. Sellafleld. They have said that they Hardman Street, Liverpool. The repository will be about 800 would see this as extension of their Tel: OS1-708 7764 metres below the seabed and half a. existing business. SCRAM Jou.rnol November/December 1987 News Accidents Will TRANSPORT TRAWSFYNYDD USA e A contaminated railway wagon e The recent rash of low flying e Safety violations and worker travelled from Sellafleld to Heysham aircraft crashes has raised fears exposures have been revealed at the where lt stood for four months before about the sofety of Trawsfynydd, in US Government's nuclear weapons radioactive rust fell onto the tracks Snowdonia notional park. reactors, in a draft Congressional and was detected during o "routine Local press reports, that RAF memorandum obtained by the New check" In August. jets regularly bu:u the station, did York Post. A confidential CEGB report, not receive much attention until One of Its findings Is that workers revealed In the Guardian (27 August), August, when the CEGB disclosed that at the 'N' reactor, at Hanford in says that 10% of all flasks and flotrols aircraft breach the plant's avoidance Washington state, were deliberately used to carry them ore contaminated. zone as much as once a month. exposed to maximum allowable This Is reported to be a "considerable Although the jets ore not supposed radiation doses. This contravenes Improvement". to fly lower than 300 feet, they Federal policy that worker exposure often fly os low os 100 feet. should be kept os low as reasonably BERKLEY Trawsfynydd Is 150 feet high and achievable. Also at Honford, radiation jets regularly fly up the volley, alarms were turned off In a high e Two workers received contamination "obviously targeting on the power level waste store, because they were to their skln during maintenance work station" according to local residents. being set off by high winds. on the secondary shielding at the e Over 3,000 "mishaps•, including number 1 reactor at Berkley In August. HEYSHAM 678 scrams, occured in US nuclear According to the station's staff power plants during 1986, according newsletter, the contamination was e Reactor 2 at Heyshom suffered a to a new study from Public Citizen, safely removed, scram on 10 October, because of a a US consumer organisation. Over the fault on the main electrical system. year, fines totoling $4 million were DOUNREAY The reactor was down for a week ·rmposed for a variety of management before the fault was mended. lapses. e The Prototype Fast Reactor at ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Dounreay had to reduce power In early FRANCE Whilst we would like this list of October, because seaweed had entered the cooling water pump house. lt hod "incidents" to be comprehensive, we e One of the PWRs at Trlcastln In do not hear of every accident. passed through a special £2 mllllon south-east France suffered a loss of seaweed barrier, built only lost year. Any local Information and press coolant during it's statutory five year cuttings will be gratefully received. overhaul ln late August. • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• SELLAFIELD e Workers at Sellafleld took 80 ITorness minutes to find a leak of radioactive CO'l at the plant on " September. The Incident led to contamination of on .I area near the Colder Hall reactor. r e Two workers were contaminated by radiation from a vacuum cleaner, In late August. The workers were withdrawn from normal duties. HUNTERSTON e About two tonnes of "mildly radioactive" co'l leaked from the gas treatment plant of the number 2 AGR at Hunterston on 15 August. The SSEB told SCRAM that the leak occurred In the joint of a flange of o plpe Inside the plant. They dld not say what caused the leak. During the Incident the reacto.r was "maintained at nominal full load". FIREMEN FOIL FICTITIOUS FLASK-FIRE FLAMES - SHOCK! DUNGENESS Firemen gave anti-nuclear and NUM next cloys papers! e The Dungeness Magnox reactors plc:kets the 'thumbs-up' on their way Not only was there no fire, but had to be closed down during the to the latest SSEB flask test force. the flask was a fake os well. Not storms of 16 .0ctober not, as has Despite the damp and dreary that this worried the firemen, who been widely reported, because of grid morning, the protesters were out In happily poured water everywhere. failures, but because the system force and hod a fine time - more So what was the point of t he frequency was Increasing, causing the than can be said for the watching exerc.lse? generators to run too fast. media people. The SSEB soy lt was to test the e Plans to expand a runway at Lydd This was a shame, because the emergency services in case of on airport, which posses only 850 yards SSEB press officers hod arranged the accident to o spent fuel flask on from Dungeness, are causing local spectacle for maximum publicity. its way from T orness to Sellofield. concern. The airport authority told After spending two hours In the So why t est it in o marshalling SCRAM that the extension will not pouring roln, waiting for the yard and not on the railway llne In take the runway any closer to the radiation monitoring teams to travel the outskirts of Edinburgh? station. The CEGB sold, however, that the short distance from T orness, the Well, according to o policeman they ore "considering the lmpllcotlons media folk were well and truly at the test: "We just don't have the for the A, B and possible C stations." browned off, and lt showed In the personnel to cope"! SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 s News ~lli;..-..ce~n;;.;;..ce~Ro.;;..;.w.,;,.._..___,f IMalaY...... sia...._ _ ___.l IProliferation After the Three Mile Island accident, Contempt proceedings have been filed The BNFL-led consortium: British the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission against the Malaysian company, Asian Nuclear Technology. (BNT) is (NRC) decided that it would be a Rare Earth, (ARE), for allegedly negotiating to export reprocessing condition of future operating licences dumping radioactive wastes from their technology, in contravention of the that there should not merely be an factory near lpoh. Non Proliferation Treaty. evacuation plan, but the relevant local The proceedings were brought by Reprocessing of nuclear fuel is a authority should also approve the plan. eight local residents for alleged vital step in the production of The evacuation plans for both contempt of an injunction granted to weapons grade plutonium. Shoreham on Long Island and Seabrook them by the Malaysian High Court in Formed to exploit the international In New Hampshire have been declared 1985 (SCRAM 52). The original market in reprocessing and waste inadequate by at least some of the injunction restrained ARE from management (SCRAM 61 ), BNT sees local authorities concerned. The NRC producing, storing and keeping the American military, who want to have, therefore, been unable to give radioactive wastes at their factory in increase their plutonium production, as the two long-since completed nuclear such a manner to cause the escape of forming an important part of this stations an operating licence. radioactive gases. market. The same technology will be The NRC now realise they made a The ARE factory is in the village made available to countries who do mistake in 1980, when they gave local of Bukit Merah, some 45km from Ipoh, not possess nudear weapons. interests such a powerful voice, and in the province of Perak. The factory ore attempting to take back the processes monazite from tin tailings, In 1978, the Labour Government responsibility for deciding whether to produce Yttrium. Radioactive sited non-proliferation as a operators' evacuation plans are Thorium Hydroxide, which has a half justification for building THORP at adequate. Unfortunately for them, this life of over a million years, is a by Sellafield. Or Owen, then Foreign decision could well be challenged in product of the process. Secretary, 1old the Commons that the courts. With an election coming The contempt proceedings are being extra reprocessing plant should be up, the owners of the two plants are brought on the advice of Mr Justice limited, "the best way to do that is reconciling themselves to the further Peh, who presided over a previous, to remove the incentive for the their postponement of commissioning. week long, action brought by the same construction by offering the services plaintiffs in early September. of our own expanded plant, particularly During this hearing ARE admitted to non-nuclear weapons states". Now that they are continuing to operate that THORP is nearing completion, the IUnion News the factory, but insisted that they are members of BNT want to exploit the doing so with a licence from the experience they have gained in building Abolition of nuclear power in West Atomic Energy Licensing Authority. and designing the plant. Germany would not cause any ARE argued that the 1985 injunction BNFL are already progressing to employment problems, according to a is a "qualified injunction to restrain the contract stage on two deals, with recent report commissioned by the production if it is not safe". West Germany and Japan. Although West German trade union OTV. The plaintiffs, however, produced these projects will remain with BNFL, The findings of the report, evidence showing that the waste is future enquiries will be directed to "Alternative Employment Opportunities still being stored on site in inadequate BNT. for Nuclear Power Workers", have containers. They also stated that During the seventies the nuclear angered pro-nuclear members of OTV following a visit by Rosalie Bertell to weapons states agreed to "exercise who described them as "totally the factory on I 0 April, she asserted restraint" in the export of "sensitive" unrealistic". They are particularly irate that it was her "professional opinion facilities and technology, including because the report's author, Professor the ARE debris and radioactive reprocessing. Although BNFL and BNT Wolfgang Pfaffenberger, was chosen to gaseous releases were still producing claim that all contracts will be subject produc;e a suitably biased report by the a hazard off-site for residents using to government approval, it is unlikely unions pro-nuclear energy specialist the public road near the plant or that they will find many customers Korl Hoffman. Pfaffenberger concludes those who live or work nearby". unless the Government abandons a that "the employment argument is no The contempt proceedings are due major plank of its non-proliferation argument at all". to be heard from 9-14 November. policy. Industry claims that a nuclear phase out would entail over a quarter of a million redundancies. However, INews in brief- Pfaffenberger states that only two areas would experience problems. URENCO COURT CASE DAYA BAY FAULTS Workers in Grohnde and Wurgassen might have move south to find URENCO and the Dutch Government Construction faults have halted work alternative employment. have been given until I December to at China's Daya Bay nuclear power OTV, which have over 100,000 prepare their defence in the ease station. members in the nuclear industry, is being brought against them in The Fewer than half the required metal divided on the nuclear issue. However, Hague. reinforcing bars were used in the a majority of the 61 member executive The case, being brought under UN station's foundations. Claims by the favour a change to non-nuclear Decree number 1, for allegedly builders that this problem can be power sources as soon as possible. processing Namibian uranium, could rectified at a later date have been e In the UK, the National Union of have important consequences for BNFL met with scepticism in nearby Hong Mineworkers'(NUM) research depart who, as well as having a part share in Kong. Objectors to Daya Bay point out ment have produced a report entitled URENCO, admit to processing Namibion that such an elementary fault calls "The Sale of the Century: Privatising uranium. into question the ability of contractors Power". The report concludes that NIREX DOCUMENT to adequately complete more complex 100,000 jobs in electricity, cool, rail, parts of the reactor. sea and power engineering will almost The NIREX consultative document on SPANISH WASTE certainly be lost as a direct result of the siting of o repository for low and privatising the electricity industry. intermediate level nuclear waste will Spain has abandoned all plans to build The knock-on effects would produce be published on 12 November. an underground waste laboratory in the an additional 70-100,000 job losses. Copies of the document will be Salamanca region, following Portuguese Contact: Dave Fycart, NUM, St 3ames available from NIREX, Curie Avenue, opposition and particularly virulent House, Vicar Lane, Sheffield, 51 2EX. Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire. local protests. 6 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 ,.__...... _,.... tltltcaldly, , .. Finnish Nuclear Power __.,.... '* tees • -plantS ....1702 2074 2015 Ccaoumpaoa u ·- ...·- About one third of Finland's electricity consumption is provided am ens• 13115 12211 ....12287 23 H)'dlo-r • by nuclear power, more than from any other single source, and 10388 12113 12424 23 -Nucleor- 177119 17980 18011 lloclc---Oobet On 27 August, the CEGB officially which the CEGB needs to bring in submitted its expected planning construction traffic, and where to application to build a PWR at Hinkley put a workers' hostel to house 400 Point, known as Hinkley C. Whether single building workers expected to they make any progress depends in arrive. The latter are seen as a part on national factors, including the potential hazard in a small rural privatisation of electricity supply, but community, the former as a threat also on how fast the growing to local people's peace (and property opposition in the South West can be values). No solution has yet been objectors to Hinkley C. A recent developed. found to either. straw poll in the daily South Wales The new reactor would join the The CEGB has been desperately Echo produced a· 13 to 1 vote against line of stations facing across the sea throwing money at these problems, the PWR. to South Wales, and within 20 miles of with every village in the area hoping We hove also found a new advocate both Cardiff and the outskirts of to get a windfall of at least a village in one Waiter Marshall. The Lord Bristol. The Severn estuary would hall. Local councillors have been managed to ensure more enemies in have a total of ten reactors, the flown up to Torness to see the Somerset by promising on the recent highest concentration anywhere in 'palatial' hostel, and came back saying 'Brass Tacks' BBC2 nuclear power Britain. they would love one. Next month they series that the CEGB were 'going to The mechanics of the planning are going on a similarly expensive trip be working on the Hinkley site procedure are these. Objections to to see a working PWR in France. The virtually for ever'. Hopefully, this was the new reactor must be sent to the CEGB hopes they will come back just a reference to the time it will Department of Energy before the end loving that as well. There has also take the Board to bury its previous of November. The two local been a flood of glossy brochures on mistakes. authorities directly affected - West the new station and a travelling Somerset District Council and exhibition. Objections to the Hinkley Point C Somerset County Council - ore also SHE is responding on several PWR should be sent to: asking for representations. These will fronts. Thousands of objection 1) Department of Energy, in turn be passed on to the DoEn. postcards have been printed - one Electricity Division, At the same time, a consultation enclosed with this magazine - Thames House South, process has been started by the two although a letter to one of the Mill bank, councils, with a series of public addresses at the end would be even LONDON, meetings and invitations to comment better. We're also sending out our SW! 4QJ. going out to organisations in the own leaflets to as many organisations region. This will continue until the as possible, and even preparing our 2) West Somerset District Council, end of the year. own Safe Energy Roadshow to counter Killick Way, The public enquiry is expected to the CEGB's mobile unit. Discussions Williton, be held in Taunton, the county town, are also continuing between all Taunton, either in the Spring or Autumn of organisations which may be interested Somerset. 1988. The DoEn, with the CEGB at its in being represented as objectors at shoulder, is pushing for the spring, the the public enquiry. More information from Stop Hinkley fastest timetable, the County Council Strong support for SHE continues Expansion c/o Hockpitt Farm, Nether for the Autumn - in order to give it to come from Wales. Dyfed and West Stowey, Bridgewater, Somerset, T A5 time to prepare its case. Glamorgan County Councils are the 1EX. Please send a small donation to One crucial difference between latest to signal their stand as cover postage costs. Sizewell and Hinkley Point is the fact that the County Council is a serious objector. A policy was passed in the wake of Chernobyl which committed the Liberal-led authority to oppose a /35 mile radi~AS PWR. A budget of £250,000 has been set aside for its case at the public Brecon• enquiry, and consultants are in the process of being appointed. One uncertainty, however, is precisely what the 'terms of reference' of any Hinkley enquiry will be, especially after the Suffolk marathon. The CEGB and DoEn are understood to be still keen to keep these as narrow as possible, ie 'site specific', to use the jargon. The County Council wants to raise much more, including the whole economic debate. Stop Hinkley Expansion (SHE), as the main local pressure group, is also involved in lobbying to ensure that as many as possible of the critical issues, from safety through to health effects, ore given a proper platform. Two 'site specific' issues have meanwhile developed their own head Map shows the Severn Estuary with nuclear power stations and line of steam - the routes of new roads marking the 35-mile radius within which tests are made for radiation. 8 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 Magnox - Are They Safe? the NU to coli for o number of improvements, most of them similar The Nil long term safety review of Brad well, publlshed In July, to those demanded ot Brodwell. They called for 17 key areas of reactor safety to be overhauled. The have set aside £.5 million to cover the next review, of Berkeley, Is expected to call for similar work cost of the work likely to be demanded. when lt ls published next year. JAMES GARRETT looks at the Mr Joynston says, "Most of us history of the station, and describes local fears that lt may be would be very surprised if either of responsible for two leukaemia hotspots. those stations stopped generating before 1992. I am optimistic that we The world's first commercial nuclear The other cluster Is around Lydney, con satisfy the Nil that Berkeley con power station, at Berkeley In immediately opposite Berkeley and be licensed for o further period of Gloucestershire, was ordered in 19.56. Oldbury, on the other bonk of the operation.n lt was due to have been ln operation Severn. Between 1979 and 1983 6 by 1961 but electricity didn't start children under the age of 7 were OLD SAFETY PRINCIPLES flowing lnto the Notional Grld until 12 diagnosed os having leukaemia or June 19 62 - 1.5 months late. Hodgkin's Disease. In 1980 there were The CEGB is lucky that the The generating cost when it started 12 cases of leukaemia or lymphoma Inspectors won't be judging up was 0 •.51p a unit, compared with among adults in the area ~ only 3.5 Berkeley's present performance 0.2p for the Central Electricity were e.xpec:ted. against modern safety stondo.rds. Generating Board's (CEGB) latest cool Once again accusing fingers were Instead, they'll be comparing it fired station. The original tender was pointed at the two nuclear plants, with the safety principles of the just under £1.50 per kilowatt of output. especially after those c:ompolgnlng for plant when it was constructed. By early 1962, the cost had reached a public: inquiry into the phenomenon Berkeley wasn't built to withstand £167/kW. found that radioactive discharges into any kind of seismic shock, even In 1962 the then Chairman, Lord the river hod been for higher than though that's now a key safety Hlnton, told the House of Commons normal In 1976 and 19n - about the issue. Select Committee on Nationalised time when the sufferers might hove The current publicity brochure, Industries, "The costs which are being Initially contracted the diseases. published in 1984, describes the station achieved on Berkeley and Brodwell ore Severnslde Campaign Against os having achieved a lifetime load well above the costs which were Radiation (SCAR), understand that foetor of 67%. Mr Joynson described estimated when both those stations 1976 was the lost time Berkeley's this os "respectable by ony measure. were put In hand." Nowadays, however, cooling ponds were emptied Into the By the time you take into account the CEGB Insist that Berkeley Is Severn. This was the year of the lost statutory shutdowns which ore o little "very, very profitable Indeed." great drought, when many children longer on o nuclear station than o Since 1962 Berkeley, like all played In the river, which was reduced conventional station, it is quite Britain's nuclear stations, has had o to a trickle. With so little water, it respectable." mixed career. Deputy manager Dennis would hove token o long time for any Asked how o station which started Joynson says, •u has had quite a radioactive materials dumped to be life by producing electricity more than robust history. lt Is a little bit like washed out to sea. twice os costly os cool-fired stations some of the older motor cars. It The CEGB hove since denied that con now be "very, very profitable might hove locked some of the bolt-on their officials admitted the ponds indeed," Mr Joynson suggests the goodies, but lt was very solidly were emptied into the river. However, Increase in the station's expected life engineered." SCAR spokesperson Brion Howison from 20 to 30 years is responsible. However, older cars ore no more says, "The way the cluster has odsen, Berkeley will of course hove to immune from accidents than new ones, with no cases before and no cases close one day. The CEGB still don't and Berkeley's no exception. Reactor 1 after, seems to suggest an event. I know how they' 11 demolish the 25 year was shut down in March 1980 after wish I could prove this is what old plant. Mr Joynson says, "The crocks were discovered. lt started up happened. It would give us reassurance, Inventory of radioactive materials is again 18 months later but hod to shut os long os they didn't go and do the stiJI being refined." down again for repairs In February some thing again." It's expected to take five years to 1984, after 16 months on reduced The CEGB intend to keep Berkeley remove all the fuel rods from the output. The closure c.ost the CEGB running until 1992, when it'll be 30 reactor, and anything up to o further tens of millions of pounds In lost years old. That of course depends on 20 years to clear the rest of the site, power. the outcome of the long term safety restoring it to o green field. review being conducted by the NU. Or will lt? One option being LEUKAEMIA HOTSPOTS Already years late; the Inspectorate canvassed, although the Board soy they still can't soy when It'll be published. aren't taking it seriously, Is that the Paddy Ashdown MP says "the level The best estimate they con come up world's first commercial nuclear power of dosage received by some members with Is "early 1988." station should be •urned into o museum. of the public outside the Berkeley site Berkeley's managers o~e expecting But what would it commemorate? Is about 12 times the Nil (Nuclear Installations Inspectorate) ossesment ~----,.~~~------~ level appropriate to new power stations." And Berkeley has been unable to shake off the belief in many minds that it's responsible for two nearby cancer clusters. Northovon District is one of Britain's top 20 leukaemia hotspots. In 1984 12 people died of the disease, while there were o further 7 deaths in 1985; this compares with the notional overage, of just 3.9 cases o year. The District Council decided there was no evidence to tink the deaths with two obvious local sources of radiation, Berkeley and Oldbury nuclear power stations, but added it wasn't possible to rule out o nuclear link. Reactor 2 at Berkeley SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 9 Energy Review Continues Although this year's TUC Congress voted heavily against an anti changing tack, the result was a nuclear motion, their on-going nuclear energy review body could foregone conclusion, and second, not be described as an uncritical friend· of nuclear power. MIKE Chernobyl was a more distant memory. But most important was that the MALINA reports on the background to the TUC's nuclear debate. Labour Party hod lost its third election in o row, and many delegates, To understand the debate at this unions was that they would not including Ran Todd, General Secretary year's TUC Congress requires o fair criticise each other's 'patches'. of the TGWU, realised implicitly that amount of background knowledge. Up But on to 1987. Prior to Congress, for the next four years it didn't really to the 1985 congress, the TUC hod in July 1987, the TGWU's Biennial matter whether the TUC or TGWU always been pro-nuclear in their Delegates Conference suddenly changed were pro- or anti-nuclear: Thatcher outlook, largely because most of the from being anti-nuclear to having no would be going her own way. unions in the electricity supply policy on the issue. This was very bad It is also probable that some union industry were strongly supportive of news because the TGWU, with 1.3 delegates realised that the arguments nuclear power. million members, is the largest union were moving on and that privatisation In the early 1980s, the number of in the TUC and its vote is would provide o much stronger and unions expressing concern about· nuclear crucial in the TUC debates. The more ideological threat to the nuclear power gradually increased due to the reason for the TGWU's change of industry than union opposition. But successful lobbying campaigns of policy is difficult to ascertain given that, os they soy, is o different story. Greenpeoce, FoE, and most of all the murky deals and horse-trading SERA (the Socialist Environment and which occur at every union Resources Association) which hod built conference. But what seems to have ALL IS NOT LOST up a network of contacts in anti happened is that the Broad Left However, all is not lost with the nuclear unions. This culminated in the faction in the TGWU agreed to drop TUC, os o close examination of their famous nuclear debate at the 1986 their anti-nuclear motion if the report reveals that on increasingly Congress which was noted for its BNFL workers dropped their pro critical attitude is being token length, its vigour and the closeness nuclear motion and their threats to towards the nuclear industry. For of the final vote. In the vote, the resign from the union. example, they not only oppose Sizewell strongly worded anti-nuclear motion At the 1987 Congress, the TUC B, but also Hinkley Point C and the moved by the Fire Brigades Union lost presented a report on nuclear power EDRP at Dounreay. It welcomes the by a mere 60,000, o whisker since the which still favoured o moratorium, ordering of two cool-fired power total vote amounts to 91 million. called for the review to continue, and stations - and states that there is o for both sides to support the strong argument for retiring the older TGWU POLICY SWITCH continuation of the review. The AEU mognox stations (ie all except Oldbury (engineers) responded to this and and Wylfa) when the two new coal The narrowness of this vote dropped their pro-nuclear motion, but stations ore built. 'urprised many observers and the Arthur Scorgill (NUM) persisted with A summary of the TUC TUC: anti-nuclear unions included the his union's call for the phasing out of recommendations is contained in the TGWU (transport workers), NUM nuclear power. Given the TGWU's box. An analysis reveals that the (miners), NUJ (journalists), NUPE refusal to support this line, Scorgill's TUC is considerably more critical (public workers), SOGAT (print), call was doomed to failure and so it of the nuclear industry than the COHSE (health workers), USDAW proved to be; the Scorgill motion was Scottish TUC, which earlier this year (shopworkers), UCW (post office). heavily defeated. voted both ways on the issue - they It become quite clear that following supported Torness and Hunterston B Chernobyl, many unions outside the PR IVA TISA TION WORRIES but opposed the Dounreay EDRP and nuclear industry had said to unions called for the closure of Chopelcross within the industry: "enough is The nuclear debate this year was and Hunterston A. The TUC Congress enough." This is o surprising and o pale reflection of lost year's in 1988 will be the key to any future welcome development in the TUC, os impassioned exchange for a number of energy policy for the Trade Union and in the past accepted wisdom among reasons. First, with the TGWU Labour Movement. ·1o SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 the illusion that progress was being mode in the search for a solution to us Waste Mess the nuclear waste problem. The proposed MRS has parallels The problem of nuclear waste management is different in the with the proposed buffer store at United States to that in this country, mainly because they no Chapelcross in this country. American anti-nuclear groups, are proposing longer reprocess civil spent fuel. Disposal of the waste is just on-site storage to minimise the dangers os intractable, however, in the US os it is here. In the first involved in transporting spent fuel to of two articles, PETE ROCHE looks at the high-level waste a centralised store. The Americans, however, would have the added problem in America. In the next issue he will look at "low problem of consolidation which is at level" waste. an early stage of development, and By 1982 it was clear that there was DOE hove owned land there since 1943 may prove to be impractical due to not going to be a civil spent fuel for Its weapons production plant, and the risks to the workforce and the reprocessing programme in the US. In the site is already contaminated environment. Dry storage of that year Congress passed the Nuclear making it difficult to trace any leaks unconsalidated spent fuel assemblies Waste Policy Act (NWPA), the result from the new repository. Also the site may prove to be the safest and most of much effort and compromise. is bounded on two sides by the economical method. The DOE could Discussion involved: states, Indian Columbia River, which is a source of fulfil their commitment under the tribes, the nuclear industry, the drinking water. NWPA by accepting title to the waste Deportment of Energy (DOE), and the The gaffe was compounded when and leasing on-site storage space from environmental community. the DOE announced at the same time the utilities. The NWPA attempted to be even that they were suspending the search FINANCIAL INCENTIVES handed on a geographical basis so that for a second repository in the East, the West and East would share the claiming that they were trying to save The repository programme received burden of nuclear waste disposal, and money and that the fall off in nuclear yet another setback from the Courts in so doing it was hoped to remove construction had removed the urgency. in July this year. The Court of Appeal the danger that politics would Cynics suggested that the real reason found in. favour of three environmental interfere with the mission of safe was that the Administration wanted to groups against the Environmental nuclear waste disposal in a technically help Republicans in the East who were Protection Agency (EPA). EPA safe geological repository. feeling threatened by the nuclear regulations, which set limits on how The utilities signed up for a plan waste issue. They claim that the DOE much radiation may be released into to develop fuel burial sites and a the environment from the disposal temporary holding centre. The latter is facilities, would have allowed higher known as a "monitored retrievable contamination in groundwater than the storage" (MRS) facility. Between them Safe Drinking Water Act. The decision they have paid $2.8billion into a fund will force the EP A to set stricter managed by the DOE in the standards, and may put some of the expectation that the facilities would potential repository sites in jeopardy. be built as promised and their nuclear So now, one year later Congress waste problems would be taken care must decide whether to revive the of. programme or continue the Five years after the NWPA, the moratorium. One ideo, which has federal programme is on the verge of Join the Radioactive Waste achieved the backing of the Senate technical, legal, and political collapse. Energy & Natural Resources Representative Morris Udall, the Campaign today! Committee and the nuclear utilities, originator of the existing waste were trying to drive a wedge between is to give a large reward to any state programme has claimed that "after states affected by the nuclear waste willing to serve os a host to nuclear billions of ratepayers money hove been programme. States with powerful waste. The money saved by cancelling collected and hundreds of millions of delegations in Congress were taken duplicate site investigations ($2billion) dollars spent the programme is in off the nuclear waste hook, while could be spent on incentives. The ruins and our goal of siting a those with weak delegations were prize for a repository would be $100 repository seems further away than prepared for sacrifice. million a year, and $50million for an ever." Anti-nuclear groups ore also highly MRS. critical of the proposed MRS. The Anti-nuclear groups support a bill MISMANAGEMENT MRS would handle two kinds of being put forward by Udoll in Critics say that the DOE nuclear wastes - irradiated fuel from Congress which would put on 18 month mismanagement and misguided commercial reactors and high-level moratorium on the waste repository emphasis on a quick solution has wastes from weapons production. search, and set up on independent resulted in politics taking precedence Irradiated fuel is currently stored in commission to evaluate and make over scientific considerations leading reactor storage ponds, and high-level recommendations on the programme. to the selection of first and second liquids ore stored in tanks at DOE The similarities between the US repository sites which appear facilities at Hanford and Savannah and UK nuclear waste disposal technically unfit for the purpose. River (South Carolina). programmes ore striking. What begins There has been inadequate consultation The MRS facility would be os a scientific exercise always seems and co-operation. On top of all this constructed at the abandoned Clinch to end up os a political row. NIREX the proposed MRS facility is seen as River Breeder site near Oak Ridge, will be trying to revive their flogging ·unnecessary. Tennessee, where the irradiated fuel waste disposal programme in the After initial site screening the DOE assemblies would be taken apart and autumn with the publication of a announced on 28 May 1986 that it had the fuel rods packed closer, a process consultation paper. While responsibility three candidates for the first known os consolidation. This would be for nuclear waste disposal remains repository (Hanford, Washington; Yucca done using remote handling techniques. with a body composed mostly of Mountain, Nevada; and Deaf Smith The consolidated fuel would then be nuclear enthusiasts it's difficult to see County, Texas). Exploratory work was placed into large concrete storage how a consensus con ever be achieved. to begin shortly afterwards to casks for above ground storage until Perhaps we should take a leaf out of determine the suitability of each site. a geological repository is established. the US anti-nuclear groups' book and But Congress intervened in summer The DOE hove chosen this option demand on independent commission. 1986 to block funding for site because the NWPA sets 1998 as the Any such commission worthy of its preparation. date for acceptance of irradiated fuel name would hove to recommend the Congress were particularly annoyed for disposal at a repository. MRS end to nuclear waste production as a that Hanford had been chosen. The would solve this problem and create vital first step to a solution. SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 11 adult critical effective dose is shown as 0.049mSv for S.W. Scotland, but as Juggling the Figures 0.073mSv in England outside Cumbria. The government say that the annual Four months. after the well-publicised report by the National dose to an adult with no more than Radiological Protection Board, (NRPB) on the radioactive doses average consumption from eating lamb received by the public from Chernobyl, they finally published contaminated at an allowable maximum the appendices. DA VID WEBSTER has looked at them and asks of l,OOOBq/kg would be 0.15mSv, three times higher than the dose shown, and if they were delayed deliberately. that the dose to a 10 year old child On 25 March, the media gave the NRPB have assumed a peak level with above average consumption would extensive coverage to the NRPB's of iodine-131 of 350 becquerels per be 0.625mSv, 18 times higher than the latest Chernobyl dose estimates. But litre (Bq/1). But out of only three 0.034mSv which is shown. not until 31 July was it possible to farms sampled in Dumfries and Only three samples of beef were examine the vital technical appendices Galloway, one produced a level of 575 taken in Dumfries and Galloway, so to the report. A careful reading of Bq/1. Moreover, this farm was in there is no basis for arguing with this material reinforces one's Nithsdale, which the map shows was the NRPB estimates for the three suspicions that the delay may not not particularly affected. One of the rodionuclides they considered hove been accidental. other farms was at Chopelc:ross, which (iodine-131, caesium-134 and The Table shows the components was even further from the main areas coesium-137). But one of the of the NRPB's estimates of of contamination• The remaining form, radionuclides not considered by the "effective" (whole body equivalent) at Castle Douglas, was only sampled NRPB may be significant for both and thyroid first-year doses to the after 1-131 hod fallen from its peak beef and lamb: the highly rodiotoxic "critical" or most exposed groups in levels. Moreover, the NRPB make no silver-11 Om, which come from molten south west Scotland. This was one of allowance for iodine-132 and 133 neutron detectors in the Chernobyl the three most affected areas in which were also detected in milk. reactor core. This was found in beef Britain, the others being Cumbria and Therefore, it is very likely that some liver from North Wales (23Bq/kg) and N.Wales. South west Scotland has a children will hove received thyroid Dumfries and Galloway (20 to 125 population of 146,000 and covers most doses from milk at least 60% higher Bq/kg). of Dumfries and Galloway and part of than the NRPB soy. Estimates previously published by south Ayrshire. The map shows the No allowance is mode either for the NRPB suggest that caesium alone approximate pattern of deposition strontium-90, a highly radiotoxic in green vegetables at Auchencairn of radioactivity from the Chernobyl material which lodges permanently could give a child an effective dose of cloud os estimated by the in bone. Although only a small amount 0.52mSv, more than double that shown Meteorological Office. By examining was present in milk (o peak level of in the table. the published monitoring data in the 1.7 Bq/1 at Dumfries), this alone would Water supplies, goats' and sheep's light of the map, it is possible to give an effective dose of 0.0065mSv milk, pork and poultry, venison, game, judge whether the NRPB have mode (millisievert) to a baby, very much root vegetables, mushrooms, honey, sufficient allowance for the different larger than the cloud gamma dose fish and shellfish all had measurable elements of dose which some people which the NRPB hove chosen to show. degrees of contamination from may have received. There ore another 19 radionuclides Chernobyl, but ore excluded from the Milk is by far the most important which were detected in British milk NRPB estimates. source of contamination. It has been for which the NRPB hove made no officiaUy admitted that people most allowance, including the highly at risk were babies and young rodiotoxic americium-241, cerium-144 RAINWATER WARNING children drinking milk from a single and ruthenium-) 06. Most concern is tor tomilies farm rather than from a dairy, where The effective dose estimates shown reliant on rainwater for their drinking mixing of supplies from different for lamb are strange indeed. They ore supply - not too unusual in country sources will have produced a lower lower than the doses shown for less areas. A warning was issued, but only overall level of contamination. Most contaminated parts of the UK which, 48 hours after the contaminated concetn centres on thyroid doses from unlike Dumfries and Galloway, have rainfall hod fallen. In the text of rodioiodine. never been subject to restrictions on their report, the NRPB give an infant In their "critical group" estimates, sheep movements! For instance, the critical group effective dose estimate · for this source of 0.32mSv, but do not FIRST-YEAR CRITICAL GROUP RADIATION DOSES FROM CBERNOBYL IN S.W. SCOTLAND include it in their "headline" total. as estimated by the NRPB Nor is it clear how it has been INFANT CHILD ADULT calculated. However, from other information it is possible to estimate Whole Thyroid Whole Thyroid Whole Thyroid Body. Body. Body. that rainwater falling at Chapelcross All units in msv. could hove given a thyroid dose of up to about 5mSv by the time the Inhalation 0.0140 0.1400 0.0180 0.1700 0.0120 0.0930 warning was given. Deposited gamma 0.1461 0.1461 0.1461 0.1461 0.1461 0.1461 Cloud gamma 0.0003 0.0003 0.0003 0.0003 0.0003 0.0003 It is usually argued that other Ingestion o. 7194 U.0761 0.6990 5.2420 0.6910 2.5250 water supplies will have hod too high a dilution foetor for any concern to TOTAL 0.8798 11.3649 0.8634 5.5584 0.8494 2. 7644 be justified. But stream intakes at Ingestion breakdown: New Abbey and Creetown showed iodine-13 J levels of 6 and 15 Bq/1 Milk 0.6100 9.2000 0.4800 3.7000 0.4200 1.6000 respectively, so some allowance should Milk products 0.0540 1.1000 0.0580 0.7000 0.0610 0.3700 Beef 0.0190 0.1800 0.0910 0.4000 0.1200 0.2800 be made. LaJDb 0.0055 0.0094 0.0340 0.0400 0.0490 0.0490 On 30 March the Scottish Office Grain 0.0069 0.0067 0.0120 0.0120 0.0170 0.0160 took the step of issuing a warning to Green vegatables 0.0240 0.5800 0.0240 0.3900 0.0240 0.2100 people such as forestry and estate workers who might eat large amounts INGESTION TOTAL o. 7194 11.0761 0.6990 5.2420 0.6910 2.5250 of· venison. By this time, Dumfries and Galloway had already been showing the highest measured levels of radiocoesium NOTES: Doses are •committed• doses where relevant, ie they included the effect during later years of radionuclides taken into the body in the in deer in Scotland - at up to 2,297 first year. The deposited gamma, ingestion and total figures are higher Bq/kg of caesium 134/137 - for several than those shown by the NRPB because rounding er·rors have been eliminated months. Eating 11lb of venison here. The figures for laab show doses after the effect of the government contaminated at this level would give restrictions has been allowed for. 12 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 a dose of about 0.5mSv - obviously a ES1\MAiE9 ToTAL very significant addition to the total adult critical group dose of 0.85mSv DEPOSITION OF shown by the NRPB. Other kinds of CAt.SillM-1~7 game (grouse, pheasant, hare, rabbit) are also particularly contaminated (with grouse measured at up to 3,550 Bq/kg and hare up to 4,530 Bq/Kg in Dumfries and Galloway) and could give significant doses. The NRPB have admitted that warnings should have been issued about goats' and sheep's milk: monitoring was started late. Some readings (though none were taken in Dumfries and Galloway) were above the emergency reference level of 2,000 Bq/1 fixed for cow's milk, which implies a thyroid dose of 50mSv. Levels of radiocaesium in brown trout in Dumfries and Galloway ranging up to 4,232 Bq/kg were announced by the Scottish Office on 20 October, having been kept from the public since March, when the samples were taken. MAFF estimated a possible critical group effective dose from freshwater fish of as much as 1.1 mSv, on the basis of readings lower than this. dose rates and all the foods included A.R. Britcher of BNFL, is actually Shellfish sampled at Rockcliffe were in their calculation. Unfortunately this refusing to reveal what were his quite badly contaminated (including optimism does not seem justified. highest observations! 3,754 Bq/kg of ruthenium-103/106). A farming family living in an area Unfortunately this analysis shows MAFF estimate a possible critical of high deposition and consuming much the NRPB true to form - a whole group dose of 0.084mSv. of their own produce, or food from series of episodes, from the Flowers other local sources, could certainly report of 1976, through the Black DOSE UNDERESTIMATE have received doses much higher than report on Sellafield and the Dounrecy those considered by the NRPB. Inquiry, have illustrated their Honey in Dumfries and Galloway Drinking milk at the 575 Bq/1 level or consistent practice of giving the had up to 468 Bq/kg of radiocaesium higher, and rainwater or groundwater benefit of the doubt to the nuclear and mushrooms 31 Bq/Kg - though from a private source, eating home industry, and misleading the public elsewhere, mushrooms were found with grown vegetables and consuming lamb with overoptimistic estimates. This and up to 647 Bq/kg of radiocaesium and at or near the 1,000 Bq/kg limit, with their delay in publishing have made it 150 Bq/kg of silver-11 Om. some other intakes of locally caught easy for the vested interests - The NRPB use a rather peculiar fish or game, and receiving a virtually UKAEA, CEGB and SSEB - to put out method for estimating deposited constant elevated dose rate, is an public relations material dismissing gamma doses. For the first 30 days, entirely possible combination for such Chernobyl as producing doses they take the highest dose rate found a family. Their total doses would be equivalent to only a few weeks' in the Isle of Man; it's not clear much higher than those shown by the natural radiation. whether this is reasonable, because the NRPB - perhaps up to 20mSv thyroid, From a practical point of view, only dose rate information for and several milliSieverts effective there are two obvious lessons. Dumfries and Galloway is from dose. To establish exactly how much First, the milk pathway is shown Chapelcross, away from the areas of higher would require detailed local to be even more important thon the highest deposition. After the first 30 research. NRPB have admitted. In the days, they use estimated deposition aftermath of Chernobyl, the NRPB values for only three radionuclides: MISLEADING THE PUBLIC claimed that there would hove been ruthenium-1 06, caesium-137 and great difficulty in cutting critical caesium-134. These ·Ore certainly too There is no prospect of the issue group doses from milk. In fact, even low, given the values aC:tuaUy of the highest doses being settled by something os simple os advising that measured at Auchencairn. In fact it measurements of radiooctivity in children on farms should drink only is easy to calculate a total gamma people's bodies. The NRPB measured from dairy supplies would hove cut dose greater than that shown by the the thyroids of 40 teenagers and 5 doses substantially. Given the fall-off NRPB simply by taking the highest adults ln Castle Douglas and in demand, it would have been easy values actually measured in Dumfries Kirkcudbright in May 1986. Results for the Milk Marketing Board to and Galloway of only ten out of the were up to 4 times higher than supply customers preferentially from 36 Chernobyl radionuclides. predicted, but the samples were too the least contaminated sources. Among the other elements of dose small to throw much light on the Second, in any future nuclear underestimated or omitted by the issue of critical group doses. accident we need much better NRPB are inhalation of iodine-131 in No other published tests have been direction of monitoring resources. vapour form,· inhalation or ingestion mode in Dumfries and Galloway, but Because of lack of co-ordination, far of "hot particles" such as that found in an article in The Lancet of 18 July too much of the Chernobyl monitoring at Dounreay (which could have given the NRPB tried to back up their was done in areas of low deposition, a 1 mSv effective dose by itself), claim that they have overestimated leaving ridiculously small samples in doses to the skin from beta-emitters, doses in the high deposition areas by areas like Dumfries and Galloway and doses from the "resuspension" of quoting average measurements of where it was really needed. deposited radionuclides. These are rodiocaesium in a sample of human counterbalanced by only a few minor subjects in Cumbria. It turns out, "cautious" assumptions. however, that these human subjects Reference: M.Morrey et al., NRPB, A The NRPB state confidently that are all workers at Sellafield, who are Preliminary Assessment of the Radiological their figures are likely to be not likely to have been running farms Impact of the Chernobyl Reactor Accident on overestimates, because no one would and consuming their own produce to the Population of the European Community, actually have had the relatively high any great extent. Moreover, the Commission of European Communities, May 1987. doses they consider both from gamma coauthor of the Lancet article1 Or SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 13 Playing with Robots The UKAEA are decommissioning the Wlndscale Advanced Gas cooled Reactor (WAGR), ond plan to restore the land to a greenfield site. The project will take 15 years. and cost about £45 million, of which half will be borne by the taxpayer and the rest by electricity consumers. PETE ROCHE asks if they have really thought through whether this is the right method. Conventional wisdom is that nuclear are estimated to be about 34,500 authorities hove three choices when cubic metres and 24,550 tonnes. o reactor reaches the end of Its NIREX have still not found a operating life. They con simply final resting place for Intermediate withdraw the fuel rods from the core Level Waste, so the concrete coffins and leave the structure standing; or at Windscale have been designed to The Wlndscale AGR - they could concrete over the highly withstand any conditions including the UKAEA 's decommlsslonlng test bed. radioactive core ond dismantle the corrosion by sea, air or collision surrounding buildings, o process known during transport. They must also lost with the problem at the moment." As os entombment; or they could try to for thousands of years. Each box will an interim solution Greenpeoce would dismantle ond remove the entire power cost around £3,000. support leaving disused reactors os station. (see SCRAM 47) Keeping waste volumes to o they are until something more One reason for completely minimum, during dismantling 1s on acceptable has been chosen. dismantling o reactor is that t he site elusive goal. Each piece of machinery It's worth mentioning that the con be used to build o new station. and every tool that comes Into direct American situation is slightly The site already has outline planning contact with a contominoted surface different. Light Water Reactors permission and the local population must be decontaminated or added to (LWR's) are almost all steel will be used to having a nuclear the radioac tive waste pile. plpework, pumps etc. and almost all neighbour. But one can't help thinking Mognox and AGR cores consist hollow. If done correctly, dismantling that port of the UKAEA's enthusiasm essentially of a huge construction of could achieve some kind of volume for dismantling the WAGR is 'because graphite blocks, surrounded by an even reduction and you could at the some its there'. larger shell of reinforced concrete time improve the shielding of the Dismantling and extracting the shielding. Both the concrete and radioactive components which ore core of the reactor is extremely graphite ore radioactive. These almost certainly more susceptible to difficult, because of the problems of reactors ore designed to confine breakdown over the decades than the working with building materials which radioactivity within them and ore graphite and concrete components of hove been heavily irradiated. The more compact than they could ever Mognox and AGR's. They are two cutting devices, for example, hove to be after being cut up Into little bits. quite different technologies which be manipulated remotely from some Dismantling the core wlll create large present different Implications for distance and through several layers of quantities of radioactive dust and decommissioning. Insulating steel. All of this leads to liquids and disperse the radioactivity The UKAEA argue that the WAGR enormous costs. The WAGR is throughout the environment, making project Is to acquire general considerably smaller than o commercial it more difficult to manage. experience both for the electricity reactor. No one seems to quite know boards and foreign contracts. But Wait how much it would cost to dismantle LEAVE THEM AS THEY ARE Patterson points out that the a commercial reactor, but official experience wlll be of limited figures suggest a cost of up to £330m Wait Patterson, an Independent application to the Magnox reactors for each Mognox station and even nuclear consultant, believes that we which will be the first to close. more for on AGR. That's ot least o shouldn't be doing anything Irreversible third of the original construction cost. and making more kinds of waste, and DON 1T DILUTE & DISPERSE removing lots of options that we NO ILW WASTE DUMP YET might regret not having ony longer. "If the UKAEA is looking for "We seem to be absolutely general practice in dismantling and At shutdown, excluding the fuel, determined to press on doing things demolishing radioactive plant, why not the activity of the WAGR reactor and that we haven't thought through. The start with the egregious mess next pressure vessel amounted to about industry ore laying down policy now door at Sellafield? If any reactors 7000 Terobecquerels (TBq). (lTBq = o which won't be implemented untU Its qualify for genuine and necessary million million Sq. The action level grandchildren are In charge". He decommlssloning... surely the Wlndscale for rodlooctlvlty In lamb 1s 1OOOBq per suggests that reactors that have come plutonium production reactors do. Kg). The octlvlty wlll hove dropped by to the end of their operating lives They will have been sitting there, o foetor of 10 by the time they start should just be left as they are for the entombed and deteriorating far 30 to dismantle the core In 1991 . But time being. "We're going to anyhow, years this October." even after 300 years the activity will so let vs actually acknowledge that The problem of nuclear waste still be 20 TBq, sufficient to require that's what we're doing Instead of disposal Is Intractable enough without remote hondllng techniques. pretending that we're going ahead and adding to the problem by dismantling Most of the moss of the plant Is decommlssloning which Is what the nuclear reactors at the present time. Inactive. About 1800 tonnes has some industry is pretending." He suggests By the end of the century the Mognox rodlooctlvtty. Of thl.s 700 tonnes Is that they could even be used os low reactors wllJ hove to be closed down. classified os Intermediate level waste, level waste stores. At present their highly radioactive the remainder os low level waste. Even covering the reactor in contents are relatively isolated from In preporatlon for disposal the concrete would be an Irreversible the environment - trapped within the 700 tonnes of Intermediate waste will process that we might regret later. solid structure. Why rush to mobilise be placed In boxes of reinforced Greenpeace are Inclined to agree radioactivity, expose worke.rs, and concrete. About fso boxes will be that dismantling reactors now would remove the fragments of the needed to accomodote it. (They wlU only serve to disperse rodiooctlvity dismantled reactor to some previously be 2.3m cubes). The volumes of waste around the environment. Phllip Code uncontaminated place. We must not that would be produced from says that Greenpeace's "policy is not allow the nuclear Industry to continue dismantllng a Magnox reactor are necessorUy to soy what should be done with this policy of dilute and dlspeue even more staggering. The total in the long term, but to soy what we for no better reason than they like volume and weight including packaging feel is the best option for dealing playing with robots. 14 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 situations keep the doses far below Business as Usual the dose limits"! This is absolute rubbish, ALARA has totally foiled to The International Commission for Radiological Protection (ICRP) reduce the annual doses of the most exposed workers, ie those who met in Italy, in September. Many observers had expected them routinely receive more than lOmSv a to change the regulations for radiation dose limits. PA TRICK year. Of the evidence presented to GREEN explains that no change was the order of the day. them detailing the failings of ALARA, no comment. Are the ICRP an independent ICRP must change the way they work. Even though the risks are greater scientific organisation or a mouth The ICRP promised an early than previously claimed, it is still OK piece for the nuclear industry? response to the unprecedented to expose workers near the dose limits Regular readers of SCRAM will know publicity surrounding their meeting. if necessary: "The Commission wishes that their record is not impresive; This was released in early October. to re-emphasise its views, expressed they have never given the benefit of Those who have read it might be in Publication 26, that exposure near doubt to those who face the risks forgiven for believing that these the dose limits would only be from radiation exposure. Erring on the recent events had been a dream acceptable if a dose reduction is not side of caution in ICRP terms has (Chernobyl must have been a dream reasonably achievable and if the meant keeping silent about because the ICRP did not refer to it practice has been found to be atmospheric nuclear weapon testing or once). Basically nothing has changed. justified". Yet even under the old risk unnecessary or excessive exposure to The ICRP statement notes that 75 estimates if the dose limits represent ionising radiation. scientists from 20 countries attended the bounds of unocceptability, how con The ICRP spent the first lwo their meeting, but no mention was exposure near them ever be justified? weeks of September discussing made of the fact that requests from If the risk estimates ore revised revisions to the recommendations environmental groups like FoE and upwards such a statement is contained in ICRP 26 and the from international trade unions to completely irresponsible, at the very scientific evidence that has been attend as observers were declined. If least the ICRP should hove stated that produced since this was published in the ICRP ore an independent because of the uncertainty surrounding 19n. High on the agenda were new organisation this refusal is hard to the risk estimates exposure near the data resulting from revisions to the justify. dose limit was not justified under any dosimetry at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ICRP accept that changes circumstances. At the start of the meeting ICRP will have to be made, but not now. chairperson Don Benninson was Their revised recommendations are TEN DAY RULE presented with a declaration signed by not expected until 1990, and if one over 800 scientists from around the considers that it took nearly ten years The declaration presented to the world calling for an immediate 5 fold before ICRP 26 was incorporated into ICRP also called for the reduction in the dose limits for law, it will be the late 1990's before reintroduction of the ten day rule. radiation workers and members of ICRP 26 and the Ionising Radiation This simple rule limited the X-raying the public, and for the replacement Regulations ore finally replaced. of women to the ten days after the of the ALAR A principle with ALA TA start of their period to avoid for regulation of radioactive IGNORED FOE EVIDENCE irradiating a very young conceptus. In discharges from nuclear installations; 1983 this rule was repealed. The ICRP ie all discharges must be kept os low The ICRP justify this unacceptable statement mode no reference to the os is technically achievable. Don delay by claiming that the review of ten day rule. Clearly the convenience Benninson oc;:tually stated that he the Japanese dosimetry has not yet of radiologists is greater importance was not unsympathetic to the FoE been completed and also because their than erring on the side of caution. evidence for a five fold reduction in own review includes a complete re In effect the ICRP are basically the dose limits, echoing the published assessment of all their stating that it is business os usual, statements of John Dunster that such recommendations, not just the dose nothing has changed. If anyone has has a move was likely. (See SCRAM 60). limits and risk estimates. They do, any previous doubts about where the Many observers expected the ICRP however, acknowledge that the risks interests of the ICRP lie, it must now to make some changes, the New are at least two times what they be clear that they don't give a damn Scientist stated that the ICRP were claimed in 19n, but ignore the about scientific evidence or worker expected to increase their risk evidence presented by FoE that the and public health, their only concern estimates at the Coma meeting. Even risks are actually at least five times is for the economic well being of the the science journal Nature, which is greater, in fact no mention is made radiation industry and they will do not noted for its radical stance, of the evidence presented to the ICRP anything they con to delay changes published an editorial stating that the by environmental groups like FoE. which will mean some sections of the The basis of the FoE case was industry will hove to spend a bit more that an immediate five fold reduction money. was essential as the evidence showing Next year the ICRP meet in higher risks is now overwhelming. This Washington to discuss, once again, evidence actually justifies a ten fold revisions to their recommendations. It reduction, however our case stated is not acceptable to hove to wait until that the further two fold reduction 1990 for these, by the time they get should be mode in a couple of years translated into low (around the year time to enable industry and the 2000) even the dirty end of tht! standard setting organisations to sort industry, like Sellafield, will hove hod out the basic recommendations. sufficient time to be abLe to comply Consequently there is no reason why with any new standard. If the ICRP the ICRP, could not hove formally cannot be expected to act in the reduced the dose limits by o factor interests of health protection then of two before it has finished its national standard setting authorities review. A two fold reduction would must be pressurised into taking action involve very little additional cost independently and before the ICRP. to industry. This means local councils, trade However, they go on to state that unions, professional, scientific, the exact magnitude of the risk environmental, community and other estimate and the dose limit is not groups must publicolly support the really important anyway as the campaign for o reduction in the dose ALARA concept "should in most limits NOW. SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 15 Coal Emissions - No Easy Solution Burning coal to produce electricity is by no means the most be disposed of in landfill, rendering the environmentally acceptable method of producing our energy. site sterile. In an attempt to avoid the sludge problem an oxidation step MIKE TOWNSLEY looks at the prospects for cleaning up coal is added, producing gypsum which can stations but concludes that conservation and renewables offer be of marketable quality. This is the the only, long term solution. cheaper of the two methods, but creates severe "secondary pollution" Coal fuelled the industrial revolution Sulphur occurs in coal in organic problems•. and led us up a path of exponential and inorganic forms. The organic is Wellman Lord, however, is a energy consumption. And, some in the bound into the coal matrix and is "regenerative" process in which the anti-nuclear movement see the relative inaccessible to physical separation. neutralising agent is chemically abundance of world coal reserves as a The inorganic sulphur content is treated for re-use. The product is good reason for returning it to its mainly in the form of pyrite, and is a stream of S02 which can be treated former glory. present in discrete particles. Although to produce sulphur or sulphuric acid. But, the widely publicised problems it is possible to remove the pyrite This plant has a smaller "secondary of acid rain and the greenhouse effect before combustion, current technologies pollution" effect and produces a more should be enough to convince anyone have a maximum removal efficiency saleable product. that like their nuclear counterpart of 5% and are of little practical use. Fgd is not only diffic1,1lt to cool fired power stations must be The organic content of coal delivered incorporate and secondary polluting, phased out. to the Central Electricity Generating but it reduces plant efficiencies - a However, this cannot be achieved Board (CEGB) is fairly constant, about 2000MW power station incorporating overnight. In their 1983 report on 0.8%, but the inorganic content varies the Wellman Lord system would suffer future energy options, ERR (Earth between 0.2% and 1.4%, giving an a 1.9% loss in efficiency, and would Resources Research) describe a average sulphur content of 1.6%. cost an extra £26m, net, per year. radical scenario - a planned 75% Sulphur dioxide SO 2 an oxidation Controlling the emission of decrease in the UK's energy product, can be removed during nitrogen oxides (NOx) is a much more consumption between 197 6 and 2025, burning, but under UK conditions difficult process. Nitrogen oxides are based on a programme of increased the CEGB say it is unlikely to achieve formed during combustion, most in the energy generating ond end use removal efficiencies greater than 40%. early stages, drawn from the organic efficiency - but postulate "cool By far the best known technique nitrogen contained in the coal. This remains a significant energy source for controlling SOt emissions nitrogen can be converted to either for a long time" and by 2025 its use economically is to "scrub" them from stable molecular nitrogen or nitrogen will hove been cut by over half and the plant's flue gases: Flue Gas oxides, depending on the combustion replaced by "benign" renewable energy desulphurisatian (Fgd). This technique process. Some of the nitrogen oxides plant. can achieve removal efficiencies of are formed in the furnace's high Having accepted the continued use greater than 90% and is widely temperature zones from nitrogen of coal fired power stations, we must accepted as the best method of present in the atmosphere. turn our attention to the best ways of retrofitting pollution control. controlling their emissions. The CEGB, and most of their NITRATE REMOVAL A planned strategy should involve: international counterparts, believe e retrofitting existing plant with "there are only two widely proven Reducing NOx emissions to an emission control systems capable Fgd processes which are currently acceptable level requires tackling of removal efficiencies dictated suitable for power stations with long the atmospheric and organic elements by environmental necessity life" - the Limestone/gypsum and separately. The organic based NOx - greater than 80%. Wellman Lord methods (see SCRAM 61). can be reduced by modifications to e concentrated investment in both the plant furnace and the boilers; energy efficiency - postponing the SULPHUR TREATMENT unfortunately retrofit changes are need for new plant. limited, and in practice reductions of e development of cleaner ood more The limestone/gypsum method is a only 30% ore possible using current efficient combustion techniques. "throwaway" process in which technologies. e genuine commitment to an energy limestone is used to neutralise the For high removal efficiencies it strategy based on non-polluting S02. The product of this reaction is necessary to remove NOx from the renewable energy sources. is a very toxic sludge which con only flue gases in conjunction with combustion modifications. There are Approximate Annual FGD Import/Exports a number of systems available for to a 2000 MW Power Station flue gas denitrification, but only selective catalytic reduction is thought MATERIAL FORM Well man- Limestone/ Lord Gypsum to be commercially viable. This process involves reducing the nitric Import a oxide, about 95% of the NOx, over a catalyst at 350-400°C. Since the Limestone So} id 33 ,ooo 300.000 volume of catalyst required is large - Lime solid 600 - approximately one cubic meter/MW - considerable modifications to the Ca~st ic Soda 47% Liquor 32,000 - boiler ore necessary. Virtually all that sulphuric acid 98\ cone. - 2, 200 is known of the extra costs of retrofitting NOx controls is that they're Exports not going to be cheap. Although the above technologies sulphur Sol id 68,000 - (Sulphuric acid) (96\conc,) (230,000) - ore for from perfect, they appear to be Sodium sulphate solid/solution 27.000 - the only options available for retrofitting emission control systems. Calcium chloride 38\ Liquor 78.000 78.000 It is for this reason that research must Gypsum solid - - be directed towards advanced Mixed product (re- combustion techniques. covered with fly-ash) solid - - Two techniques are currently in • All quantities are in tonnes/annum, at 10\ load factor vogue - pressurised fluidised bed combustion with combined cycle 16 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 (PFBC/CC), and integrated gasification/ the CEGB stepped in and saved the efficiency by only about 3%. combined cycle (IGCC). Both offer the project. The UK Centre for Economic Having crossed this first hurdle possibility of higher efficiency of coal and Environmental Development Steinberg found himself faced with conversion and lower emissions of condemned PFBC as a strategic huge quantities of liquid COt the only acidic gases. Unfortunately, neither mistake, with the UK experimental economic solution to which is disposal technology is expected to be available plant at Grimethorpe costing the UK at sea (no surprise there). The liquid on a commercial scale until the turn dearly in the future. becomes denser than sea water below of the century. The principle behind gasification is 3000ft, and at that depth it "can be PFBC involves burning coal under to partially combust cool under expected to form a pool of liquid eo 2 pressyre in a fluidised bed surrounding reducing conditions at high pressure to and sink to the ocean floor." the boiler tubes. Because, the boiler produce fuel gas. This .con be achieved Steinberg has now, wisely, turned tubes are in direct contact with by burning the cool in a limited his attention to alternative methods fluidised particles, a PFBC boiler can 5upply of air/oxygen and steam. of reducing C02 emissions: by absorb much of the heat by convection, Because combustion is carried out in designing more efficient power which is more efficient than the radiant reducing conditions the sulphur is stations, and making better use of and convective heat transfer a converted to hydrogen sulphide which energy in industry, homes, offices conventional boiler relies on. PFBC is more amenable to removal than and on the roods. can also be made to operate a S02. NOx emissions are suppressed by This article has looked only at combined cycle - in addition to using adding moisture to the gas before the environmental aspects of the steam raised to operate a burning, thereby lowering the generating electricity by coal conventional power cycle, the combustion temperature. combustion. We should also consider pressurised products of combustion are the cool economy and the way in expanded through a gas turbine to CARBON DIOXIDE which coal supplies are gained. To generate extra power. make coal fired power stations PFBs also operate at lower Conspicuously absent from this economically attractive it is necessary temperatures, than conventional plant, article so far has been any mention to secure the cheapest coal supplies minimising the evolution of organic: of emission control techniques for possible: large open-cast mines, like nitrogen based NOx. The evolution of carbon dioxide. There is good reason those of Colombia, based on SO 2 can also be cut by more than for this: no economic method of exploitat.ion of land and people alike. 90% by adding limestone or dolomite decarbonisation has ever been I.t is interesting to note that the to the bed. This technique, although presented. proposed, 1800MW coal fired power the least expensive, promotes a large M Steinberg, senior scientist station at Fawley, not in the British secondary pollution problem - the with Brookhovens research division cQal fields, is in an excellent position amount of limestone required is similar in the US, is the chief architect of to receive high sulphur open cast cool to that for the limestone/gypsum Fgd. the technical fix for the greenhouse from Colombia - through Southampton. UK research into PFBC is based effect. He has promoted the best The similarities between coal at Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire. The technique so for. Originally Steinberg's and nuclear power ore strong. And project, a 90MW demonstration plant, process required half the electricity when we reach the crossroads it is was originally funded by the lEA produced by the plant, but it has now the so-called "soft energy path", (International Energy Agency), but they been refined so that integrating a CO2 a non-polluting renewable energy pulled out in 1'984. British Coal and recovery system would reduce the strategy, that we must follow. Tl I.Jr· eer1 Patl1 tv Jvin SE~A l/we would like to join the SOCIALIST ENVIRONMENTAL AND S()ciali.sm RESOURCES ASSOCIATION: Individual member £9 The Department of Energy (DoE) There is a useful toble on the Ci- Passive Solar Economical! y hove launched a "major new campaign booklets last page (see opposite), • •' Design Attractive to encourage the development of along with a declaration that the incorporation of renewable energies Renewable Energy" in Britain. A<·tive Solar Long Shot The campaign was announced and energy efficient measures go Heating by Michael Spicer, the Government hand in hand - "there is little point Minister for renewable energy, on a in increasing the available range recent visit the Severn estuary. It of energy supplies without taking l'hotm·oltaies Long Shot will involve "publications, exhibitions steps to make the best use of it." and videos to encourage the Britain has the potential to cut f :omlwstion Economically development of renewable energy." its energy demand by 30%, promoting of Or~· 'IJ;8stes .Attractive He also expressed his anxiety to on annual saving of £8 billion. " ••• raise the level of awareness It is the DoE's stated policy to Anaerohic Economically of the potential contribution that "develop technologies that will harness Digestion~ Attractive renewable energy could make in the renewable sources in such a way that eg Lanrlfill Gas UK's future energy supplies. I hope they help meet the energy needs of our campaign will achieve this end." the next century, efficiently and Thermal Promising The first products of the new economically - and without l'ro<"essing of but Uncertain campaign have been distributed in unacceptable effects on the Dry Wastes the form of a press pack: several environment." Laudable sentiments fact sheets; a Renewable Energy in indeed. It seems a pity that Mr Spicer, Energy Promising Britain booklet; and the first issue the Government Minister for renewable of Review the Departments new energy, can't convince his alter ego Forestry but Uncertain quarterly magazine. Mr Spicer, the Government Minister The press pack is beautifully for nuclear power, to adopt a similar Wind Energy Promising produced, but beauty is indeed only code of practice. -on lnnd but l lncertain skin deep - there is no real message Review, the Departments new of commitment to renewable energy quarterly magazine will replace RE Wind Energy long Shot in any of the enclosed material. News previously produced by the -of/shore Renewable Energy in Britain is an Energy Technology Support Unit. It account of the Department's current begins, "Renewable energy sources Tidal Energy Promising renewables programme, stating their could be making a modest but useful but Uncertain perception of the role of renewables contribution to UK energy supplies in future energy strategies for the from about the year 2000 onwards - Inshore Wave Promising UK. This is neatly symbolised in the that is the view of the Deportment of Energy but Uncertain apportioning of space on the booklet's Energy." And goes on to explain that first page - one third of the text success depends not only on the Small-sea le Promising answers the question "What are the economic circumstance but also on the Low Head Benefits of Renewable Energy?" Whilst success of continuing R&D programmes. but Uncertain two thirds are given over to "What Promoting the £lOOm spent on H~·dro Power ore the Problems of Renewable renewable energies since 1974 (less Energy?" - "the modern world demands than the annual sum spent on nuclear l.arge~scale energy that is concentrated and R&D), Review claims " ••• by astute Offshore Wave Long Shot readily available. The renewables, by allocation of resources and careful Energy contrast ore invariably the opposite." selection of priorities the development The booklet does however present of renewable energy technologies Geotherrnal Promising some glimmer of hope. The DoE intend in the UK has progressed to much 0 Hot Dry Rocks but Uncertain to extend the network of international the some point os that in other collaboration in the field of renewable industrialised notions, taking into Geothermal Long Shot energy research and development account the variation in applicability Aquifers (R&D); they intend to have passive from country to country." solar design along with energy Up until now the DoE's work on Anyone wishing to receive copies of efficiency measures incorporated into renewobles has centred on the science the above publications should contact: the building industry by the mid and engineering aspects, but in the Renewable Energy Enquiries Bureau, 1990s; and biofuels could contribute future more attention is to be given to our energy requirements "on a ETSU, Building 156, Harwel/ to the questions of environment and Laboratory, Oxfordshire, OXll ORA. significant scale by the mid 1990s." public acceptance. Tel: (0235) 432450. Ecology, Institute of Marine If the project does go ahead the Tidal Barrage Environmental Research and STPG will hove to face the problem of Rovensrod Consultants); raising the £5,500 million capital cost. The Department of Energy (DoEn) are e passage of fish through turbines Previously the Government demanded providing £300,000 for four studies (D Solomon, Consultant); the project be funded entirely by the into the environmental impact of the e ecology of sub-estuaries of the private sector but hove now dropped proposed Severn barrage. This will take Severn (Bristol University); this constraint. The STPG now hove the total expenditure on feasibility Michoel Spicer, renewable energy the "luxury" of considering joint public studies for the project to £4.2m minister, announced the studies on the and private funding. - jointly met by the DoEn, the Severn 16 September, during a visit to the Paddy Moorehead, STPG project Tidal Power Group (STPG), and the proposed site. He also expressed his manager, thinks one way of attracting CEGB. desire to "inject a note of urgency" private sector backing is to hove the The four studies will examine: and bring the project to a point of barrage built by on overseas contractor. I wading bird migration (to be decision by the end of next year. However, STPG Management Board undertaken by the British Trust However, the STPG environment chairman, Mr Clare, argues "British for Ornithology) (see SCRAM 61 ); manager, Tom Show, sees "1992/93 Industry ••• is fully capable of building I prediction of post-barrage densities os the earliest date for site work the Severn barrage project well and of birds (ln~;titvte of Terrestrial to start," with commissioning in 2000. economically." SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 19 Appropriate Technology e Simplify administrative procedures Independent Generators and regulations vis-a-vis RES A new organisation has been formed ------~~~~~~~~power generation "close to the point e Continue reseo.rch and development to "obtain a fair deal for independent of use is much cheaper ond 3 times os programmes electricity producers." The Association efficient os traditional power stations" e Establish notional inventories of of Independent Electricity Producers favoured by the generating boards. RES which would be circulated at (AIEP) membership includes The AIEP hove launched o news regional and local level industrialists, wind turbine operators, letter Independent Power News. e Promote co-operation between hydro-operators, eo-generation plant, Although the first issue relies on industries producing equipment micro-chp/mini power station operators "reports about independent power for RES and power plant manufacturers. ond privatisation drown from other Governments will also be asked to The AIEP ore essentially o lobby publications," it's Editors "intend it examine their legislation to determine group applying pressure on the to do a great deal more than that in wether it is "appropriate for the Government through the media and the coming months." However it does encouragement and exploitation of MP's. The Government recognise their provide some interesting insights into these energies." representative role and ore expected the AIEP's strategy. to invite them to sit on o Government • Assoelotlon of Independent Eleetrlelty Producers, committee reviewing non-domestic e/o Orchard Partners, 67-69 southompton Row, London WClO 4ET. TEL: 01 580 0055 !'Deep Gas rates (see SCRAM 61 ). The Association's initial thrust will The controversial Swedish project, be an "attack" on the bulk supply drilling to great depths for gas tariff (BST) - the price the electricity [Renewable Energy I (SCRAM 58), was brought to on boards pay independent producers for unsuccessful end early in September. electricity. There is rio regulatory EEC Energy Ministers met informally The project's originator, Or Gold of body governing the BST, and the AIEP in Copenhagen, during September, to Cornell University in the US, believes estimate the boards pay 14% less for discuss the problems facing the that primordial methane gos trapped electricity than is charged to the development of renewable energy under the earth's mantle during the distribution boards (the wholesale sources (RES) in the Community. formation of the planet exists in tariff). The Ministers agreed, the main massive volumes deep under Sweden. In April this year the CEGB problems facing RES in the community Although very small amounts of announced structural changes to the ore o labyrinth of red tope causing methane were found in the Swedish wholesale tariff, further widening the long process times, high investment bore hole, after reaching a depth of gap. The AIEP claim this will make a costs, lock of technical co-operation, 6.5km the consortium of investors mockery of the the 1983 Energy Act, and obstacles to the free movement funding the project decided it wos which was set up to encourage the of equipment across borders. unlikely they would find significant independent production of electricity. Over o year ago the EEC quantities of the gas. It is because of this and several other estimated that RES could rise from Or Gold, however, believes the worrying trends, such as privatisation, accounting for 1-2% of consumption drilling has been halted only that the AIEP wos formed. to 5-6% ot the turn of the century. temporarily, "If other explorations They argue, if the CEGB played In an attempt to fulfil this had stopped at the first incomplete fair, the independent electricity prophecy the ministers agreed to attempt, the oil of most modern producing industry would hove a more recommend that EEC governments producing regions would never hove rapid expansion, giving lower prices to should try in their notional legislation, been discovered, certainly not that the consumer. Modern independent to: of the North Sea, Alaska or Mexico." l Local. Authority Energy Conservation Scottish local authorities could save tit Government cuts in local authority local authority estimate there is o least 10% on their annual £100m spending, os the main cause for low back-log of £45m alone - on thotbosis energy bill by introducing on energy spending on energy conservation the Scottish total could be £200m. management programme, according to measures. But, goes on to highlight Combined with insufficient a report produced by the Commission the local authority spending power os investment, bad management and "lock for Local Authority Accounts in justification for increased investment of user awareness", ore the other Scotland, "Energy Management in Loco! in energy conservation. major factors to overcome. Authority Buildings." Education, which accounts for 80% The way forward, says the report, The survey involved eight local of the authorities energy bill "is the will involve both local authorities and authorities - five regional councils, main area where the principle thrust government. two district councils, and one island for achieving savings should lie." One It calls for the Government to: council. It examined their energy bills e relax the financial constraints on for heating, lighting and providing local authorities' freedom and power in non domestic buildings. """ resources so they con better tackle "The full potential for reduction in 1>. ,.... the problem; ,...~ energy spend will only be realised ~ """'"~ e back up their publicity and through an adequate level of ,...~~ ,.,;:: ;::~;::- exhortation to local authorities to investment," says the report. .si. --- ~ r..;;n- conserve energy with a The Scottish local authorities have f._ _r...r.. r-..~.f... -- commensurate level of financial ;:::~ -::.. ;:: .J[). o "low level of investment in - :.. :.. -.:.. support. earmarked energy conservation - ~- -::.. ~~ ~ measures - only 1-5% of annual energy ~:..: :..: The local authorities must: spend." This compares very badly with D.C.~ ~- e proceed with the necessary !":\.~ levels of investment in English and r.F. V:,. D..n. - maintenance and increase investment Welsh local authorities, where energy -- on energy conservation measures; conservation measures account for 10% r-. e. target increased investment in the of the annual "energy spend." I'- area of greatest potential; r..r.. t\.r\. .L'\I'\ The main reason for this is the e set acceptable benchmarks for - !"\.~ ~ English and Welsh authorities are all ~ .r,r,.;;_ energy performance and monitor very similar, but the Scottish ~ ..r...;:..,r..,... actual performance against target; authorities are all quite different so -,..... e increase the involvement and no "yardstick" guidelines ore available. " a.wareness of building users and The report recognises the role of those responsible for plant operation. 20 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 Appropriate Technology I Private Power Conflict A row between Independent Power and however, says the station is connected Independent Power are awaiting the the South of Wales Electricity Board in accordance to the guidelines laid Board to put the cut out fuses in, (SWEB) is developing into a major down by the Institute of Engineers connecting the gen set to the grid, embarrassment for the Department of (Documents G59, G26 and G46) and so they can invite the board along Energy (DoE), in the run up to that "furthermore they should not be for witnessing. 'privatisation of the electricity placing their argument with me but industry. with the DoE." SMITH vs SWEB Keith Smith, an electrical engineer, The Board have suggested an wants to use the electricity grid to alternative solution, but Smith believes The case of Smith vs SWEB poses supply 28 houses and a Hotel in the their solution would result in surge some serious questions for Cecil Welsh village of Miskin but needs the currents, although only lasting Parkinson, the Secretary of State for permission of the SWEB. The board moments, which could damage the Energy, concerning the 1983 Energy contend that they have not refused stations Act post-privatisation. their permission but "have been unable SCRAM informed Smith of the Smith comments, "I think the DoE to connect him because of technical Board's statement to SCRAM: " ••• we should address this situation and problems with regards to safety." checked the generator's electrical quickly. Mr Porkinson wants to know The problem, which the SWEB told equipment and found it differed from why there is very little private SCRAM has been resolved, is in the the plans originally presented to the generation in the UK post the '83 way Smith's mini-power station is Board. Since then we've established energy act, the answer is simple, he earthed. that the revised arrangement is said it himself, there is too much red acceptable as far as parallel operation tape." PLANT UNSAFE is concerned, meaning that subject to Many observers consider the Act satisfactory witness testing the plant to be biased in favour of the The plant's alternator is connected can generate electricity and sell any Generating and Distribution Boards, to a static balancer, an artificial surplus to us." Witnessing involves who invoke its every nuance to neutraliser instead of to earth, the Board observing on-line generation obstruct the independent production allowing it to run independently, in from the plant, and if the Board think and distribution of electricity; and island conditions, when the Board go there are doubts on the plants safety think one of the tasks Mr Parkinson on fault. The board believe this set-up they will disconnect it from "their" should turn his attention to the is unsafe, and are not convinced it grid. The statement provoked setting up of an independent would be capable of withstanding a considerable amusement from Mr Smith, regulatory body to police o revised, fault condition surge current. Smith, replying "I wish they'd tell me." fairer, Energy Act. Acid Rain Association I for the The CEGB have announced plans to Wellman Lord, regenerative process, build the world's largest flue gas and is expected to be commissioned Conservation desulphurisation plant (Fgd), at each in 1997. This process is seen by many of Energy of their three largest coal fired power environmentalists as much more stations - promoting a 15% annual acceptable - it rf:quires l/12th of the 9 Sherlock Mews reduction in Sulphur dioxide emissions. limestone, and produces sulphur and London WIM 3RH Drax B, will be the first station sulphuric acid - a commercial Telephone 01-935 1495 to be retro-fitted, using the Limestone potential. gypsum (L/G) process. The 4000MW The plants are, however, subject to plant will require over 700,000 tonnes planning permission, and the Board will regarding our cities", says Andrew of limestone and will produce in submit an environmental statement Warren, director of ACE. excess of one million tonnes of with their application. Britain spends £35bn annually on gypsum, some of which will be used Meanwhile, the Government have its fuel bill. Mrs Thatcher, at the in landfill. once again refused to join the "30% launch of Business Week at Milton Drax A will also be retro-fitted club" - 21 countries have agreed to Keynes Energy World, said "If we with L/G plont. The Board intend the cut their S02 emissions to 70% of could cut that amount of £35bn down 2 plants to be commissioned in 1993 their 1980 levels by 1993 - which - we think by as much os 20% - it and 1995, increasing the demand for came into force at the beginning of would release something like £7bn for limestone to one million tonnes and September. A Government spokesman purchasing other things. If he (sic) has the gypsum by-product to 1.5 million. defended their rejection by saying "We not to spend on energy costs in his do not really believe that it is house, the householder has money to practicable to cut the emissions in the spend on other things. That in itself time schedule required. Being could create more jobs." conscientious, we do not want to sign The report outlines the compound something that we might not be able nature of fuel poverty in the inner to meet." cities, inefficient heating combined with poor insulation, and illuminates IInner City Energy I the groups most aftected by this situation the poor, unemployed ond An extensive energy conservation elderly, who ore the groups in society programme in the inner cities could who spend the highest proportion of create up to 110,000 jobs according their income on fuel. to a report,"Regenerating the loner Although the report clearly ond City: the Energy Dimension," just methodically sets out guidelines to published by the Association for the help the Government bring their words Conservation of Energy (ACE). to life there is one overriding The "study demonstrates the many comment, "Why, as we approach the F'iddlers Ferry, is the other station practical ways in which an expansion 21st century, ore we at the stage in the programme. It will be the of energy saving activity assists the where every winter people still quite biggest station in the world to use the Government in its declared goals literally die of the cold." SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 21 Reviews Our Common Future, The a manner accessible to the wide they are forced to pay more for a World Commission on readership it deserves; avoiding the unit of delivered energy-services - Environment & Development. usual jargon which so often renders ilh:..strating the paradox of poverty. 400pp, £5.95. official reports unreadable. The commission urges nations to o.u.P. The chapter on energy sets the direct their energy strategy down the Our Common Future: a debate in a world context rather path of energy efficiency, conservation Reader's Guide, Don than concentrating on the so-called and development of renewable energy Hinrichsen IIED/Earthscan. ener~:~y crisis in the developed world. sources. Energy Efficiency is of crucial On the question of nuclear power, 40pp, £1.95 importance to all three worlds. they recommend "in the strongest lt is now over 15 years since the It's cost effectiveness as the most terms the construction of an effective publication of The Limits to Growth, environmentally benign 'source' of international regime covering all the Club of Rome's report on the energy is well established. "The poor dimensions of the problem." And set a predicament of mankind. It's remit list of guide lines for the nuclear was to examine the five factors industry so stringent they would which, determine the limits to growth effectively preclude the nuclear on this planet, population, agricultural option. production, natural resources, Like it's predecessor, Our Common industrial production and pollution. Future calls for a united front fighting And, concluded "only by concentrated all aspects of world environmental attack on all the major problems at crisis, but with a greater sense of once can man achieve the state of urgency - born of 15 years more equilibrium necessary to his survival." decay. Our Common Future picks up the For those not wishing to attempt story 15 years on. The General the full might of Our Common Future, Assembly of the United Nations Earthscan and the International asked Ms Gro Harlem Brundtlond to Institute for Environment and set up an international committee Development (liED) have produced a to "re-examine the critical readers guide. It neatly summarises environment and development the reports main conclusions, and problems on the planet and to recommendations: against some formulate realistic proposals to solve extremely beautiful and distressing them, and to ensure that human photographs. progress will be sustained without Everyone should buy and read a bankrupting the resource of future copy of the report, or a least the generations." It is interesting to note readers guide - both are reasonably Ms Brundtland, of Norway, is the only priced so there's no excuse. politician to proceed from the position of environment minister to prime who light their homes with a wick minister. dipped in a jar of kerosene get one The World Commission on fiftieth of the illumination of a lOOW Environment and Development present electric bulb, but use just as much MIKE TOWNSLEY their report, Our Common future, in Socio-Economic Impact jobs likely to go to people living workforce will be recruited locally, Assessment: Proposed Hinkley within a 'daily commuting zone', but the majority will be in the Point C Power Station, shovld Hinkley C be given approval. industrial, administrative and clerical Between 42% and 51% of the total categories. Direct Employment Effects. They also point out that because Power Station Impacts Tea m, workers who leave local firms to go to work at Hinkley may not be Oxford Polytechnic, 1985, replaced, the fall in local 89pp, £10. unemployment may not be as much as expected. The Power Station Impacts Project at Soda-Economic lmpad Some interesting differences Oxford Polytechnic have carried out a Assessment between T orness and Heysham also number of major studies predicting Proposed Hinkley Point C Power Station emerge. Local recruitment was much the socio-economic effects of proposed Technical Report 1 (H) higher at Heysham, partly because the power stations at Sizewell B, Dired Employment Effeds area is more densely populated and Hinkley C, and Winfrith. Their reports has a much larger engineering base consider effects on direct employment, than the Torness area. But it was also accommodation, local services, and due to different recruitment practices the wider economy. at the two sites. At the time the The programme was funded by construction workforce was building up the CEGB, but this does not detract at Torness, the main civil contractor from the wealth of information and Jl.~· had a number of other projects in statistics collected in the reports. The Scotland which were coming to an report on the direct employment end. It was only after concern was. effects of Hinkley C, for example, expressed by the local authorities that includes valuable information on the """-Station lmpaciS Roseardt Team contractors on the site incrE!ased their J. Glasson, M. J. El-. D. Van Dill" Wee population in South West England, B.-. efforts to recruit locally. unemployment rates, the number of Oxford Polytechnic skilled construction workers, and so on. By using the experience of peak workforce of 3500 are likely to T orness and Hey sham the research be drawn from the local area during team are able to build up an the construction phase. They estimate PETE ROCHE estimated picture of the number of that 43% of the permanent operational 22 SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 Reviews Chernobyl & Nuclear Power in Nuclear-Free Zones, David the USSR by David Marples. Pitt and Gordon Thompson Macmillan. £8.95. 228pp. (Eds). Croom Helm.145pp, £25. Mayday at Chernobyl by Henry On the Brink, Peter Worsley Hamman & Stuart Parrott. and Kofi Buenor Hadjor NEL. £2.95. 278pp. (Eds). Third World To fully understand an accident, it is Communications. 278pp,£6.95. not enough to just examine the event Pakistan's Nuclear itself. Rather, the whole context and Development, Ashok Kapur. background to the event must be scrutinised and revealed. Croom Helm. 258pp,£30. The recent publication of two new There is a lot happening in the local books, both written by people with a authority nuclear free zone movement professional knowledge of Soviet around the world. Internationally the affairs is therefore welcome. However, movement is coming of age. It's no this Soviet bias is not without its longer seen as a few left-wing drawbacks, particularly in David councils making empty gestures, but a Marples' book. practical way in which authorities can Marples' almost exclusive use of join together ·to fight the nuclear Soviet and Eastern block sources, menace. There ore a lot of inspiring provides a perspective which will be things happening in other countries new to most readers. Although these where there are different legal impeccably sourced references systems. In the USA, for example, a encompass the development of Soviet nuclear-free county has the legal nuclear power and Russia's energy powers to ban anything from nuclear each chapter is written by a different problems, his anti-Soviet stance and waste dumping to food irradiation author. Nevertheless, it includes some lack of nuclear know-how, can only factories. interesting analysis about how and why detract from his declared intention I was, therefore, extremely third world states obtain nuclear not to "make any kind of political disappointed to find out that the first weapons. The Rainbow Warrior crops comment". book did not cover 'subnational' up several times, and there is an nuclear-free zones - but slightly interesting theory that New Zealand consoled by the vague hope expressed managed to avoid the destabilisotion to cover them in a future volume. experienced by would-be nuclear-free What the book does cover is governments in Greece and Spain, as International nuclear-free zones, both a direct result of the Greenpeoce those which already have treaties boat's demise. (Tiatelolco, Antarctica, and Rarotonga), The most important chapters deal and those where treaties have been with the routes by which South Africa, mooted (Europe, Balkans and Africa). Israel and India obtained their My disappointment in the subject weapons capability. The rush for matter, of course, reflected a selfish nuclear weapons in Brazil and desire to find useful information to Argentina has somewhat subsided now help in the fight against nuclear that they have both returned to power in Britain. But when I delved democracy. But Argentina is now in into the book I found much that can a position to export sensitive While Marples unequivocally be an inspiration to activists technologies. Pakistan is now condemns Russia's tardiness in worldwide. considered to be a near-nuclear reporting the accident and the The Tlatelolco Treaty in Latin weapons state, leading to worries inherent instability of their nuclear America has been an inspiration for about a South Asian arms race, and power programme, he fails to draw all countries working for world peace. fears of a pre-emptive Israeli bombing any parallel to such western accidents The Rarotonga Treaty, which covers raid. as Windscale and Three Mile Island. the South Pacific, is far from perfect, The third book 'Pakistan's Nuclear Mayday at Chernobyl has an with no power to stop US nuclear subs, Development' deals exclusively with altogether more populist style, which, steaming past the Islands or even this last, most disturbing aspect of incidentally, uses many of the same visiting ports in Australia, but already .proliferation in the Third World. The references as Marples. Where Marples' it is beginning to have knock-on analysis in this book is somewhat strength lies in explaining the Soviets' effects in South-East Asia. flawed. The author concedes the value determined commitment to nuclear Regional Nuclear Weapons-Free of nuclear weapons to India and power, Hamman and Parrot's forte is Zones can, at best, supplement proposes that India and Pakistan explaining in simple terms just how universal disarmament efforts - but should take steps towards goad the accident happened and the reasons efforts towards the first have been neighbourly dialogue outwith the for its dire consequences. spurred on by lack of visible progress East/West agenda. Most of the book Although Hamman and Parrott in the latter. All countries have the is about the political motivation for share Marples' inability to draw right and responsibility to make developing nuclear weapons. There is parallels between East and West, they efforts towards reversing the arms little about how and where the make a vigorous attempt to explain race. sensitive nuclear technologies were Russia's unwillingness to report any Whilst I found this book interesting obtained, and nothing about the industrial drawbacks. What is really and inspirational, I believe the only hazards to the population of the fuel striking about "Mayday" is Its analysis way for individuals to make any cycle facilities. The author alleges of glasnost as an ongoing development, impact on the campaign for a nuclear that, although there are cracks in the where Marples seems to have wanted free world, is to work from the West's proliferation controls, there is openess to come all in one go. grassroots level upwards. Let's hope evidence that the West knowingly Of the two books, "Mayday" is the editors cover the international collaborated anyway. the one most worth buying. Although nuclear-free local authority movement If I had to choose between the Marples' book is also worth reading, soon. three books, I'd buy 'On the Brink'. I would recommend that you borrow In contrast to the optimism of It has the most wide-ranging it from the library. the first book 'On the Brink' is a coverage of the issue of horizontal rather depressing read. It lacks a THOM DIBDIN proliferation. coherent thread running through it, as PETE ROCHE SCRAM Journal November/December 1987 23 Little Block Rabbit was wondering received the some reply. Frank being around the Torness site recently. Not a persistent kind of chop, wrote back long after the postie nod been, it and said that he would certainly like become obvious that the contents of to take up the offer and see their 0 recently arrived parcel nod been records after the NU nod completed thrown straight Into the rubbish bin. their research. Mr Outrom replied LBR went for o snoop around the bins saying that ne hod mistaken the and discovered that somebody hod meaning of his first reply. Frank con thrown away the documents relating only see the records if the Nil find to safety procedures. The SSEB o problem with the welds. He can't apparently know it all already. see their records if the Nil give "positive scram" Then at precisely 11 a-clock the Hinkley a clean bill of health. All which means alarms sounded, and everybody seemed TV interviews ore true, but some emergency action · to be heading for one particular shed. are more true than others. which has the opposite effect to that LBR thought it best to join them, in intended. case there hod been some kind of Nuclear engineers prefer to bring accident. Then after standing around • • • • • • • the reactor on line after o scram. for only 10 seconds everyone started The Equc,ll Opportunities Act has led But after a "positive scram" this can't to disperse. LBR collared one person to the production of o new, rather be done. We at SCRAM ore pleased and asked what was going on. "Oh this · unexpected kind of low-level waste to note that our view of nuclear happens every day at llom, it's just o being produced at the Sellafield power has now been accepted by the practice" come the reply. But how con reprocessing plant in Cumbria. UKAEA os "positive". you tell when o real emergency Sellafield has its own sewage happens? LBR asked. "There won't be works, and the solid wastes a real emergency come the reply, and produced there ore dumped at the • • • • • • • anyway it wouldn't happen at 11om." low-level dump site at Drigg. An interesting twist on the EDRP LBR hopes that has set everyone's BNFL 's recent attempts to employ discharges issue. Under Scots Low the mind at rest. At least we know the new apprentices of both sexes has Crown Estates Commissioners own the balloon won't go up during elevenses. led to the appearance in the sewage land, ie the sea·bed, below the High of o kind of waste more normally Water Mork out to 12 miles, ond associated with the activities of a hence claim sovereignty over the • • • • • • • bedroom rather than o reprocessing water above it. Fish formers using sea After Bob Brooks mode his allegations plant. LBR understands that the water, whether they form fish in cages about X·roys of good welds being sewage wastes dumped at Drigg now in the seo or pump the water ashore, substituted for welds that were faulty contain on average of 10 condoms ore seen os tenants ond hove to poy o ot Hinkley Paint B, the manager of per day. LBR is thinking of tell!ng sea water tox. the station, Mr Outrom, went on TV Mory Whitehouse and Victoria Shetland [slonds Council hove urged and said that "anybody can look Gillick in the hope of gaining some the Commissioners to object to the through our books". Bob Brooks and new anti-nuclear recruits. EDRP pions because, os landlords, they George Pritcnord decided to take up owe it to their tenants to maintain Mr Outrom's offer, but were told they the quoJity of services provided, ie would hove to wait until after the Nil • • • • • • • pure water. Although they con hod completed their report. Because the nuclear industry never technically object, the Commissioners Frank Cook MP also wrote and admitted that anything like hove decided to toke no action - if asked to view their records, but Chernobyl could happen until after the go ahead Is given for EDRP they will not frustrate the plans. Dounreay, of course, also pays the tax because they use sea water for cooling purposes. The exact rote is not known, but it is known thot the rote SUB FORM WAGES FORM is curt"entlv under review. But there is a way for fish formers Please fill out the standing order to get their own back. Under the I would llke to subscribe to SCRAM. form below and send it to us. ancient Udal Low (o remnant of the l enclose cheque/postal order, payable islands' previous ownership by the King to SCRAM for: To the Manager: of Denmark - they were given os a ... Bank dowry to Scotland's James l1l in 1468), .the crofters own the seo bed down to Address .•. the Low Water Mark. They con theoretically charge the Crown Concessionary . . . . £5 Estates Commissioners o rental for Ordinary ...... £10 storage of their water above the Low Supporting ...... £15 Please pay on •.•• (1st payment) Water Mark twice doily. Inst itutional ...... £25 the sum of • • • from my account number . . .•. to the Royal Bank of • Life sub...... £50 Scotland, 142 Princes Street, EdinburgH • • • • • • • {83·51-00) for the credit of SCRAM On 12 November NIREX publish o Name .•...... number 2 account 258597 and make 'consultative document' which will ask similar payments monthly/yearly until the public to decide how and where Address. • • • . . . . • . . • cancelled. nuclear waste should be treated. One thing is certain: it will not be • Tel Signed • • • • • • . • • • Dote • •••• dumped in the Reskojeoge quarry In Cornwall near Comborne. Following local Of! ositlon to a ~~,..;;;;;~ in the or , ·· rights ruc.k a deal NIR EX could 'I Return this form to: contin theh :;utve1 i: they pu;d SCRAM, 11 Fort h Street, Edinburgh £2500 , "'S'tgnl!d-~~T"m:rti~ EH 1 3l E. Tel: 031 557 4283/4. no wos ·r will ev~r h~ dw;11 p~d there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NIMBY should m~e to Combcrne! ·--~