N949 AU6UST ISEPTEMBER 1985

Background Radiation Dounreay Broadsheet Nuclear Leeks! -contents Comment Dounreay: The Rigged Inquiry 3 On May 24th Alistair Goodlad, junior Energy The campaign against the reprocessing Minister, announced that the Department of plant hots up by lan Leveson Energy will be supporting the application by the News 4-5 UKAEA and BNFL to construct the European Background Radiation 6-7 Demonstration Reproc:::essing Plant (EDRP) to Adding to natural radiation won't handle spent fast reactor fuel at Dounreay on harm you? by Don Arnott the north coast of Scotland. Although this Radhealth 7-8 application had been publicised last autumn, the Trades Unions and the IC RP manner and timing of the announcement came by Tony Webb as a surprise to the anti-nuclear movement. Dounreay Information Broadsheet 9-12 lt has long been realised that the activities at Dounreay deserve national prominence, but Nuclear Leeks! 13 understandably the campaigns against Windscale The Welsh Magnox stations' record and Sizewell B haV'e taken much of the move­ by Hugh Richards ment's attention recently. However, the EDRP NPT- No Peace Tomorrow (5) 14 proposal has instilled in us a sense of urgency Concluding our series for the so we have produced the enclosed fourJ)CI9e Treaty Review Conference broadsheet on Dounreay to assist campaigners by Jos Gallacher to publicise the hazards of this ludicrous pro­ Greentown - Green Future 15 posal. Milton Keynes' co-operatively run Looking at the plans one can believe that the community by David Olivier applicants have gone out of their way to devise Appropriate Technology 16-17 the worst possible scenario: highly radioactive Reviews 18-19 spent plutonium fuel will be shipped across the Listings, Little Black Rabbit 20 congested and inhospitable North Sea from the Tony Webb works with the Trades Union Radi­ European mainland (remember the Mont Louis?) ation and Health Information Service. and the plutonium recovered will be flown back Don Arnott is a former Consultant to the Inter­ to the continent in a powder form (one millionth national Atomic Energy Agency. of a gramme can cause cancer if inhaled) - this Hugh Richards is the Press Officer of the operation will take place approximately weekly. Welsh Anti Nuclear Alliance. We are told that an option exists for the resul­ Jos Gallacher is a freelance researcher on proliferation issues. ting high level waste to be returned to the coun­ David Olivier is a member of the Greentown try of origin; this option has never been Group and works as a consultant on energy exercjsed at Windscale. conservation/renewable energy sources. A public incpmy into the application is expec­ ted to begin 'in the new year and will run for This magaz~ne is pr~ for the Brilish Anti-Nuclear and Safe Energy movements by the Scottish Campaign to Resist 'months rather than years•. On page 3 lan Lev­ the At~lc Menftce (SCRAM). eson uplains why the inquiry postulated by the Scram, t1 Forth Street, E'dibburgh EH 1 3LE. Scottish Office (with Cabinet backing) will be Tel: on 557 11283/4. Editor: Steve Martin totally inadequate to deal with this sort of News Ecfitor: Frances McGiinchey development and identifies alternative tttctics. Reviews Editor: Rosie Bell Research: lan Leveson lt hardly needs to be said, but SCRAM will Typesetting: Rosie Bell put all its efforts into this campaign and, with Layout: Wilf Plum the broad support of the anti-nuclear movement ISSN 0140 7340 Bi-monthly. This magazine is typeset at the Unemployed Workers Centre, and other concerned groups, we will show this 14 Picardy Place, Edinburgh. scheme up for what it is - a last ditch attempt Deadline for next issue - articles. 6th September. news 13th by the UKAEA and BNFL to stay in business. September. We must therefore reiterate our appeal for do­ APOLOGY nations to fight this campaign - many have al­ In the review of books on Space Weapons (p22 SCRAM 48) the phrase in the third paragraph should read 'military satellites ready given but we still need lots more to halt can be both destabilising in that they make nuclear war-fighting this headlong rush into the Plutonium Economy. more feasible, and stablising in that they provide early warning Tell your friends and colleagues. Thank you. of attack and verification of arms control agreements.' We missed out some words which considerably altered what the re­ viewer meant. COVER PHOTO: MARTIN ROND 2 SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 Dounreay-The Rigged Inquiry

Like nuclear power; fast reactor (FR) Scotland called in the application in mid­ might come to Dounreay has been gree­ research has had all-party support and June and stated his intention to hold a ted with growing concern and anger a­ the unquestioned blessing of every gover­ Public Local Planning Inquiry (PLPI) be­ mong residents of the area. The Fishing, nment since 1955, receiving steady fun­ cause 'the proposed development had Farming and Tourist industries will be ding in excess of £lOOm per year (1984 implications of greater than regional threatened by the plant and are already prices) despite repeated failure to importance'. The Public Notices appear­ very worried how much effect the mere achieve progress towards building the ed in the Scottish Press on June 14th, threat will have on them. For the first first Commercial Demonstration Fast allowing 21 days for representations. time Caithnessians have openly express­ Reactor. Originally envisaged for 1970, ed concern about the nuclear industry. the CDFR is now admitted to be not pos­ Plaming Inquiry Commission The Island Councils of Orkney, Shet­ sible until 2015. This has not attracted land and the Western Isles are cooper­ much public or parliamentary scrutiny. At PLPI's, matters of national policy ating in their opposition against the The project is still fostered and protec­ are not considered to be material to the plans, as are the environmental groups ted by the Dept of Energy (DoEn). fan planning law. Although some discussion in the North, under the umbrella 'Cam­ Leveson now examines the latest exam­ was allowed at the Windscale and Size­ paign Against the Dounreay Expansion ple of Governmental obfuscation. well inquiries, the Windscale report ig­ (CADE)' which includes the Dunters from The DoEn made an approach to join nored the evidence (we await the pub­ Orkney, the Wick-based Nuclear Repro­ the European FR development lication of the Sizewell report). The cessing Concern Group, the Highland programme prior to their review of the Town & Country Planning Acts make Anti Nuclear Group and RADE - Ross­ British FR programme, completed in No­ provision for a Planning Inquiry Comm­ shire Against the Dounreay Expansion vember '82. The review supported further ission (PlC) where the proposed develop­ - a newly formed group opposing the development, as national strategic pol­ ment: spent fuel transport route from lnver­ icy: its details are confidential. 1 involves matters of regional or national gordon (the port of entry). RADE was Following negotiations during summer importance; formed despite the Government's thinly­ '83 a European Collaborative Agreement 2 has scientific or technical aspects disguised attempt to buy off the Easter was signed in January '84. which are unfamiliar; Ross communities with the promise of However, the House of Commons Se­ 3 has related activities at other sites; jobs (900 jobs were lost when the alumin­ lect Committee on Energy; sitting after or ium smelter closed in 1981 ). The High­ the signing, was not allowed to question 4 has been considered for other sites. land Regional Council has reserved its the programme and 'regretted••• that none position until consultations· end at their of the details of the review (had) been next meeting in September - they may published.' lt criticised the lack of strin­ still be swayed by public opinion. gent assessment of the F R programmes compared with the severe cost criteria Particles imposed on renewables research. The current Conservative Govern­ Several recent events have fuelled ment has ignored the recommendation the opposition case. BNFL's court case of .the Flowers Commission and its ac­ for the October '83 slick caused the ceptanc·e by the Government of the day UKAEA to attempt to distance them­ that 'the issues should be carefully ap­ selves at an early stage by claiming that preciated and weighed in the light of it is they who will be running the plant public understanding' before an FR pro­ and BNFL will only be raising the gramme is embarked upon. The Govern­ finance. However, particles discovered ment stated that the European Demon­ on the Dounreay foreshore in 1984, which stration Reprocessing Plant (EDRP) de­ were claimed to pose 'no hazard to the cision will not 'prejudge any decision to public', have since been estimated to be taken on the timing and siting of a Although a PlC can examine national have been as radioactive as the commercial fast reactor in this country.' policy and make recommendations on Cumbrian beaches after the '83 slick. policy which the planning minister must Also, a week before the announce­ Application Called In then consider, no PlC has ever been con­ ment of the planning application, the stituted. (The Roskill Commission into Government quashed a £200m European So much for Parliamentary control London's third airport which was similar grant for agriculture in Highland Region of major investment programmes; and in format predated the 1971 Planning - this is coincidentally the same figure so much for assurances given by success­ Act). Following the Sizewell inquiry the as the cost for the EDRP. ive governments that there would be a Town & Country Planning Association During the Low Level Radiation Con­ full public inquiry before Britain embarks has recently made a number of recom­ ference in Gloucester, a letter to the on an FR programme. mendations on the conduct of PLPI's, Scottish Secretary was drafted which In late September '84 the UK Atomic stressing that policy and site specific attracted signatures from MP's, MEP's Energy Authority at Dounreay announced decisions cannot be easily separated: and environmental groups. lt called for: that it wanted to bid for the EDRP to under existing law only a PlC is suitable at least one year's delay before the In­ safeguard threatened jobs there. The for consideration of the Dounreay pro­ quiry should begin; funding for objecting UKAEA found willing allies in the High­ posals. groups; the constitution of a PlC; and land Regional and Caithness District an early meeting with the Scottish Sec­ Councils and the local SDP MP Robert Growing Concern retary. His reply at the end of July re­ MacLennan. A lobby from Highland Re­ fused a meeting and funding, reaffirmed gion in April '85 paid off with the ann­ Despite the Dounreay management's his commitment to a PLPI and did not ouncement of the Government's back­ assurances that its plant is considerably confirm a starting date. ing for the UKAEA/BNFL proposal on cleaner than BNFL Windscale, the news We reserve our position pending. a May 24th. The Secretary of State for that a commercial reprocessing plant coordination meeting during August.

SCRAM Journal August 185/September 185 3 I Transport

URENCO has steadily Increased Its share of the European enrichment market now standing at 1396. They expect to expand their share, especially after the US con­ t ract won last year. All three partners are now building new centrifuge plants to cope with an expanding order book. BNFL News July '15

The United Nations is to take the unpre­ cedented step of legal action against URENCO in the international court of justice later this year. URENCO, which specialises in the enrichment of uranium is owned jointly by the British, Dutch and West German governments. The UN claims that URENCO has been enriching uranium from Namibia since 1980 in contravention of the UN declaration that the occupation of Na­ mibia by South Africa is illegal because natural resources are being exploited without the permission of the Namibian people. Repercussions could be wide ranging in Britain and West Germany, and could On 27th June members of the Campaign themselves to the gantry compound be decisive in determining URENCO's Against Nuclear Transport {CANT) gates. The chains were eventually cut future, If the action is successful. blockaded the nuclear flask loading and six people were arrested and charged A footnote to this story Indicates gantry near Bridgewater in Somerset. with obstruction. They were later fined how sensitive URENCO's position is. The They delayed the loading of the flask £25 each. day after the original story appeared onto the rail transporter for 45 minutes. Following the blockade CANT leaf­ in the Financial Times, a correction was CANT had monitored the movements letted Bridgewater whilst they toured printed: 'Contrary to a report in yester­ of flasks from Hinkley Point B nuclear the town with their own flask. The day's FT, URENCO ••• does not enrich power station for 3 months prior to mock flask finished its journey at the uranium for military purposes'. So now the action, so on the day they were Magistrates' Court. w.e know! able to move in just minutes before Contact: CANT c/o 30 Brighton Road, Financial Times 2.7.85 the transporter arrived. They chained Redland, Bristol. IWindscale

Just as we go to press the result of the The fine may seem ridiculously low discharge conditions, failing to keep ad­ court case against British Nuclear Fuels compared with the effect the incident equate records and failing to take all was decided. The company was fined has had on the local tourist, fishing, and reasonable steps to minimise the expo­ E10,000 for incidents which led to the agriculture industries, besides the incal­ sure of persons to radiation. contamination of 20 miles of Cumbrian culable effect the discharge of such Greenpeace, who discove.red the slick beaches in October 1983. The Jury de­ large quantities of radioactivity could when their divers were ex.amining the cided that, although the discharges did have on the health of the children of discharge pipe with the aim of blocking not exceed authorised limits, they were Cumbria, but it represents a remarka~le it, are 'delighted' about the result. not as low as reasonably achievable. advance. lt proves that a large company George Prltchard said that this case 'will BNFL have aJso been ordered to pay pro­ like BNFL can be taken on and they can open the floodgates for claims against secution costs up to £60,000. be found guilty of failing to comply with BNFL. Local industries will be lodging claims for compensation. What matters is not the size of the fines but the fact 1 Crocodiles that this will be another step towards zero discharges. The limit has already been cut from 6000 curies to 600 so any discharge of this sort In the future may be beyond the authorised limit.' Let's hope that finally, after living under the shadow of Windscal~ for so long, the people of Cumbria will be able to receive some redress from BNFL. The company's chairman, Con Allday, said As nuclear plants produce warm water site, giving a boost to local tanneries that, 'of course I am disappointed but as a by-product it does seem a pity to and shoemakers. This project seems to I am not commenting any more at the waste this valuable commodity, or so add a new dimension to the idea of en­ moment'. He stressed that procedures it seems to the French at Tricastin in ergy conservation - a case of the I'Ener­ had tightened at the plant and said that France. The Commissariat a I'Energie gie Atomique crying crocodile tears. BNFL 'will be giving serious considera­ Atomique are to breed crocodiles on the FT Energy Economist June '15 tion to the implications of the verdict'. 4 SCRAM Jownal August '85/September '85 . I Accident News1

The PWR at Davis Besse in Ohio built trical pump had been in operation, the The Sizewell B inquiry was held in a 700 by Babcock & Wilcox and operated by valve's failure would have had a similar year old church. In commemoration of Toledo Edison had an accident on June effect on the operation, however. Con­ the two year inquiry the CEGB will spend 9th similar to that of Three Mile Island. troversy continues. £1600 illuminating the building. The Davis Besse shut down last month. New Scientist 11.7.85 churchwarden, Mr Langley, is 'delighted Investigations are being carried out fol­ that the board should make such a gener­ lowing a 12 minute loss of coolant. On I Reactors ous gesture to the village'. Is this an the two years 77-79 there have been 20 Following completion of the Phillipines' omen? Will the CEGB see the light after incidents involving loss or partial loss first nuclear power station at Luzon on the event? Maybe Mr Langley should of coolant.) On June 9, while working the Baatan peninsula in June, the pylons note that the board could be very gener­ at almost full power, a feedwater pump were promptly blown up by rebels. The ous and not bother building Sizewell B stopped working. The Emergency system 620MW PWR was the most expensive after all ••• or maybe the CEGB now acted but a series of valves closed, pre­ of its kind in the world, and great con­ has pangs of guilt that it did not reveal venting secondary feedwater pumps from troversy surrounds its design and the all its plans during the inquiry. working. Reserve pumps came into play questionable dealings between Westing­ CEGB Newsletter briefly before shutting down. The Plant house and Herminio Disini - a relative was without feedwater. A pump with of President Marcos. half the capacity was used until an aux­ The reactor is built on the slopes of ICE GB iliary pump came into operation twelve two dormant volcanoes in the vicinity The Central Electricity Generating minutes later. of an undersea earthquake fault. The Board still have plans to build a nuclear As at Three Mile Island, when pres­ US Nuclear Regulatory Commission was power station at Portskewitt in South sure rose in the primary circuit, a relief invited to assess the plant's safety and Wales. This fact emerged recently valve opened periodically but, because found that volcanic hazards had not been from consultations carried out by of malfunction, stuck on the third oper­ adequately catered for in the design. Gwent County Council. ation. At Davis Besse it was open for The design was based on a plant for The County Council proposed changes to its structure plan which involved a minute compared to two hours at TMI. Puerto Rico which was never built. West­ the construction of 500 houses to the The Nuclear Regulatory Commission inghouse paid Herminio Disini $3Sm com­ north of Portskewitt. The CEGB and (NRC) has been heavily criticised for mission on that contract. The eventual the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate not insisting that an electrically powered cost, although difficult to ascertain, is (Nil) objected to these changes on auxiliary pump or alternative be installed certainly over $2bn compared with an the basis that the building development to replace the present steam driven original estimate of $500m in 1974. The would inhibit future use of the site pumps, as had been recommended in May Government is paying $350,00 per day which they have earmarked for a nuclear 1980. The Davis-Besse PWR is unique in interest charges. Its generating costs power station. They had to remind the Welsh Office that the CEGB still in both main and auxiliary pumps being have been estimated as 2,500% higher had consent under the Electr-icity driven by steam generators. In the case than hydro and even 500% higher than Lighting Acts to build a nuclear power of loss of feedwater and the steam gene­ oil. station despite the fact they had with­ rators boiling dry there would not be New Scientist 11.7.85 drawn the application at an earlier anything to drive the pumps. If an elec- WISE News Communique nos 228 & 231 date. Greenpeace-

A couple have been arrested and charged with murder and arson by New Zealand police for the attack on the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior which was sunk in Auckland harbour by limpet mines which blew two 8ft holes in her side. Fernando Pereiro, the ship's photographer, was killed. The ship was preparing to lead a flotilla into the French nuclear test site in the south Pacific. The couple were travelling on false Swiss passports and had been held in custody for ten days before being charged. The New Zealand Prime Minister, David Lange, expressed his anger at the attack and said, 'We have implications of pol­ itical terrorist overtones. Greenpeace, of course, has enemies for a whole lot of causes.' However, he went on to say that they have also 'made millions of friends••• around the world'. This incident has been made all the worse because of New Zealand's nuclear free stance. Greenpeace has launched an appeal for Fernando's children. Send donations to Greenpeace, 36 Graham Street, London Nl. SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 5 Background Radiation Myths abound concerning background radiation and its effects on living things. :.~ -~J.t..--;.- 0 0 The Nuclear Industry consistently uses ·~J !J ,·''I :.1.) J it as a justification for discharging radioactive materials to the environment. In this article, the next part of his series on nuclear waste, Don Amott seeks .. to dispel some of the myths and put ~ into context the hazard background radiation levels represent. years, and quite possibly longer, we can­ But there is another effect. Much From time to time the notion raises its not possibly know all the things we need more rarely the exposed cell does not ugly head: we live in a radioactive world, to know now. For that situation the wise die. Instead it turns malignant and begins we survive, obviously it's doing no harm, rule applies: when in doubt, don't. to multiply without regard to its so what does it matter if we add a little So what is the real significance to surroundings. This is cancer, in which more radioactivity to the environment? us of the natural radiation background? category we also include leukaemia. Or, Consider this:- And what, specifically, are the dangers if a reproductive cell is involved, it may It is wtdoubtedly true that exposure of our adding to it? To answer these undergo mutation. Again - with all pos­ to high levels of radiation can cause questions I must go back to fundament­ sible respect to Mr Adams - as little as cancers, but there is absolutely no als. a single ionisation can do it. There is evidence that the public are at risk When a radioactive particle or therefore not threshold; risk diminishes through exposure to radiation within gamma-ray traverses living tissue it pro­ with dose but is never wholly abolished. the variations of natural backgrowtd duces hundreds of electrically charged And, despite the fact that these effects levels. particles, called ionisations, in the atoms are much rarer than threshold effects, Half-truths of this sort abound: they lying along its path. Each ionisation sets it is they that must rule our judgements do not yet reach the point of stating that off a chain-reaction of complex chemical as to what is, and what is not acceptable radiation is good for you, but there is events, by no means fully understood practice. Those judgements, moreover, a clear implication that our worries are as yet; and, under certain circumstances, must take into account that the whole rather silly. What matters about this as little as one ionisation can kill a cell. of the living world is at risk and not our­ quotation is that its author, Peter Adams And that is the normal response: cell­ selves alone. is a member of RWMAC (the Radioactive exposure is followed by cell-death, usu­ lt is far from easy. lt would be wise Waste Management Advisory Commit­ ally taking place at the next to assume that we have not discovered tee). He is also a member of the TUC cell-division. There is another and rarer all the biological effects of radiation. Fuel and Power Industries Committee response; we shall come to it later. We have no complete understanding of and is Chairman of the TU side of both what causes cancer. There are often de­ the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Au­ No Threshold lays between exposure and injury, some­ thority and British Nuclear Fuels Limited times of many years; and the injuries Negotiating Committees. lt sounds drastic; and at the themselves are not specific to radiation To be fair to Mr Adams, the article cell-level, so it is. But cells die and are but can be caused in other ways. lt is from which I have quoted* contains no replaced the whole time, from their own thus, in the present state of knowledge, other whoppers like this, even though old age and from injuries of many sorts. extremely difficult to relate cause and it is highly slanted. But underlying hi~ Skin ~ells last about a month, red blood­ effect. contention are these deadly assumptions: cells about a hundred days, some circu­ because we can't see it therefore it isn't lating white blood-cells a few hours only: Knowledge is Limited happening; we know it all; or at least, you are not the same person as you were The natural radiation background enough. when you got up this morning. consists of terrestrial radioactivity (in­ lt follows that, for this sort of effect, cluding that inevitably incorporated into provided that radiation damage does not Too Soon To Tell living things) and cosmic radiation com­ exceed the capacity of the tissues for ing from outer space. lt behaves in ex­ Radioactivity was only discovered regeneration, there exists a threshold actly the same way as any other ionising in 1895; its genetic effect in 1927: its of exposure below which no ill-effects radiation: day by day it produces injury mass-use is a bare 30 years old. Why is will be apparent. This does not mean that and death; and, over the millennia, it it to be assumed that we know all about nothing is happening; it means that re­ might perhaps produce t-2% of known the long-term effects? The tragedy of generative process can cope. lt is this human cancers. But nobody knows: our nuclear power, and its most specific dan­ alone which makes it possible to work methods of estimation and our accumu­ with radiation at all, as in medicine. ger, lies in this: that for at least tOO lated experience do not yet allow it. Again, this is not surprising when one reflects that most of the fundamental knowledge we have is less than. tOO years old. Nonetheless, there is no denying the fundamental radiobiology of the matter. Specifically, what has happened is this. Life, originating on this planet a­ gainst odds which include a radioactive environment, has evolved into species which can stand radiation loss. Other species, which could not, no doubt went to the wall. But there is a more specific defini­ tion of the matter; and with it we reach SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 the crux of things, the point which the quences except that they are unlikely as the human environment: there is nuclear industry has always missed and to be suffered by Mankind as the price merely the biosphere in which Man has seems determined to go on missing. For of its nuclear activities is more likely his place and to all of which he is it is no more than a half-truth to say to take the form of some gross interfer­ related. But we are still industriously that the living world survives in spite ence with our food supply or the emer­ sawing off the branch on which we sit. of radiation. The whole truth is this: that gence, through radiation induced muta­ Shakespeare, as so often, got it right it survives in spite of the damage done tion, of malignant varieties of micro­ about Man:- by the existence of certain radioactive organisms such as wheat rusts. None of Most ignorant of what he's most assur~d. substances in the evironment. it will happen overnight. The biosphere At present, radioactive waste is not is not so fragile that it cannot withstand the most immediately flagrant of our Radiation-induced mutations a few clouts. But we are taking a risk. offences against the living world. But, And there is not technical reason which no doubt for historical reasons, it is the The vital difference is best could justify it. one which has attracted most attention illustrated by example. Amongst the ma­ The Flowers Report, in one of its rare and most study and where therefore ny free-living protozoa in the sea are Japes into intellectual rigour, endorsed there is least excuse for failure. We can­ many which build shells of chalk (Cal­ the conventional wisdom that if Man pro­ not permit any increase in global radio­ cium carbonate) or silica. But there are tects himself properly with regard to activity through the release of also a few which construct their shells, radiation, 'his' environment will usually Man-made radioelements for Nature to not of chalk but of the closely allied be protected also; that too is the philo­ do with as she pleases. Strontium carbonate. (They must have sophy of the International Commission a hard time of it. Strontium is not a for Radiological Protection. Eight thous­ *Peter Adams: 'Don't listen to common constituent of seawater.) Clear­ and years of human history go far scaremongers', Contact, Vol 15, March ly they are no more at risk than any towards proving that exactly the oppos­ 1985. (Publishl'd by EEPTU and circu­ other species from the presence of Ra­ ite is true. In fact there is no such thing lated to membership.) dium and Uranium in the sea. But then some smart-ass up at Windscale starts putting in Strontium-90 - and putting in more than he need, too, to see what Radhealth Campaign happens - the protozoans start building it into their sherls and their future pros­ The National Conference on the Medical A number of Trades Unions have been pects darken at once. They can survive Effects of Low Level Radiation took campaigning for lower radiation dose sea-water Radium. They are not adapted place on the weekend of the 15th and limits since 1978. In this, the second art­ to radioactive Strontium: evolution has 16th June and was attended by about icle on Radiation and Health, Tony Webb never met it before and it is likely to 120 activists and workers in the health reviews the progress in the light of the respond in its usual ruthless fashion. field. The feeling of the Conference was New Ionizing Radiation Regulations. And tt~e same goes for every artifi­ one of great intensity and a thirst for Standards for radiation protection are cial radioelement we make. 'Because knowledge on the subject of radiation inadequate. As indicated in SCRAM 48 the Irish Sea contains Radium, it does and health. these have not kept pace with developing not in the feast follow that it is safe for Highly informative talks were pre­ knowledge on risks. Indeed the new sys­ us to put Plutonium into it as well.' lt sented by Alice Stewart, Or Robin Rus­ tem proposed by the International Com­ is the thirty years since I wrote that in sell Jones, James Cutler and John Ur­ miSSion on Radiological Protection a book and the lesson has still to be quhart as well as workshops. The Satur­ (ICRP) will result in some relaxation of learned. The Industry sees only radiation. 'day workshops were essentially informa­ standards limiting exposure to critical lt refuses to see radiochemistry. tion sharing and were led by members organs of the body and to intake limits But does it matter if a few protozoan of the medical profession: the Sunday for many of the radionuclides encoun­ species disappear in this way? As a de­ workshops, on the other hand, were con­ tered by workers in medicine and indus­ tail, nobody knows, but as a principle centrated on campaigning strategies. try as well as the nuclear programme. it is vital. All species interdepend and The final plenary session combined (1 ,2) it is the inter-relationships between the educational and campaigning aspects These proposals have aroused strong them that are so vulnerable to environ­ of the Conference Into practical steps resistance from a number of unions mental change. A small decline in a food which can be taken to publicise the med­ whose members work with radiation - resource may wipe out a species depend­ ical effects of low level radiation. A notably the G&MBATU, ASTMS, and ent on it. We have seen the calamitous major deci-sion was to convene a Standing T&GWU. The Union position called for effects of ill-judged pesticide use on Conference which will meet annually; a reduction of the annual limit by a fac- food chains. But even more central to the next one to be organised by CORE my argument is the question of targets. (Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive There are only 5000 million human Environment) and probably to be held beings on the whole of the Earth's sur­ in Kendal next summer. Until that time face. But there frequently are as many the campaign will be serviced by SCAR unicellular organisms on any square yard (the Severnside Campaign Against Radi­ of it. Nuclear war apart it is not very ation), who did such a marvellous job likely that many of us will suffer direct of organising this year's event. radiation injury from nuclear adventur­ The Concluding Statement from the ism: we are too few and most of the ra­ Conference reflected the unanimous diation will miss us. By comparison the feeling of the participants that 'Informa­ sheer stopping power of micro-organisms tion witheld from the Black Report, for radiation, above all their potential faulty epidemology and statistics, un­ for genetic change so induced, is scientific logic and radiology, remove immense. If we start messing around all credibility from its findings', and that with the world's microflora and fauna ' we cannot rely entirely on government in a random fashion there is no forecast­ institutions to take care of health in re­ ing anything about the ultimate conse- gard to radiation hazards'.

SCRAM Journal August 185/September •as 7 - The ALARA principle. (6) 'Reasonably Radhealth Campaign contd. Achievable' being of course defined by tor of 10 from 5 rem {50 J,JSv) to 0.5 the management not the workers. To rem {5 J,JSv). {3) give this imprecise value-laden principle Needless to say, the Health and Safe­ some substance the NRPB has developed ty Commission was under strong industry a complex system of Cost - Benfit ana­ pressure not to change the limit and to lysis. If the cost of reducing doses is less introduce the IC RP system. To make than the N R PB formula, then improve­ any concession would break the inter­ ments should be made. If more, they national consensus built around the need not be. (7) Some small doses are IC RP. This consensus, as indicated in defined as insignificant and discounted the previous article, is essential to main­ completely. (8) taining the myth of 'safety' and 'accepta­ This cattle market approach to ra­ bility' of radiation developed under the diation protection is not merely obscene, Atoms for Peace programme. {1) it is designed to obscure the fundamental Privately the UK Atomic Energy Au­ issue: that radiation technology was in­ thority {UKAEA), the National Radio­ troduced with insufficient concern for New Coalitions 'Needed logical Protection Board {NRPB) and public and worker health, and the pro­ Central Electricity Generating Board tection agencies, from IC RP down, have Just as the anti-nuclear movement (CEGB) will concede that worker dose failed to amend the regulations to re­ has recognised the need for Trade Union should be below 1 rem a year to be 'ac­ flect the current knowledge on radiation allies so unions need to recognise that ceptable'. (4) Indeed, with the exception risks. the concessions that have been won are of reprocessing at Windscale a 1 rem As a concession to union pressure in large part due to public relations sen­ limit could be met with little difficulty. the new code of practice that will ac­ sitivities of the industry. These are vety The CEGB, for example, has been ope­ company the Regulations in 1986 will vulnerable to public perceptions of radi­ rating to this since 1973. (5) Once again specify an 'investigation limit' of 1.5 rem ation hazards. New fronts to the cam­ the military interests in nuclear material (15J,JSv). If a worker receives more than paign and new coalitions are needed. is clearly dictating the terms for Health this dose in any year an investigation Concerned groups include communities and Safety across the board. will be required - not to prevent it hap­ around nuclear facilities and those along pening again - merely to be sure that transport routes of industrial and medi­ Compensation Schemes the employer is applying ALARA (cost cal as well as 'nuclear' radioactive ma­ benefit analyses) properly. terial; Trades Unions in a wide range The Unions have made some progress The emptiness of this gesture can of radiation using technologies; workers however. In order to keep compensation clearly be seen when the Code (which and consumers and public health special­ cases out of the courts, BNFL set up is not legally binding) is compared with ists concerned about the introduction an automatic compensation scheme for the regulations (which are). of new technologies such as food irradi­ workers who develop cancers. In this Under the regulations a 'controlled ation; nuclear weapons test veterans; schem~ risk estimates 3~ times higher area', where the employer has to monitor Unions and Health care professionals than those of ICRP are used to assess individual worker doses, need only be concerned about health damage from the claims. The scheme has worked fairly created if the dose rate exceeds 0. 75 uses (and abuses) of radiation in medicine well for leukaemia cases but Or Alice millirem (7.5 J,JSv) per hour. This is equi­ and dentistry; and our colleagues in the Stewart suggests that some solid cancer valent to a dose of 1.5 rem {15J,JSv) per disarmament movement many of whom claims might have fared better in the •. year if the worker worked there contin­ have yet to fully accept that we are in­ courts. uously. volved in the same struggle. The scheme is under review and a The task is to bring concern about further increase in the risks of 2 to 3 New Radiation Technologies the effects of radiation out of the realm times may result. The current scheme of future possiblity and into the here would imply a need for a 1.5 rem annual Clearly the time has come for the and now, to show that we are causing limit and any further concession would Unions to reconsider their strategy. On irreparable damage now and to make be equivalent to the need for the 0.5 rem the one hand they are winning the com­ the victims of the atoms-for-peace-for target the unions have demanded, pensation fight as the industry bends atoms-for-war programme visible. The limits however remain over backwards to buy peace. Prevention unchanged. In defending the indefensible of radiation damage to health of their the industry's argument now emphasises members, on the other hand, proceeds 'real' protection is based on keeping on a haphazard basis. With the failure References doses As low As Reasonably Achievable either to win real concessions in the new 1 Article SCRAM Bulletin (June/ July regulations or to prevent introduction 85) of IC R P-inspired relaxations in standards 2 International Commission on Radio­ they are now dependent on employers logical Protection 'C RP Report 28. An­ being wiiHng, voluntarily, to go beyond nals of the ICRP Programme Press 1977 the inadequate provisions of the regu­ 3 Submission of G&MBATU to Sizewell lations. Inquiry 1984 Waiting in the wings are new techno­ 4 Minutes of meeting logies such as food irradiation that will 5 CEGB evid.ence to Sizewelllnquiry rapidly expand the range of radiation 6 Ionizing Radiation Regulations uses and worker exposures. (10) These 7 NRPB cost benefit analysis can now be introduced without real pres­ 8 NRPB Travel dose sure to design plant with lower doses 9 c.o.P. in mind. As more radiation plant is in­ 10 Food Irradiation - Issues of Concern. troduced it will become harder to bring Paper produced by the London Food about the changes that real radiation Commission Working group on food irrad­ protection requires. iation. LFC PO Box 29 London N5 8 SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 In May 1985 t he Government announced its support of an application by the UK A tomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and British Nuclear Fuels {BNFL) to construct a Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Dounreay, Caithness in the North of Scotland. This plant i s intended to be part of a European Collaboration and represents a f undamental change in nuclear energy policy. Because of the complexities of fast reactor technology, and the lack of precise offic ial informa­ tion, SCRAM has produced this broadsheet. lt gives a brief history of the Dounreay establishment and examines the world experience Y< ith fast reactors as well as discussing the implications of the Euro­ pean Collaboration in energy and economic terms. Successive Energy Secr etaries have promised a full public inquiry be fore a Commercial scale Fast Reactor is built in this country. This promise could be r eneged on by granting planning permission for the reprocessing plant in advance of the application for the fast reactor. This proposal could be seen as an admission that the Commercial reactor will not in fact be built in Britain after all and that, in order to keep the fast reactor design team together, t he U K AEA and the Government have opted for the 1dirty end1 of the fuel chain as the only part of the programme which the other participants don•t want. IThe Uranium Shortage Myth One of the major arguments for fast re­ past six year whereas the cost of $43 per pound in the late 1970's to $15 actors postulated by their proponents reprocessing has increased by a factor per pound by January 1985, and stocks is the present or fu ture shortage, and of ten. for up to six years consumption has been hence high price, of uranium fuel for The reason for the glut can be traced amassed when two years supply is usually conventional thermal nuclear power sta­ back to the early 1970's and the 'oil cri­ thought to be sufficient. Because of the tions. Evidence to the House of sis'. With the cost of oil rocketing, many glut, exploration for further deposits Commons Environment Committee top mining companies, and several oil has plummeted - spending on exploration invest• gation of radioactive waste giants, went into uranium in a big way: halved between 1980 and 1983. Ye t, the management casts serious doubts on the output of 'yellow cake' doubled between Uranium Institute estimates that pro­ uranium shortage argument. Sir Waiter 1970 and 1980. But, demand did not keep jects in an advanced stale of evolu tion Marshal!, chair of the Central Electricity pace due to reduced electricity consump­ could bring an extra 50,000 tonnes a year Generating Board, has claimed that it tion during the recession. growing oppo­ ontoth ·-~ · is cheaper to store spent fuel than sition to nuclear power, and the morator­ to more hap ;,w ice tfte ,lf}yfjl pf dejfla,nd. I reprocess it because of the glut of ium on US orders hastened by the Three There i '-t,H:'if.te3 b41>~~f.A"d~n t ftF- uranium and plutonium: the cost of Mile Island accident. "'"" t uranium has fallen by over SO% over the The spot price for uranium fell from century. ll .,. tlio Iooa' h OT:g , I D1a· bad 7Q17 '!..... ~ ~ - --._,:--..:.7:,...... , , *Britain's continued development of fast •Fast Reactors ••• Breeding Plutonium IProliferation •• reactors makes nuclear developments The Nuclear Fuel Cycle in other countries legitimate. In particu­ Fast Reactors differ from Thermal Re­ may then be (1) stored, (2) used in wea­ *the plutonium could be diverted to in­ Enrichment Yellow ~ake +-- Uranium Mining lar, the separation of plutonium in coun­ actors in three respects: pons, (3) recycled as MOX for thermal crease existing European nue'lear arsen­ tries which might divert it for weapons 1 The reactor core is fuelled with plu­ reactors, or (4) used to fuel further fast H-Bombs '',, als. Weapons grade plutonium will be would add to the number of countries tonium or with a MOX of plutonium reactors. There is a present European separated from the blanket. France has and uranium, not with uranium alone. stockpile of at least 40 tonnes of pluto­ ~ i ',,, already identified FBR's as the source High Enriched u of future weapons. In 1978, an Atomic In order to obtain the plutonium, re­ nium: ample for several fast reactors. 235 97% Pu 239 i(;i~;~~·S·IIIIIIIIIIIIII processing is necessary for Fast Re­ A Fast Reactor is known as a Fast Energy Commission advisor boasted: - IAEA International Atomic Energy actors. Breeder Reactor (FBR) if the core is sur­ France • •• will be able, rather cheap­ Agency The reactor core is not moderated rounded by a blanket of uranium. Under T ly, to make large quantities of [nuc­ UKAEA UK Atomic Energy Authority ~A-Bombs like a Thermal Reactor - it burns the impact of neutrons emitted from lear weapons] as soon as the fast CEGB c·entral Electricity Generating Dounreay __...Waste ---.. breeder reactors furnish her plenty more efficiently but is correspond­ the core, the uranium blanket is turned MOX Reprocessing Board ingly more difficult to control and into military grade, 9796 pure plutonium of the plutonium needed••• BNFL British Nuclear Fuels Limited U23s .,,"" ~ *the CEGB's participation in to cool down. Liquid sodium cools 239. The alleged economic justification f SBK Schneii-Brueter-Kernkraft­ Super-Phenix and its donation of pluton­ the core arid transfers heat to the for FBR's is that they make more effi­ .., .,. .,. .- Spent Fuel werkgesellshaft \ ium for the reactor core implicates it turbines: it burns on contact with cient use of uranium by changing lt into U 235 Blanket' "' i 'Core' EdF Electricite de France in France's nuclear weapons plutonium air or water. plutonium - which then provides the first ENEC Ente Nazionafe per I'Energia production plans. Dounreay will repro­ 3 Since there is more than a critical fuel charge for the next generation of ~=ication Fast Reactor ~=icat,on Elettrica uo PuO / cess plutonium from the Super-Phenix mass of plutonium in a Fast Reactor FBR's. 3 NERSA Centrale Nucleaire Europeenne blanket, and only the spirit but not the core, should an accident lead to core The time needed to breed enough plu­ '------U23s a Neutrons Rapides S.A. I letter of international treaties would 'melt-down', it could cause a· nuclear tonium for a successor fast reactor is 1 MOX Mixed Oxide Fuel Thermal Fuel Fabrication +-- - - u235 & :.,:.:..:..::t Reprocessing be broken if some of this plutonium went explosion- unlike a Thermal Reactor. called the 'doubling time'. The proposed Pu------EDRP European Demonstration to be used in France's 'Force de Frappe'. EDRP is to extract the plutonium from Reprocessing Plant Alternatively, France could extract The burnt-up fuel rods are repro­ the blankets of the FBR's which are due 1 ------Spent Fuel 1 EOFR European Demonstration cessed, during which the usable uranium to become operational over the next 15 Fuel Rods ---Hhermal Reactors .... Waste 1 plutonium at its Marcoule plants. Fast Reactor and plutonium are extracted, leaving years. Not all the plutonium will nece­ various grades of nuclear was1e. ssarily be recycled••• some may end up -The European Fast Reactor PrCJgramme The separated uranium and plutonium in weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency as nearly right as the nuclear industry Dumping ~ ~~:Cementation Waste Management initiated international co-ordination of believes is acceptable. And judging by Fast Reactor development in 1967. Two both Kalkar and Super-Phenix, this coui.d II[)()IJrHreCI, ltiSt()r;r~II~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~;=::::::~~~;;;;;;;;~H~L~W~V~i;tr~i~fi~c~a~t~io;n=~4~-:-:-:~~~:::::::::::::::::::::! consortia were established in the early take until the beginning of the 21st cen­ The goal of producing electricity fro-;,. ,... de- Key 1970's to build and operate Fast tury, if they start building all three pro­ proven at laboratory or commercial seal fast reactors has been pursued since Reactors. totypes now. Before there has been any 1949. For safety reasons the remote site possible but not economic public discussion of the UK's commit­ H/1/LLW- High/Intermediate/Low Level Waste 1 SBK, which is owned by German, Bel­ at Dounreay on the North coast of Scot­ -- waste route gian, Dutch and British companies ment to Fast Reactors, English and land was chosen for the UK's first pilot Fast reactors in operation or currently approach S.Ot by 2010. (the British CEGB owning up to 3%), Welsh consumers have been paying for plant. Construction began in 1955 and under construction in Western Europe will Only 5kg of plutonium are needed to operates the Kalkar Fast Reactor the CEGB's involvement in European the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) was use up to 10 tonnes of plutonium in their make a nuclear bomb and dispersal of in W. Germany. Kalkar does not now Fast Reactors. As the CEGB's stake in­ completed in 1959. DFR is extremely reactor cores. The total amount of plu­ 2 kg of this highly toxic substance could have a plutonium breeding 'blanket•. creases it will pass on these costs. small, rated at 60MW thermal and 15MW --Primatysodiumflow tonium in circulation at any one time in deliver a deadly dose to every human SBK in turn has a 16% shareholding electricity.. Since no plutonium could the plutonium fuel cycle must allow for on Earth. Misdirection of plutonium will - along with the French and Italian be spared from the weapons programme ==--- the fuel which is cooling down prior to pose enormous risks, thus it is regarded State electricity companies - in DFR was fuelled by highly enriched uran­ reprocessing, that which is being repro­ as having unique security problems. To NE RSA, the consortium which runs ium. cessed, and that which is being manufac­ prevent terrorist threats an plutonium the commercial-scale Super-Phenix Once built it was clear that the DFR tured into new fuel rods. This total is at shipments are guarded by an armed pri­ Fast Breeder Reactor in France. design was inadequate for a commercial least twice the quantity in the reactor vate police force. Both these Fast Reactors were fiercely station so in 1966 it was decided to build cores: some 20t by 1990. If three further opposed in the 1970's by demonstrations a second plant at Dounreay. Originally fast reactors are constructed, each of I Plutonium Ecooomyl of greater than 50,000 people at each scheduled for completion in 1971, this 1500MW in accordance with the European The most profound danger in the Doun­ construction site, yet both went ahead. Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) did not Agreement of 1984, the total may reay expansion is the contribution it Because of the problems with Fast go critical until 1974 and did not reach makes to the development of a 'Plutonium Reactors, especially with their sodium its design power, of 600MW thermal, un­ Economy' in which the material used in coolant, a programme of three more til 1977 and only achieved its full elec­ •The [)ourureay Expansi()n •••••• nuclear weapons (plutonium) becomes an 'prototypes' {European Demonstration trical output of 250MW in 1985. BNFL (who operate the Windscale the plans wish to challenge the wisdom ordinary item of commerce. Beyond the Fast Reactors - EDFR) will be built by Alongside the reactors the UKAEA reprocessing plant) and the UKAEA ap­ of the Government policy in support of middle of the next century, the electricity different companies before a final design built an experimental reprocessing plant. plied jointly on 31st May 1985 for outline the plutonium f~el cycle which includes supply industry seems to want Fast Re­ is chosen for a commercial programme. From 1959-1975 it separated plutonium planning permission for the construction the development of the Dounreay EDRP. actors to provide most of the base-load In January 1984, Britain joined the group and uranium from DFR fuel. In 1975 it and operation of a commercial scale Fast The EDRP will process 60-80t of electricity requirements. If W"anium re­ (known as Argo) which is promoting this was closed down, decontaminated and Reactor fuel reprocessing plant. This spent plutonium fuel per year, extracting serves are depleted and if uranium costs programme. Agreeing to one EDF R each, new equipment installed to reprocess 'EDRP' will be built and run by a Euro­ 6t of plutonium oxide and producing increase, the 'Plutonium Economy' will 1 probably for France, W. Germany. and fuel from PFR. pean consortium whose partners have more than 260m of nuclear waste. To be established more quickly. Plutonium the U K, the Government committed the The objective of a commercial fast yet to be named. They indicate that date only 20t of spent plutonium have will become an increasingly strategic ma- CEGB to a 16% share in the first EDFR, reactor has been continually postponed. planning permission will be sought also ever been reprocessed. The Applicants Super-Phenix 11. lt will be the successor past a certain threshold, the plu­ When PFR was built it was expected that for cementation and vitrification plants claim that discharges will not increase. teri~1nce to Super Phenix 1, yet the latter will tonium economy w i1l not be subject to a commercial reactor would follow ra­ at Dounreay to handle the nuclear waste lt will receive some 60 shipments not come fully on stream till at least Parliamentary security because of com­ pidly in 1977. By 1977, as the Windscale by-products. of spent fuel per year by sea (via lnver­ April 1986 and France will not order fur­ mercial and security pressures: the Plu­ Inquiry opened, there was no prospect Once outline planning permission is gordon ?) and thence by rail: more than ther Fast Reactors until at least one tonium Economy is incompatible with de­ of a commercial reactor before 1979. granted, the development is agreed in one shipment per week. There will be '--=tiiiiiiiiiiii~···P.E .• 4 mocracy. Its price is a loss of civil liber­ year's operating experience has been principle. The detailed plans, which are 60 return shipments of empty flasks and .Fast Reactor By 1980, it was clear that the fast re­ ties and long-term submission to the con­ gained of Super-Phenix I. actor would not be competitive unless probably not yet complete, are submitted up to 200 airflights carrying plutonium This EDFR programme means that liJFast Reactor Reprocessing Plant trol of a centralised technocratic elite. developed in collaboration with other later when the overall development can oxide for fabrication into fresh fuel at some £5000m will be spent on top of the A Thermal Reactor Reprocessing Plant European countries. no longer be questioned: opponents of Windscale or at plants abroad. R&D costs to get the design right - or Fast Reactor Fuel Fabrication Plant IArguments Againstl * There is no need for a Fast Reactor programme even in the medium term future. The programme distorts the En­ Accidents and Pr bl ergy policies of the countries involved Reprocessing Plants 0 ems and absorbs funds which otherwise could 1972 Nuclear Fuel Servi been breached and u go to developing renewable and Plant, USA. Closed down ~e _West Valley coulct have been kill :. to 11 s,_o~o. people only 40% of .t . avrng achieved Super-Phe . F e rn the VICinrty. non-polluting energy souces. 1 s capacrty du t 01X. ranee. R problems. Costs d . e 0 technical and conta· eactor vessel an drschar rnment designed b . * The dubious technical status of Fast acceptably high - 62St f ges were un- te~hnical feasibilit on asrs of Reactor plants and their fuel cycle ser­ processed. o spent fuel re- possible accidents y, S not to withstand vices require at least 30 years further 1973 Windscal UK . now loaded. • uper-Phenix fuel development at enormous cost before tive granules ~:..,.nt ~rRes•dual radioac- 1973 BN 350 USSR S . they even approach proven commecial sel in the B204 Head ~n~ ~oc~ssWves- hydrogen fir: but lit~l o~rum leak caused next batch of f I an • hen 1983 Rhapsod,·e F e e se known. viability. They have no economic poten­ ue was fed i · ra reaction forced d" .. n, a vrolent which led t • nee. sodium leak tial during this period so burdening tax­ plant . ra roactrvJty into the 1984 Kalk o peWrmanent shutdown. payers and consumers with a continuing contamrnating 35 wo k ar, est Germany Th admitted fo r ers. BNFL a sodium leak b t • ere was financial subsidy of billions of pounds. ur years later that th • u the was. written off. lt had only ope plandt operating hence expl . rea:tor was not To date, 30 years of Fast Reactor R&D for four years and h dl erate avoided. osron rn core was have cost the UK E2,500m. fuel. . an ed lOOt of spent Dounreay * Fast Reactors and their fuel cycles 1974 Mol, Belgium. A . not be c · . prlot plant could 1962 Dounreay Reactor require additional transport and trading ommercrally f . of radioactive d t had a blowback shut down Onl easrble, so it was " us which c t . of spent fuel, plutonium and radioactive . • Y operated at 30% .. men with far e r . . on amrnated rty. By attem tin capac- died 19 g adroactrve doses o waste. They are more dangerous than handling vario~s f~e~ p~ocess capable of 196 years later of cancer. • ne 6 Dounreay Reactor A ' . existing nuclear power technology and waste than a fa ·r· , Jt generated more ing' caused distort· f • vord sweii- Cl lty dedicat d increase the risk of long-term hazards fuel type. e to one F I •on o fuel rods ue Rods lost. Date unkn • to public health and environmental qual­ 1981 Windscale UK A Department of Ener . own, but the • • n attempt t ity in the event of an accident. Attempts process insufficiently- ° re- grounds existed to i~~- clarmed that good r I coo1 ed fuel rod to reduce costs will exacerbate the risks. e eased Iodine 137 M" s never left the sit rcate that the rods contain 2500 times •th rlk was found to 19 e. * The spread of nuclear weapons will 74 PFR. Seaweed clogged . contamination· BNFL e normal level of for seawater coolin fuel prpes be aggravated by this trade in nuclear fectly safe to ~rink'. pronounced it 'per- 1977 S d" g system. 1979. ~ rum exploded in a waste silo materials, thus hindering efforts to con­ 1983 Windscar.. UK trol proliferation. - • Purex solvent and 4 • ontaminated flasks resulted . crud released into the Irish S G men absorbing plutonium. The 0 m * They hasten the development of a p;ace divers contaminated an:a;S ;:.~n- ~f Energy criticised the UKAEA f e?t o beach closed off B r es rng to report th . . or fa•l• 'Plutonium Economy' which threatens £10 000 forth" . • NFL was fined e rnc1dent C ' IS accrdent. J 984. 20 year old radi • . our democracy and civil liberties. were d" oactJve particles ap la Hague, France. H Jscovered on b h * The EDRP proposed for Dounreay is operating at no m head End plant spots' eac es. These 'hot were as bad as th concentrates a capital-intensive and un­ ity. ore t an 60% capac- scale folio . ose near Wind- wmg the excessive 0 certain investment in one place, so im­ Fast Reactors 1983 discharge by BNFL· ctober agement claimed • Dounreay man­ balancing the economy of the Highlands 1955 EBR. 1 ' USA • o·rstortion of fuel _ and prejudicing local economic initia­ semblres caused a core melt-d as the Windscale s on December 1983 that an explo · own and care was not a r tives. Less than one third of the sron was barely avoided to Dounreay in PP •cable construction jobs will go to local wor­ 1966 Enrico Fermi USA .• Office view •that ctoh~ras! to the Scottish tal blocked th ' • A prece of me­ kers. The permanent workforce will not active particles revea7:rste~ce of radio­ had e coolant flow. If the core fro!' on th d a lack of con- increase. containment would have e part of Dounreay ment. manage- * The E200m invested in this project Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic will endanger the market image of local Menace (SCRAM) industries, leading to job losses in fish­ 11 Forth Str~et, Edinburgh EH 1 3LE. The Dunters ing, farming and tourism. The proposed Tel: 031 557 11283. c/o Ross Flett, Dyke End, South development will create fewer jobs than FriendS of the Earth Ltd (FoE) Ronaldsay, Orkney. the same investment in other local in­ 377 City Road, London EC1V 1NA. Tel: 0856 83 1163 vestment options. Tel: 01 837 0731 Nuclear Reprocessing Concern Group Greenpeace Ltd c/o Lynne Kropp, Avondale, Sartlet, Send donations to:­ 36 Graham Street, London N 1 8LL. Thrumster, Caithness. Dounreay Opposition Fund Tel: 01 251 3020 Tel: 0955 3370 c/o SCRAM 11 Forth Street The Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace was formed in 1975. SCRAM works with groups throughout Britain opposing every aspect of the nuclear chain Edinburgh from uranium mining to nuclear weapons. Our aims are to inform the public about Name•••• ...... the hazards of the ·nuclear fuel chain; to oppose by non-violent means all further nuclear developments in Scotland and elsewhere; and to press for a long-term Address•••••••••••••••• energy strategy based on energy conservation and the use of renewable energy sources. We publish the bi-monthly SCRAM Journal for the British anti-nuclear and safe ...... energy movements. We run an extensive information service and have built up a large energy issues library. SCRAM has published several pamphlets and a book. We are funded entirely by subscriptions to the SCRAM Journal and donations. So more than ever we depend on the practical and financial support of concerned individuals like you. Please consider taking out a subscription to the SCRAM Jour­ ••••••••• Donation•••••• nal or sending us a donation. Thanks! August 1985 Nuclear Leeks! As an introduction to a series of articles on the Magnox nuclear power stations in Britain we are printing this article by Hugh Richards of WANA. This article looks at the record of the two Magnox stations in Wales and compares them with worldwide experience of Pressurised Water Reactors of the Westinghouse de­ sign (the type which was the subject of the recent Sizewell B public inquiry). In particular Hugh examines employment and economic investment policy in Wales All the data comes from verifiable pub­ Reactors were options that the CEGB and suggests a possible strategy for al­ lished sources: the Power Reactor Sup­ would consider. He appears to have been leviating the problem of unemployment plements of Nuclear Engineering Inter­ drawn in, somewhat reluctantly, because black spots. national, and the Annual Reports of the of the CEGB's avowed strong desire to The C EGB, and the Government, are Central Electricity Generating Board do something about an area of high un­ committed to a programme of Westing­ and their predecessors. employment. house Pressurised Water Reactors From the table it can be seen that The problem with both these Magnox (PWR's), and may build at least one in Trawsfynydd, the first Magnox station stations it that they represent concen­ Gwynedd in Wales if the PWR at Sizewell in Gwynedd has failed to meet the ex­ trations of employment in a sparsely po­ gets the go-ahead. In choosing large pected 75% load factor by almost 11%. pulated rural area. Westinghouse Pressurised Water Reac­ Wylfa, the last and the largest of the tors for Britain the CEGB appear to be CEGB's Magnox stations, suffers from Expensive Job Protection continuing their custom of investing in technical problems which have resulted proven failure. in substantial 'downrating' and poor per­ Any programme of job creation in lt is extremely doubtful that the formance; its 41% load factor failing Gwynedd to counteract the effect of Welsh public, if they had a choice, would to meet the design 'target' by 34%. closing these stations should avoid per­ choose to buy a failed technology, that The evidence submitted by WANA petuating this pattern by spreading em­ it doesn't need, from a country which at the Sizewell 'B' Inquiry is summarised ployment opportunities more widely in has already abandoned it. lt is well un­ in the table. The actual output of all the 'travel to work areas'. Gwynedd derstood that the alternative investment Westinghouse Pressurised Water Reac­ County Council and Meirionydd District in energy conservation, combined heat tors worldwide was compared with the Council have commissioned research and power, and a modern coal industry output expected by the investors at the from University of Wales, Bangor, into would benefit Wales more than nuclear the time they made the investment de­ the socio-economic effects of closure. power. Nuclear Free Wales is not just cision. Westinghouse PWR's have The CEGB have contributed about £5,000 a stand against weapons; 59% of the area achieved a cumulative load factor of to this research. of Wales is covered by counties that have 28% up to 1984. Investors were told by WANA applaud the concern about passed resolutions against nuclear power. Westinghouse to expect a load factor unemployment but question the wisdom of 80%. Large Westinghouse PWR's (over of building further nuclear power sta­ Load Factors not achieved 1100 MW), the size that are to be built tions. Building a PWR or an AGR at in Britain, are even worse. Largely be­ Trawsfynydd would cost at least £1.2 There are two nuclear power stations cause of delays in construction they billion and provide about 600 jobs, rough­ in Wales, both of them Magnox stations, achieved a load factor of 9% up to 1984. ly the number presently working at and both in Gwynedd, in North West However such technicalities do not Trawsfynydd. In other words Jt will cost Wales. lt was always the intention of affect politicians in Gwynedd where lo­ £2 million to maintain each job at Traws­ the Central Electricity Generating Board cal unemployment rates hover around fynydd. That would represent the most (and their predeceo;sors) that these Mag­ 20%. They are lobbying for replacement costly job-protection scheme in the his­ nox reactors would achie\-e a 'load fac­ nuclear power stations. tory of the United Kingdom. tor' of 75% of the maximum possible out­ Sir Waiter Marshall, chairman of the What British Steel have started doing put of electricity at the design rating CEGB, attended a meeting at about unemployment in former steel from their scheduled start dates. The Trawsfynydr' Nuclear Power STation in working communities the CEGB should Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance (WANA) March at which he announced that re­ don in Gwynedd, but the CEGB have no has taken a lock at how these placing Trawsfyn,'dd or Wylfa or both expertise in the field of industrial de­ investments have shaped up in practice. power stations with Pressuris£~ Water velopment. WANA are urging the CEGB to use Mid Wales Development as their agents in a £7 million job creation pro­ gramme for the Porthmadog ~nd Trawsfynydd Wylfa West inghouse Ffestiniog area. Trawsfynydd will not Scheduled Output PWR 's Worldwide close for another ten years, so there is from Date of time to plan ahead, and finance the pro­ Regular Power gramme in stages. WANA acknowledge Operation 10,250 18,290 605,490 that this is not the only way in which new employment could be stimulated Actua I Output 6,605 7,503 172,128 in Gwynedd, and that a robust strategy for employment should include the ex­ Load Factor % 64.4 41.0 28.4 pansion of small, and medium sized busi­ nesses. All ways to combat the blight left by nuclear power stations should Nuclear power Stations In Gwynedd and Westinghouse PWR's Worldwide Performance be considered fully. 1tJ to 1/1/M in MW Yrs (Gross) SCRAM JCU'IUII August 115/September 185 NPT ... No Peace Tomorrow

Concluding our series on the NPT Review the N PT has no security penalty and they Conference. Jos Gallac:her makes prac­ may choose the dramatic gesture of re­ tical suggestions which could save the Jecting a Treaty which embodies privi­ Treaty from collapse. In particular he leges for the rich and powerful NWS. examines the possibility of a freeze in Jamaica and Nigeria are two countries fissile material production - the cut­ in this position who have signalled at off. the United Nations that they are consid­ ering this course of action. Despite the obvious dissatisfaction of Finally, since the NPT expires in 1995 Non Nuclear Weapons States (NNWS), unless a conference decides to prolong particularly the neutral and non-aligned it, policy makers should be looking be­ group, with the lack of progress towards yond surviving the 1985 Review Confer­ disarmament, the British Government ence and towards establishing a lasting has adopted a complacent attitude to­ regime. wards the 1985 NPT Review Conference. The survival of the NPT requires ser­ The official view is that Parties to the ious efforts to implement Article VI - NPT have an interest in maintaining the the minimum requirement is a Compre­ Treaty unconnected with fulfilment of hensive Test Ban (CTB). A CTB Treaty Articles IV and VI. British officials argue would balance the discrimination of the that the main ·benefit a country gains t-lPT by imposing the major burden on from the N PT is that other Parties will the NWS and by impeding the prolifera­ The Soviet offer puts them in the not build the Bomb. Thus, they claim, tion of nuclear arms in existing weapons same position as Britain and the US who no-one will withdraw from the Treaty. states. have voluntarily accepted limited safe­ Another complementary measure guards in order to meet criticisms that Complacency would be a freeze on the production of the NPT might confer a commercial ad­ fissile material, as has been suggested vantage on NWS who need not bother Lord Trefgarne, junior defence mini­ by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace with safeguards. ster, expressed this view recently: 'Coun­ Research Institute) in their 'Safeguarding A major problem for the cut-off tries which might contemplate acquiring the Atom' report earlier this year. A 'fis­ would be the production of fissile mater­ nuclear weapons are influenced primarily sile cut-off' would set an overall limit ial for peaceful use. The simplest solu­ by their perceived security needs, based on the multiplication of nuclear weapons. tion would be to ban all fissile material on their own regional concerns•. (1) (The US currently produces 1-2 tonnes production. The US was persuaded in For a number of reasons this com­ of weapons plutonium per year.) the 1970's by the economic uncertainties placency is misplaced. Firstly, for many and proliferation danger to abandon re­ NPT signatories the main regional threat Cut-off processing. Today only Britain and comes from a non-signatory which al­ France operate commercial reprocessing ready has the capacity to produce nuc­ A cut-off would remove another dis­ plants. Germany, Japan and Belgium lear weapons: for the black countries criminatory aspect of the NPT. NNWS have plans to begin commercial opera­ of southern Africa, security concerns have consistently complained that the tions while many other countries are de­ are focussed on the presence of South N PT imposes safeguards on them and veloping the technology. Africa which has not signed, has the not on NWS. The cut-off would be veri­ technological capability to build the fied by ttte same safeguards as the NPT, Dounreay Bomb and is widely suspected of having but the weaknesses that inflict NPT conducted a test explosion in 1979; simi­ safeguards need not prove fatal for the US advocates of the cut-off have cal­ larly, to the Arab states of the Middle cut-off because although they may fail culated that if planned expansion goes East, Israel appears as the major threat to detect the diversion of a few ahead, over 300 tonnes of plutonium will to security, remains outside the NPT kilogrammes each year, the addition of be separated before the end of the cen­ and has repeatedly hinted over the last one or two warheads to stockpiles tury while no more than 100 tonnes could ten years that it has the Bomb. already numbering tens of thousands is be used in fast reactors. (2) The 200 When fears about South Africa and insignificant. Previous attempts at a cut­ tonne excess could undermine the cut­ Israel were raised at the 1980 Review off agreement foundered on the Soviet off. The cut-off idea can link opposition Conference British officials dismissed Union's refusal to accept the on-site to the expansion at Windscale and Doun­ them as extraneous political issues. safeguards required. However, in 1982 reay to the demand for superpower dis­ Secondly, some states may feel them­ Andrei Gromyko spoke in favour of a armament. selves threatened by countries which cut-off at the UN Special Session on Dis­ Britain is proud of the role it played the NPT permits nuclear weapons. India's armament and he added, 'The Soviet Un­ in negotiating the NPT. If it wishes to refusal to sign reflects its fear of China's ion is agreeable to placing under the con­ save the Treaty from collapse it could nuclear arsenal. Conflict between a Nuc­ trol of the International Atomic Energy now play a role in bringing together the lear Weapons State and a NNWS in the Agency a part of its peaceful nuclear superpowers in talks on the CTBT and Falkland's War has inhibited installations - atomic power plants and the fissile material cut-off. The need non-proliferation efforts in South Amer­ research reactors.' is clear, only the political will must be ica. Since most countries do view their A safeguards agreement has now been found. security in regional terms, if one state reached between the IAEA and the So­ renounces the Treaty or opts for the viet Union and will be ostentatiously ra­ 1 Letter from Lord Trefgame to Mrs E Kellet­ Bomb its neighbours are likely to follow. tified immediately before the NPT Re­ Bowan MP in response to points raised by the Thirdly, many states do not have ri­ aut'-• view Conference opens. For the first 2 Cutting-Off Nuclear Weapons Production at vals or near neighbours with the capacity time a cut-off agreement becomes poli­ Source. I" A S Public btterest Report. Vol 38, to produce nuclear weapons. For them tically achievable. no 2, Feb 1985. 14 SCRAM Journal August 185/September 185 Green Town ~ Green Future Late last autumn, as reported in SCRAM 47, Milton Keynes Development Corpora:­ tion (MKDC) issued a formal Planning Brief to the Greentown Group. Green­ town, with its long-standing objectives of a co-operatively run, mix~use vill­ age community, would represent a major step forward for the 'Green' movement. In this article David Olivier describes the key features of the project, especi­ ally the energy-related ones, and sum­ marises the state of our negotiations with the planning authorities. the village aims to treat its own sewage pressure in recent years just to sell land (with methane as a byproduct) and gener­ at the highest possible prices - i.e. to The basic principles of Greentown ate most of its energy (except perhaps the Wimpeys and Barratts of this world. include community land ownership, to transport fuels) from renewable sources, lt has tended to treat us like any other prevent speculation, the ability of the such as solar, wind and biomass. speculative development, resulting in residents themselves to plan and develop The 'Green Car' concept is likely to growing difficulties for the Group. the village, and for all decisions affect­ be applied in Greentown for the first We believe that MKDC will have to ing the community to be made democra­ time at the community level. The cars, change its recent policy of treating us tically. lt is a premise of the Group that owned collectively by groups of house­ as 'any other developer'. Although MKDC all members have ideas to contribute holds, will be paid on a metered 'pay­ claims reluctance to sell land at below to the design of the village, and that the as-you-drive' basis. By making the high market value, we have pointed out that built environment can only benefit by cost of motoring more obvious, it is it has an obligation to provide housing incorporating the best ideas of all, hoped that this form of car ownership for lower-income people. Currently, agreed by all. will discourage cars being used where it is trying to meet this need by shared The Group has formed Crownhill Vill­ walking, bikes, trains or buses are more ownership schemes, which themselves age Association Ltd (CVA) to develop appropriate. are very heavily subsidised. Greentown the 15 ha of land offered by MKDC. CVA EEC support of up to £215,000 was could actually avoid substantial subsi­ will purchase the land in stages, in turn recently confirmed for a renewable en­ dies! ergy demonstration project in the first making land available on long leases to dwelling cluster; see below. Matching Phased Organic Growth Self-Build Housing Associations, Housing funds. are hoped for from the U K govern­ Also, Greentownn differs radically Co-operatives building for rent, or other ment. lt would involve a combined pho­ in many ways from a normal speculative groups•. All adult members of the village tovoltaic/wind electricity generation development. First, public/commercial will have one share and it is intended system, the ·equipment being manufac­ buildings, horticultural land, woodland, that even people with negligible capital tured by UK companies who wish to de­ recreational and children's play areas, will be able to live there. monstrate its use in an industrial country etc, would form an integral part of the The basic planning principle is phased before comparable projects in the third organic growth. with village residents village. Apart from the buildings, such world. deciding the location of specific public areas would consist of green, The first three housing clusters are buildings, housing clusters, footpaths non-residential land in perpetuity. There already at an early design stage, etc, on site as the need arises. The basic is the planning principle of phased or­ although the Group welcomes new mem­ form of the village will follow generally­ ganic growth, which is the way that most bers at any time. The first dwelling clus­ agreed 'patterns', many of which are set communities in the past developed. Fin­ ter is likely to comprise three terraces, out in the book by C Alexander et al, ally, secrecy in the planning process, each of 4-6 houses, plus a collective A Pattern Language, and its companion which MKDC seems to support, conflicts dwelling with a laundry, workshop, lib­ volumes. They are the basic rules which, with the need for a constant flow of in­ rary, food processing equipment and until quite modern times, governed the formation from the Greentown Group's storage space, and a dining room for basic design of buildings, outdoor spaces, active workers to its other members, group meals. Built to the same energy as well as the Group's need to attract etc, and helped create some of the rich­ efficiency standards as the pioneering new members. In no other way can key est and most beautiful surroundings in 'superinsulated' houses of Scandanavia decisions be made as democratically as which to live. and North America, which now number possible. 30-40,000, the houses should likewise The 'Green Car' Concept By around 1990, much of Greentown stay warm and comfortable on trivial could be complete. 500 people, some 180 Naturally, Greentown will be amounts of space heating energy. The dwellings, public buildings, children's designed and run on environmentally cluster obtained money from the RIBA's playspaces, workships, public open space, sound lines. Buildings will be very well 'community architecture' fund; this is woodland, gardens and orchards would insulated and well sealed, often to Scan­ helping to fund design work by NCO, a occupy the 15ha Crownhill site, on the danavian/North American standards; i.e., Vork architectural co-op. western edge of Milton Keynes. For the 200-300mm mineral wool or equivalent, As a community mainly of self-built village to reach fruition, we now need much better than UK practice. In moder­ housing, but including many low income a sympathetic attitude to our proposals ately cold climates, such buildings some­ residents, Greentown offers one of the from the planning authorities. times stay warm and comfortable just few ways, at least in the south-eastern on internal gains from people, etc, plus half of England, for such people to gain For further information please contact: solar gains through the windows. A com­ access to owner-built housing. Although Greentown Group, 109 Church Street, munity reuse and recycling .system is Greentown seems unique in a UK con­ Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Bucks, Eng­ planned for domestic refuse. Eventually, text, MK DC has come under political land, MK12 5LD. Tel: (0908) 317892. SCRAM Journal August 185/September 185 15 1Wave Energy

The Government formally announced - meaning that Norway is standing it on the death of wave energy at question a cliff-face in deep water and there are time on July 2. There was not even a not many such sites. The Norwegians whimper from the Opposition Front would have told ETSU, if they had been Bench which is suprising as they are asked, that the cost of mooring their quite good at whimpers. And this was 'chimney' at sea, and the cost of gouging one of the more inspiring programmes a space in the cliff-face, are not going which was introduced by the Labour to be much different. Government - Tony Benn was Energy Wl'iatever ETSU may say, Norway Secretary and the scheme was launched will find herself world markets for by his Chief Scientist, one Or Waiter a device which will produce electricity Marshal!, since ennobled. from a 'fuel' which comes free and The event was accompanied by the which generates in a way that does issue of a handsome volume, Wave En­ not pollute, is not subject to distant ergy (HMSO, £8), which gives the cus­ events such as political and market tomary high standard of technical infor­ upheavals, and will last forever. The mation and illustration, but seeks to ar­ Department of Energy will now be able gue that the reason for abandoning the abies programme from its headquarters to produce as many glossy brochures technology in which Britain had a lead in Harwell. lt paid to send one of our as it pleases but the fact of Norwegian over all other countries was that the wave energy scientists, Or Peter White wave energy will not go away and the electricity it would produce would be from Lanchester (Coventry) Polytechnic Government will not find it easy to too expensive. There was 'a low proba­ to report on the Norwegian project and explain why we threw away a lead which bility' of generating electricity for less when he brought back his cost-estimate had been acquired when we were pioneers than 8p a unit in 1982 money values. This Harwell promptly declared it to be 'com­ in this field, spent £15 million over is plainly a non-starter when the CEGB mercially sensitive' and refused to re­ nine years and then decided to pull can produce a unit of electricity from iease it. The Norwegians, whose com­ back. burning coal for just over 4p and it mercial secrets it was supposed to con­ claims that its nuclear power is still tain, then gave a copy of it to me for 'Nuclear Expansion Justifiecl cheaper. publication here. Harwell then reluct­ antly declassified it. One reason was inadvertently Cheaper than Coal The report uses conservative stand­ disclosed by the CEGB. When it ards to calculate the costs. The unit has embarked on research into renewables So there is no further argument? In been financed SO% by the Norwegian in 1978, a secret internal memo said: fact, there is one little problem still to Department of Energy and SO% by a 'lt is important to explore these alterna­ be encountered. In October Norway is company called Kvaerner, one of the tives in order both to satisfy (my italics) to launch (if that is the right word) the world's leading manufacturers of water ourselves that nuclear expansion is fully world's first full-scale wave power sta­ turbines for hydro-electric plant, which justified and to demonstrate this to tion on the shore of an island near has a commercial instinct for the market others, since groups opposing nuclear Bergen. lt is a hollow chimney, 60 feet place available to units like this one. expansion have made substantial progress high, with an air turbine at the top. As lt has a capacity of SOO kilowatts (and in the past few years.' So, for at least the waves dance up and down, a bubble this may prove to be an understatement one participant, the research was a spoil­ of air is pushed up and then sucked back. by the Norwegians) and cost about ing exercise. Wave energy was, of all in, driving the turbine in the slipstream £500,000. ETSU has tried to cover its the renewables, the one which most seri­ from the 'free' fuel provided by the sea. embarrassment by inserting a paragraph ously challenged the nuclear programme And the cost of a unit of electricity from in another document just issued, 'Pros.,­ because of the size of the resource. lt that device, according to a British sur­ pects for the Exploitation of the Renew­ could also prove eloquent in the forth­ vey, will be only 3.llp a unit, considerably able Energy Technologies in the UK' coming inquiry into a nuclear reprocessing less than coal. (HMSO, £7). lt says that Norway's low plant at Dounreay which could be a The British survey was actually paid cost-estimate depends 'on special geo­ shore base for wave energy, providing for by the Energy Technology Support graphkal location which will not in ge­ thousands of jobs as an alternative Unit which oversees the British renew- neral be applicable to UK conditions' to another Windscale. David Ross I Efficiency A report by the Policy Studies Institute ACE, the Association for Conserva­ on energy efficiency in U K houses ·has tion of Energy, suggest comparing sav­ thrown up some interesting facts: - ings and investment in energy conserva­ *Only 1S% of British houses have tion with that of energy supply and windows and doors draught proofed. argue: 'it is patently absurd that we have *Only 10% have insulated cavity -· totally different criteria for investment walls. in new energy supplies, as opposed to SO% have adequate roof insulation decisions taken by, say, the h_ealth ser­ and one in four have double glazing. vice to invest in energy saving measures *To rectify this would create exhortation and some small financial which will reduce costs.' £1 SO ,000 jobs, saving £6bn a year in support· are insufficient. What is lacking However, we can all look forward energy costs. is the commitment to removing financial to the Sizewell PWR decision next Xmas, Praise was given to Peter Walker, and institutional barriers.' starting off the energy efficiency year Energy Secretary, for his proposed Savings in energy must affect future with a big bang. energy efficiency year in 1986. However investment in energy supply. The Inter­ Financial Times 13.7.85 he was also criticised: - "Reliance on national Energy Agency's annual review H & V News - July 13th 1985 market prices, combined with advice, criticises the UK's vague energy policy. BSEE - July 85 16 SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 IEnergyPor Appropriate Technology• The government has confirmed its com­ Britain's efforts on renewable energy. fore from the £ 1 bn a year energy mitment to renewable energy by making lt is hoped there will be a market research budget renewables are to re­ a cut in the budget look like an 'upward for wind energy to serve remote com­ ceive an increase of no more than the trend of support'. munities in the UK. The council recom­ present £ 14m a year. David Hunt tells Mr David Hunt, minister responsible mended continuing support for wind, bio us that £68m will have been sent from for renewables, announced a programme fuels, (farm, industrial and domestic 1980-1985 compared to £16m between of concentrating research on 'promising waste as fuel) and geothermal energy, 1975 and 1980, he forgot to mention that options' governed by economic attract­ but urged rejection of wave power as the budget in 1981-82 was more than iveness, in response to a report by the a viable source. the pittance committed this year. government i\dvisory Council on In their economic juggling the Financial Times 3.7.85 Research and Development reviewing 'gamble' is to 'back the winners' there-

RENEWABLES- THE POTENTIAL Possib I e energy I Sola output in 2025 The Solar 2000 system can produce hot Status Economics (m tonnes water for space heating regardless of E I ectricity-producing: coa I equiv. ) cloud cover. The 2000 system is based Wavepower Long-shot 9-lSp per kwHr Nil on a high vacuum tube consisting of a Wind - onshore Promising 2.5-2.3 per kwHr 1.6 series of 176mm glass tubes arranged Wind - offshore Long-shot 4.7p per kw Hr Nil in rows. Each tube is covered with a coat Tidal power Promising 3.7p per kw Hr Nil of black cobalt which can absorb a large Tidal power Promising 3-7p per kw Hr No estimate proportion of heat from the sun even Hot rocks Promising 3-6p per kwHr No estimate when it is cloudy, making it three times Photovo I talcs Long-shot 4. 16p per kwHr 0.04 more efficient than conventional flat place collectors. The developers, Energy Heat/fue I producing Saving Consultants Ltd, claim that the Geothermal Promising *** 0.25 system can pay for itself over a four Passive solar Attractive ***** 2 year period. Dry waste biofuel Attractive ***** 8 Energy Manager June '85 Wet waste biofuel Mixed Mixed 1.6 Energy forests biofue I Promising ***.* 14

I Acid Rain *****indicate level of economic attractiveness. Much has been written about the effects of acid rain on trees, waterways and buildings, but little coverage has been given to health effects. The Summer '85 issue of Acid News, published by the Swedish and Norwegian NGO Secretar­ iats on Acid Rain, gives its front page over to the threat to children's health. The newsletter prints a personal ac­ count of what it felt like in Essen in Jan­ uary this year during the state of emer­ gency called because of smog. The report reads: 'For days on end we have been living under a lid of smog. Everything appears in shades of grey, and sight is limited to 50 metres at the most. Per­ sons with poor circulation and those suf­ THEOARBY. fering from bronchial trouble have been Designed to be warned over the radio not to go out. space heating only, or with a Children were preferably to be kept fired by most fuels. The fires _provide home,and in most of the Ruhr cities the such qualittes as durability, efficiency schools have been closed. 'At such a time we are especially and economy, that will prove both a anxious for our children. Every little comfort to your home and your fud bills. c 11 d .I I . cough is worrying, nursery doors are kept For IU ctat s s towmg our open, windows shut tight. The cause of complete range of multi-fuel stoves our worry is pseudo-croup.' please contact our dealer below or Pseudo-croup is characterised by in­ write direct to the Coalbrookdale flammation and swelling of the larynx Company. with consequent acute breathing diffi­ culties accompanied by a spasmodic ring­ ( · 1 m m ing cough. In extreme cases affecting 1 • infants and young children, the relatively rapid swelling of the larynx may result in death through suffocation. lt usually occurs at night and is especially notice­ F IRE able at times of above-average air pol­ 50 ST MARYS ST. EDINBURGH. 031-556-9812. lution although it may be caused initially THE BEST OF SAFE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY by a virus. SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 17 1Reviews

'Turning on the Heat' GLC Popular Plan­ of the things which the GLC and while the fourth explains how to claim ning Unit. (Free) Borough's have initiated in London. With additional heating benefits from the the help of the GLC funded 'London En­ DHSS. This Information Pack, like everything ergy and Employment Network' many One of the most common things you I've seen from the GLC, is well produced, tenants are putting pressure on their hear from a local authority is that there easy to read, and I'm sure it will prove Borough Council to update inefficient isn't enough money for improvements to be a valuable resource for tenants, district heating systems. One of the most to the heating system or insulation. The pensioners, advice centres and anybody interesting developments is the estab­ fifth sheet explains local authority fi­ campaigning on energy and heating prob­ lishment of the Tenants Heating and In­ nance and how some councils are using lems. lt is made up of 8 broadsheets, the sulation Service (THIS). THIS aims to more imaginative approaches to help first of which puts national energy policy help council tenants whose local author­ pay for energy conservation. The follow­ into context. lt explains why fuel prices ity cannot afford in the foreseeable fu­ ing sheet looks at standards of insulation, have been going up - electricity 80% and ture to install adequate heating and in­ and how these standards affect the cost gas 100% since 1979. The nuclear lobby sulation measures in their dwellings. of heating. is seen as a powerful alliance between They will install heating and/or insula­ The penultimate sheet encourages the electricity boards and private com­ tion measures by using a low interest tenants to get organised, and explains panies who make huge profits at the ex­ long-term loan. Tenants weekly repay­ how to set up a group and how to lobby pense of the electricity consumer and ments, plus their fuel bills, will often councils, and gives some examples of the taxpayer. An alternative energy stra­ still work out cheaper than their previous actions which have been successful. The tegy for London is outlined, based on fuel bills. final sheet gives a list of useful contacts. Combined Heat and Power and energy Sheet 3 explains how tenants can lt's wonderful to see a council as conservation. carry out surveys and gather background large and influential as the GLC produc­ The second broadsheet explains how information to support their case for ing a pack like this. The idea that energy to develop local energy plans, and some better heating systems and insulation, is too important an issue to be left to a handful of bureaucrats and multina­ tional companies is obviously growing. Hopefully after more people have read this, more people will realise that the nuclear lobby is actually preventing mill­ ions of people achieving a decent stand- ard of heating and insulation for their homes. Organisations campaigning on energy can get their free copy from Peta Sissons, Popular Planning Unit, GLC, The Showroom, South Block, County Hall, London SE1 (max 10 copies per group). Pete Roche

The Development of Atomic Energy not frequently:- no mention of any Tor­ and inaugurations, the book is great. 1939-1984 by UKAEA. 2nd Edition. £5. ness demos, the recent spate of large On the inside back page a list of UK CND demos rates one mention - 'Large nuclear power plants with commissioning Mainly a chronology laid out under three demonstrations in London, Rome, Bonn, date and capacity appears, but all is not headings Atomic-International, and Brussels against Cruise and Pershing as it seems. The size of Magnox reactors Atomic-British and General. General missil~s.' The first wave generation CND appears under the heading Net Capability covers world events, with the intention and related groups are given 1 3 entries, whilst the title used for AG Rs is Nominal of providing a backdrop for the nuclear but the new larger dynamic version rates Capacity. This is important because the story. only 2. maximum output of AG Rs is often less The backdrop often obscures rather On the nuclear side onlv two reactor than the usual Nominal Capacity. For than illuminates. The Vietnam War is accidents are mentioned:- Three Mile Hunterston B the numbers are 1040 and extensively covered, but only as US troop Island and Windscale 1957. Favourites 1320 MW. movements and conferences. The casus like Brownsferry, Malville and Hunter­ This UKAEA publication does con­ belli, though not so identified, appears ston (leak 1977) are omitted, whi 1st the tain useful information, but a chronology thus:- 'US destroyer attacked off North eleventh General Congress of the IAEA alone does not allow ready access. Should Vietnam, US aircraft attack N. (Vienna 196 7), and the other eighteen you wish to know when the SGHWR came Vietnamese bases in reprisal', not the appear, though with no indication of on stream, you have to guess the date version appearing in the Pentagon Pa­ their worth or purpose. and search outwards. The inclusion of pers. The formation of the EEC and Nato The entries are generally too short. an alphabetical index would be a very are mentioned, as is the appearance of The Baruch Plan (1946) is recorded but useful addition. The book is valuable Comecon, but strangely the Warsaw Pact no clue to its purpose is given. Likewise should you wish to ascertain the impor­ is not. The appropriate date is 1955, 6 the KEMENY report. In 1980 the world's tant events over a few years, though you years after Nato. Other om1ss1ons largest nuclear plant, in the USSR, be­ rely on the UKAEA's idiosyncratic selec­ include the death of Allende, the Greek came operational, but we are not told tion. The crunch is - would SCRAM buy Civil War, the Sino Soviet rift, Greenham its size, the launch of the nuclear a copy? (We were leant, rather than Common and the US invasion of Cuba powered vessel the Otto Hahn appears, given a review copy.) Probably not, and the Cuban missile crisis. but not its subsequent demise. However, though a donation would be appreciated. The opposition are mentioned, but if you require dates of acts of parliament Jeremy Adler 18 SCRAM Journal · August '85/September '85 Reviews1

and to be fair to the author who makes decision-making process. He argues that no other claims, it uses the concern ex­ judgements by 'experts' are generally pressed in the United States over risks no more objective than those made with to nuclear plants arising from violent an overt vested interest and suggests earth movements along nearby faults that there is scope for analysis of the to propound the author's thesis on the philosophy of decision-taking - i.e. the philosophy of decision taking for high adversarial decision-taking process is potential risk projects in general. the consequence of a society with no The author, an engineers, discusses consensus over its aims and objectives a number of case studies from the 1960's and cannot be improved until those in­ and 1970's where dangers from geological volved, including 'ex·perts' have a clearer faults were crucial factors in assessing understanding of their own values. the acceptability of nuclear plants. He This is hardly an original proposition. presents the background to each case Frankly, this book has all the appearance concisely, and to me these case studies of having been written for an American were the most interesting part of the undergraduate course in 'Science and book. However, the examination of the Society'. As such, it may have its place The Atom and the Fault by Richard L decision making process in each case in sowing doubts in the crystallizing Meehan. (MIT Press, £15.50, 191pp) is rather confusing for a British reader minds of nuclear engineering majors at unfamiliar with the American planning Massachussetts Institute of Technology, This is not a book concerned with the and plant licensing systems, and it is dif­ but I am doubtful if it has anything to risk of nuclear accidents arising from ficult, for example, to assess how the say to a British readership, especially catastrophic earth movements; in fact, tactics of the parties involved compared one which is unlikely to find anything despite its sub-title 'Experts, with the situation in this country. fresh in the debunking of the myth of Earthquakes and Nuclear Power' it is The prime purpose of the book, how­ the objectivity of scientific opinion. not about earthquakes at all. Rather, ever, is the author's critique of the Michael Leven

Non-Proliferation: the Why and the - Brazil wants the nuclear option just ingness to work together in keeping buy­ Wherefore ed. Jozef Goldblat (Siprl, £23, in case Argentina has it, Pakistan stocks ers tied to the International Atomic En­ 343pp), Nuclear Proliferation Today by up on Beecham's when India sneezes. Al­ ergy Agency, some diplomacy to this Leonard S Spector (Vintage, 478pp, so Pakistan, and South Africa, find ho­ limited end, in contrast to the posturing £4.50) vering on the threshold can mean being and hysteria of Cold War disarmament bribed with military supplies from the talks. The sense is of Western countries Countries asked why they have not US as a pay off not to step right through waking up rather late to what their mer­ signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty can the door. Potential nuclear weapons give chandise of enrichment plants, reactors come up with a good sound justification them more political and economic divi­ and heavy water may be used for. A go­ - that in spite of the undertaking by nuc­ dends than actual weapons ever would. vernment may not be actively seeking lear armed powers to cease the arms This book also includes useful appen­ to make bombs immediately, but when race, they carry on regardless. That, dices for reference,. e.g. the text of the the nest is prepared, it may be hard for however, is not the true grievance Non-Proliferation Treaty, tables of the it to hold on to its eggs. against a treaty which cannot referee nuclear facilities of each country written R M Bell Cold War games. The real complaint is about, and the Treaty of Tlatelolco. that those who did sign the treaty don't Nuclear Proliferation Today explains get a better deal for civil nuclear sup­ the h~w of getting nuclear weapons. Joi.-t SiDd:. w~ loOIETfoo\ '1>iao.thCN~E: plies than those who did not. This is in­ If you want the technology you may, say, dicated in Jozef Goldblat's chapter which try and buy it from Japan who will then examines each article of the Treaty and breathe down your nuclear installations; how it has been followed in practice. other, more lenient countries, may have firtiflth£~ An environmental play_ set in Cumbria and the Sahal. Africa. The countries then answer 'why?' the US pressurising them for safeguards. The effects of inhum.,. policy on human beings.. thus: But you may be able to shop around, get­ China: (before possessing nuclear weap­ ting valves from a Swiss firm, a centri­ ~.,~.~ ons) A monopoly is a bad thing. fuge regulator from a British firm; you .,w· Imperialist nuclear weapons bad, social­ may be able to buy covertly some things ist nuclear weapons good. on the 'trigger list' of nuclear supplies, China: (now possessing weapons) Proli­ and smuggle them in. You may even find feration is bad. Outside inspection of that if you have not signed one of the Theatre Workshop nuclear facilities is bad. non-proliferation treaties that you can Hamilton Place • Edinburgh France: Post-empire blues and military sell your signature for more nuclear ma­ Box Office: humiliation in lndo-China and Suez terials. 031 226 5425 means we must have weapons to get a lt's hard to draw general conclusions Preview 19th Aug seat at the disarmament talks. from this book which is packed with 20tb-31st Aug Argentina: It's unfair to ban peaceful deals made by this and that country and 7.45 pm (not Sun) Tickets nuclear explosions. Not that we've found company, many of the details having to £3.00 a need for them. be guessed. Spector pins his hopes on "eu.:.t~ ~~ -n...t~· £2.50 concessions A lot of the motivation is just in case the suppliers, who have shown some will- SCRAM Journal August '85/September '85 19 Listings th1ng or two about these sorts of things, CAAT thought thts sounded quite serious. The Campaign Against the Arms Tr ade questton arose - how to venfy this ru­ National Met!ting mour? The obvious place to look seemed This September, the C AA T supporters to be the minutes of the Heysham Joint National Meeting will focus on: Consultative Comm1ttee. -who finances the arms trade; Sure enough a discussion of the trip­ -peace and Third World development. ping out problem had taken place. How­ The meeting will be held at the St Mary's ever, there was no detailed note of the Centre in Middlesborough over the week­ discuSSIOn, only a reference to it. Mr end of 28 / 29th Sept. All who are interes­ Matthews of the CEGB e~Cplained that, ted in campaigning against the ar ms 'shutdown systems were intrinsically de­ tr ade are welcome to come. signed to be f ail- safe. Heysham 1 was Contact : CAAT, 5 Caledonian Road, looking at a system of making them more London Nl 9DX. Tel 01 278 1976. Little Black Rabbit's ears t witched r e­ efficient and reliable.' He explained t hat cently when on a trip to Lancaster. it was a quest ion of get ling the compon­ International Could it be that things have not been Energy Efficiency ent reliabtli ty r tght but that there would going according to plan? lt appears that Confer ence '85 be no interference with the baste fail­ the 'fail- safe' system has been tripping 18/20

TCPA T o wn & Country Planning Association DEAR SUPPORTE R 1985 Forthcoming Events We would l ike to take this opportunity to thank all our subscri­ 29th Sept/Sth Oc t - Energy Planning bers and regular readers for the support we've been given over Tour of Sweden. the years. We hope you agree that the quality of the Journal IS/16th Oct - Energy Conference, in has improved. With your support, supplying us with copy, criti­ Bnstol. cism and cash; we strive to keep up the standard we've set. 1/3rd Nov - Weekened School for Coun­ With the appointment of our second paid worker we will be c illors on Development Control, in York. able to produce the Journal more efficiently and keep up the 4/St h Dec - Annual Conference: New office administration. BUT WE NEED MORE MON EY FOR Forms of Urban Government, in Swansea. WAGES. Our present wages pool is not deep enough and the tap Contact: Sally Scarlelt, TC PA, 17 earl­ is filling it slower than the 1t ts emptying through the plughole. ton House Terrace, L ondon SWl Y SAS. The occasional bucket thrown in helps, but with two wages to Tel 01 930 8903. pay we really need another tap! We therefore appeal for more money. If you can afford a EfP regular donation please fill out the standing order form below Electronics for Peace - we need at least another f.200 per month - help us turn on an­ The EfP network was set up to meet other tap. AI ternatively, p lease send us a one- off donation 'bu­ the challenge of the ever increasing ~aAks complexity of military equipment and cket' - every lit tie helps. SCRAM the role of designers and engineers coiled!"-· in combatting it. EfP's aims include: *supporting electronic engineers ·PAY OUR who are concerned for t he military SUBSCRIBE implications of their work, *providing technical information to those working in the disarmament ~NOW~ ~WAGES!~ field, r--r---:-~ ------"'T"------*promoting an awareness of military 1 SUBSCRIPTION FORM : Your Name:. elec tronics among the public, *encouraging development of socially I SCRI\M Journal annual oub5

( I P.oyal Bank of Scotland , 142 Princes 1 nuclear energy', 'Sources and Resources', Name ...... , ~tree t, Edinburgh (83-51-00) the sum and 'Cargo of Dread'. The other side has I d 1o L ..... for the credit of SCRAM no. 2 1A dress ···· ...... ·· ...... ·· account 2585()7 and 01ake similar pay- eight - · 1 1 Peggy e9er and Ewf!n )cCqll. ! ...... ~ rnents monthly/ yearly until cancelled. 1 Ava b-l ~ k r £! fl"l)tl'l jje't1t;-~~ '""'] L------~ ------.. Becket~'"~~~=~· ' around E 1000 mil­ lilt"~· Oxygt!n and moistur~ arc thus h<'~d incorpl)rnt~d a clo~E'd drnril cooling lion. BNFL .give it a life of 10 years; intr·~'J<:"d - with, in addition, (giv!"n thP. systP.rrr we would havP had little grnundo; and it takes 10 years to build. So as soon lr>r:otifln of Rrir.ish nuclear plants) thvertheless this may 'lr::<:"~t.,hiP. since the 1957 fire. The text go to r·ernote profe be a bit T!l.IMIII-~~""'--..~eh. ''' !hi<; pnint, in what is othHrwis<' " wP.If.­ ····n-id<'rr•r:f rlorumP.nt, is at its wl'akp•.t: l~>•n~ n•lct! rnor!' are th•~ biJnd r<'a~~ur · ·~"' "'· lh~~ disastrous arrogancE'. 'Any srnark in !hP. face t .. "' liviry r<'lea5e from a IP.1kinq r::ont;1inN· We must again apologise for gremlins wr-n!d in ;my evl'nl bP. f'XIr·pmr>ly srn;,IL' getting into the typesetting during the in "''\' ~'VPrtl! ThPy op('fl thl'ir rnoflfh~ last Journal. There were three errors '''" ~·'··'"· And Mlain: '/\d•''lll·l'" li1n<• i~ in 'Rackground Radiation' on pages 6 and ·'V:1il.1f.• 1· fo ll)("!!"' up the stack anyw~i:ion Should Continue a} Mounting backlogs to be pleasant for us. I have always be­ due to reprocP.ssing lie,·ed that the long··term detriment to I !ow anybody, after the Windscale Industry's No 1 rogue be suffered by Mankind as the prices of fir"· c:ould possibly write 'then~ is no Windstale; its nuclear activities ••• ' The words r;''"d for permanr>nt filters to he fitted b) Uranium qhrls highP.r in italics were omitted. in"lhn q ar.k' is almos-t beyond belit?f, hut hurmrp tirnrs in react The last sentence of the first para­ th"r" rnuld bP. T"ferP. with d No civil nr,>ed to read: 'And there is no technical reason ! hn ;,ir flow which is by convert ion i.e. Reactor is which could justify it.', not 'And there not for·rerf. provP.d; is not technical reason whic.h could just­ rur thP.rrnore the introduction of air cl) A glut of plutonium ify it.' .,. ,-""lant has introduced design prob· prc>grarnme. (Sf!e Mrs , A t.om, The first sentence of the second pa­ !:·,:-:~ ol!v:or than potential corrosion. ll May '85 p37); ragraph of column 2, page 7, should have !o;; ''"':r;~ary to maintain a maximum e) The fact that the longer read: 'The Flowe~ Report in one of its '""'P"rature within the store of 200° layed, the cheaper roprocessing rare lapses of intellectual rigour ••• ', r:, that being the temperature at which. because it is radiologically safer; and not •. • • in one of its rare lapses ur .1nhnn oxide .fuel undergoes further f) Perhaps most important: doubts into intellectual rigour.' oxitf,ltion- if o.rygen is preslmt. the oxide reprocessing plant, TlfO We are very sorry, Don. O_ne scratches one's head: why did • th•'Y ""' got the whole hog and do the thin') properly~ If you do not want the :·is'k of oxirfation then you eliminate air Railhea ln(lt tn mention the attendant moisture :,nrf f"'>S<;ible salt) and you substitute car­ 'The planning authority. misdirected themselves as to the L:m rfiolfide whi.:h is a far better heat '"''nductnr. Under these circum5tances proper purpose and remit of the inquiry'. So suggests George d11~ timiting tP.mperature is not 200° but Maycock in his Report to the Secretary of State for Scotland 'lO~J" C:, which provides more latitude following the public inquiry into the railhead proposed for the and bPtter convection. Nor is a stack Torness nuclear power station. Steve Martin studied the filtf.r necessary; what is needed is a , Reporter's recommendations and the Secretary of State's deci- r!orr-d recirculating loop, entirely se.1l!~d r:off ision and puts them in the context of the forthcoming public in- from the atmosphere using an air l "' ,.,.,tr.•r cooled heat-pipe cooler - this lquiry into the Dounreay expansion. i<: ;•d•r.~!l)• envisaged in the text, which r :!Pl h~>re quoting almost . verbatim! A The decision on the Tornes'l railhPad ap­ Authority and British Nuclear Fuels for fin~l r~fint>ment which would aid heat plication was handed down by Geo,rge outline planning permission to construct transference would be to use helium ra­ Younger, the Secretary of State for a fast reactor fuel reprocessing plant ther than argon as the gas filling in the Scotland, at the ·end of July, following at Dounreay on the north coast of Scot­ land. We can expect the same tactics c:r:mt:~incrs because it has far better the public inquiry held last October. The re!:nlt of Mr Younger's deliberations was being used by the Scottish Office in an th~rmal conductivity. marked by a flourish of non-publicity; attempt to prohibit examin;,tion of is!\u~s Our position is clear ani"! sci~ntifk·­ the Pre~s were h-ft to learn of the de­ raised; namt•ly energy policy, interna­ i!ily d,.f~nsible·; we will continue to op··· cision from Eilc;t Loth:;m Distri<:t Coun · tional regulations on transport and dis­ po<~ :o.•1y dP.velopment in nu···lear wa~le cil. . charges, nudear weapons proliferation r1;1r1~J~ment which permits any possible The format o( the inquiry ~irectly and the economics of fast. reactor repro·· r'!\urn of raclioactivi!, to the f:'nviron .. concer'!)<; tho~<> opponP.nls of thr• joint ceso;ing. n'''!lf no m:"ltler how i.nprobabl•~ the dr- :tpplk•)tion by the UK A1<>rnic Fnergy from the outset the railhead inquiry

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