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Sources to Radioactive Contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Counties

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Sources to Radioactive Contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Counties Bellona Report Nolumc I. l')(>4 NEI-NO--432 Sources to radioactive contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk counties rhomas Nilsen. Nils Bøhmcr Published by : The Bellona Foundation Boks 8874, Youngstorget N-0028 Oslo Norway Copying recommended when sources are stated Print: PDC The printingof this report is sponsored by: Aker Esso Norway NOAH NOAH Langøya Norcem Norges Sildesalgslag Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro Petrokjemi Oslo Energi This report is available in Norwegian, English and Russian. Translators: Kari Marstein and Bjørn Gabrielsen (English) Igor Kudrik (Russian) Photos Thomas Nilsen: 19b, 23, 24, 57, 60, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 91, 107, 109, 111,112, 113, 115, 121. 128, 131, 135 and cover. Barentsnytt: 19a Josh. Handler/Greenpeace: 21. 22, 23 Via John Berg: 17, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42 Norwegian Military: 53, 96 Nils Bøhmer: 58 Murmansk Shipping Company: 75, 77 NUPI: 126 NTB: 69, 73 Aftenposten: 93 ISBN 82-993138-0-5 Note: Pages 148 and 149 are left out Bellona Report Volume 11994 Sources to radioactive contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk county Thomas Nilsen Nils Bøhmer Preface The report "Sources of radioactive pollution changes in Russia have, on the other hand, made in the counties of Murmansk and our work possible. Arkhangelsk" supplies a survey of the infor­ During our task of obtaining information for mation gathered by the Bellona Foundation this report, Bellona has attached special impor­ on the use of nuclear energy, as well as storage tance to extensive field work in Russia. Since and processing of radioactive waste in the 1989, we have visited Russia, the counties of region. The report intends to present a survey Murmansk and Arkhangel'sk in particular, on the varying sources and the historical almost 50 times. Furthermore, we have perfor­ background for placing these sources in the med an extensive field work in the areas surroun­ region. The report is meant to be a reference ding Majak in southern Ural, as well as several work to improve the general level of knowled­ visits at central institutions in Moscow and St. ge of these serious matters. Bellona has made Petersburg working on the matters described in a point of describing the sources on a techni­ this report. cal base. As appearent in the report, the most significant source of possible radioactive pollution is the No general study or collocated information on military activity in the region. Bellona accepts these matters in this region has formerly been that the Russian military has technical secrets. accomplished. One of the problems has been the For this reason, we have made no attempts at fer­ information on sources of radioactive pollution reting out classified information on military circulating as rumours. This is due to the fact installations or technical particulars on reactor that such information formerly was, and to a cer­ technology in submarines. However, a lot of tain extent still is, subjugated to a parade of information concerning military application of secrecy. To Available information will have cru­ nuclear energy has lately been released, enabling cial significance for the future task of finding a a general image of the extent of the problem to solution to the problems. For this reason, this be formed. report is published in Norwegian, Russian, and During the gathering of source material for English. this report, crucial importance has been attached Evaluation of the risks posed by different to Russian sources encountered during field sources of radioactive pollution has not been work in Russia. Our most important written sour­ stressed in this report. Neither has any list of ces have been public reports and documents, as measures to solve the problems been emphasi­ well as local newspapers in the counties of Mur­ zed. On the base of this report and further gathe­ mansk and Arkhangelsk. Due to limited access ring of information, Bellona wants to commence to written material, much information has been outlining future risk analyses and economically acquired through interviews and meetings with a viable measures. This task will be performed in number of people engaged in these matters. The­ cooperation with organizations and authorities in se are referred to as conversations. Some oral Russia and in other countries working on matters and confidential sources are referred to anony­ described in this report. mously. This has been done to protect the sour­ The Bellona Foundation has been preoccupied ces, as some people are still reluctant to stand up with environmental matters in Russia since publicly with information. 1990. Since 1990, the situation has been a very The report has been financed by support from turbulent one in Russia, politically as well as the Foreign Office and the Bellona Foundation. socially. The considerable changes in the Russi­ We are grateful to a number of individuals and an society have made field work difficult. Politi­ institutions for their help in collecting and pro­ cal alterations have entailed confusion of distri­ cessing the information rendered in this report. bution of responsibility and a widespread skepti­ During the four years Bellona has worked in cism towards the authorities among the different Russia, we have established a network in this participants in Russian society. These very region, supplying invaluable support. We thank everyone participating in organizing our journeys has been helpful in guiding us through the power in the counties of Murmansk and Arkhangel'sk. plant. In particular, we would like to thank the environ­ mental centre GAIA in Murmansk and the Eco- Last, but not least, we wish to thank colleagues nord centre in Apatity. Murmansk Shipping in the Bellona Foundation. Frederic Hauge, Knut Company has organized a number of guidings Erik Nilsen, and Igor Kudrik have contributed aboard nuclear icebreakers and the service base during both gatherig of information and the final "Atomflot". Andrei Zolotkov in Murmansk Ship­ discussions of the report. Sigurd Enge and Per ping Company has supplied technical informati­ Storm Mathisen have participated in data proces­ on, in particular on the storage of radioactive sing of the information, and Karl Rikard Nygaard waste at '"Atomflot". Kola Nuclear Power Plant has designed maps, figures, and lay-out. Oslo, 14. februar 1994 Nils Bøhmer og Thomas Nilsen 8 BELLONA REPORT VOLUME 1 1994 Table of contents Intruduction 12 Chapter 1 The Russian Northern Fleet 18 1.1 History 18 1.2 Bases lor The Northern Fleet's nuclear-powered vessels 19 1.3 Submarine designs 26 1.4 Nuclear experimental submarines 28 1.5 Types of reactors 28 1.6 Storage of radioactive waste and used fuel from the Northern Fleet 45 1.6.1 Storage of used fuel. 45 1.7 Submarines out of operation 48 1.7.1 Storing of solid and liquid radioactive waste 52 1.8 Theft of fuel assemblies 57 1.9 Accidents 57 1.9.1 Accidents concerning nuclear submarines 57 1 .9.2 Accidents at storage facilities for nuclear waste 5° Chapter 2 Nuclear weapons 70 Chapter 3 Civil nuclear-powered vessels 76 3.1 Murmansk Shipping Company 76 3.2 Nuclear-powered icebreakers 76 3.3 Nuclear-powered container ship 7° 3.4 Types of reactors 79 .3.5 The service base "Atom flot" 80 3.6 Radioactive waste from civil nuclear-powered vessels 81 .3.6.1 Service- and storage boats for radioactive waste and used fuel 81 .3.6.2 Liquid radioactive waste 87 .3.6.3 Solid radioactive waste 89 3.7 Security at Murmansk Shipping Company 90 Chapter 4 Dumping of radioactive waste. 94 4.1 Rules and conventions 94 4.2 Dumping performed by the Northern Fleet and Murmansk Shipping Company 95 4.2.1 Liquid radioactive waste 95 4.2.2 Solid radioactive waste 98 4.2.3 Dumped nuclear reactors 103 4.3 Measurments of radioactivity in the Barents and Kara Seas 106 9 Chapter 5 Kola Nuclear Power Plant 108 5.1 Types of reactor 108 5.2 Disturbances and accidents during operation 110 5.3 Safety assessments 110 5.3.1 VVER-440/230 110 5.3.2 VVER-440/213 111 5.3.3 General insufficiencies 112 5.4 Radioactive waste and fuel rods 113 Chapter 6 Transportoffuel 116 6.1 Transport to Majak 116 6.2 Transport by rail 117 6.3 Transport of used fuel for the Northern Fleet and Murmansk Shipping Company 118 Chapter 7 Nuclear test explosions 120 7.1 History 120 7.2 Novaya Zemlya. Geography and inhabitation 121 7.2.1 Two test sites 122 7.3 Atmospheric test explosions 122 7.3.1 Fallout from atmospheric test explosions 125 7.4 Underground test explosions 125 7.4.1 Discharge of radioactive waste from underground lest explosions 127 7.5 Underwater test explosions 128 7.6 Civil nuclear explosions 128 Chapter 8 Various sources 132 8.1 Lighthouses with RTG. 132 8.2 Civil use of radioactive sources 132 8.3 "Radon" - storage facilities for civil purposes 133 8.4 The Lovozero Mining- and Benefication Combinate 134 8.5 Shipping of uranium 135 8.6 The rocket launching range Plesctsk 135 Chapter9 Future activity 138 9.1 New storage facilities/depots for radioactive waste 138 9.2 New nuclear power plant at Polyarnij Zori 138 9.3 Floating nuclear power plant 139 9.4 Transport of oil with nuclear submarines 139 9.5 Destruction of chemical weapons by nuclear detonations 140 Chapter 10 Discussion 142 Conclusion 147 Appendix A - What is radioactivity 150 Appendix B - Nuclear power in 50 years 154 Reference 158 Index 160 Tabels and figures Tabic 1 Sources of radioactive pollution in the counties of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Table 1.1 Nuclear Powered Submarines in present operation with the Northern Fleet Table 1.2 Used fuel Assemblies in storage, on lighters
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