ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT POLICY & DEVELOPMENT & PERFORMANCE GROUP INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 17 TH NOVEMBER 2011 UPDATE ON THE LIAISON AND MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS AT HMNB CLYDE 1. PURPOSE 1.1 In addition to the well established contingency planning arrangements which already exist, the Council have sought to develop effective communication arrangements with HMNB Clyde in order to ensure that we are aware of any issues surrounding the use of the naval base which may impact on the local or wider communities. This enables the Council to make an informed decision on the Council’s response or position 1.2 At the Environment Policy and Performance Group on the 11 th November 2010, Members considered a report advising of the revised liaison arrangements which had been implemented between the Ministry of Defence and the Council relating to general activities at Faslane and also monitoring arrangements. The decision was taken to require 6 monthly reports on the arrangements and their effectiveness are brought back to the PPG. The report submitted to the May PPG was not formally considered as the Group was not in quorum. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 2.1 This report provides the required update and Members are asked to note that:- a) The improved arrangements are working effectively and ensure that the Council are kept informed of general issues associated with Faslane. b) The MOD’s environmental monitoring arrangements are acceptable to the regulators. c) The main findings of the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report (RIFE) as it relates to Faslane and Argyll and Bute. For defence establishments, public radiation dose from all sources were less that the 0.5% of the dose limits at all the sites assessed 2.2 That a further report be provided to the PPG Environment Group by the Regulatory Services Manager, in 6 months 1 3. MONITORING AND COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE 3.1 The arrangements whereby the MOD alert the Council to any emerging issues have worked well with the main contact being the Regulatory Services Manager. In the period from November 2010, the following notifications have been received:: a) HMS Astute running aground off the west coast. This did not have any immediate impact to the local community but was of general interest. This was noted by the Council b) On the 10 th May 2011 at 0740 hours, notification was received that protestors had blocked both accesses to the Faslane base. This was causing significant traffic disruption and Strathclyde Police were involved. HMNB Faslane was making arrangements to allow their personnel to enter the base and had alerted radio of the traffic disruption so they could pass this to the community. The Council responded through its Roads team to a situation which caused considerable inconvenience to the local community. c) The Scottish Sun carried an article relating to serviceman’s’ wife, alleging of higher levels of miscarriages in a MOD housing estate in Helensburgh due to the drinking water supply..Neither the Council nor the MOD had received any prior notification of this allegation. The Councils environmental health service investigated these concerns together with Scottish Water, the MOD and NHS Highland. These investigations did not identify any environmental factor and medical evidence did not identify a consistently higher rate either in Argyll and Bute or in Helensburgh & Lomond compared to other areas fo NHS Highland or Scotland 3.2 There have been no reports made since June of this year and this is positive. There has been little contact as there has been little to report, and I can confirm that the reporting arrangements are still in place and are written into MOD reporting procedures. 3.3 The programmed environmental monitoring arrangements at HMNB Faslane by the MoD are considered to be appropriate by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, having regard to the nature and risk of the facility. All results are within statutory levels. 3.4 The Council continuous radionuclide monitoring stations at the three sites at Blairvadach, Shandon; Dunoon and Lochgilphead, continue to measure background levels in the atmosphere. During the period from November to date, background levels have remained consistent with general small short-lived rises due to heavy rainfall. 2 4 RADIOACTIVITY IN FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT 2010 4.1 On an annual basis, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency collates all information undertaken on radioactivity surrounding nuclear establishments across the UK and publishes an annual report. In October 2011, they published the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report 2010. This is available on the SEPA website www.sepa.org.uk . 4.2 This report uses the results of monitoring of radioactivity in food and the environment near nuclear sites to make an assessment of doses to the public. Monitoring results are supplemented by modelling where appropriate. The assessments use radionuclide concentrations, dose rates and information on the habits of people living near the sites. Changes in the doses received by people can occur from year to year and are mostly caused by variations in radionuclide concentrations and dose rates. Doses can also be affected by changes in people’s habits, in particular the food they eat. 4.3 The key conclusions of the report are: a. The total assessed dose due to authorised waste discharges and direct radiation for people most exposed to radiation near all major nuclear licensed sites in the UK in 2010 remained well below the national average and European limit of 1milli-sievert/ year (1mSv/yr) b. Most radioactive discharges from Sellafield have fallen in recent years and concentrations in fish and shellfish in the immediate area have also reduced or are unchanged. The dose experienced by those persons living around Sellafield is below the 1mSv/year total annual dose. In the last ten years, dose levels have increased with the increasing trend to consume fish and shellfish, although this trend was not seen in 2010. c. The highest dose at each site, as identified in the report were: • Sellafield 0.011nSv (reduction from 0.047mSv in 2009) • In Scotland, Hunterston 0.067mSv (same as 2009) d. For defence establishments, public radiation dose from all sources were less that the 0.5% of the dose limits at all the sites assessed (Aldermaster, Barrow; Devonport; Faslane and Coulport; Holy Loch, Rosyth and Vulcan (Highland). 4.4 Having regard to the sites within Argyll and Bute, the report considers Faslane/Coulport; and the Holy Loch 4.5 HMNB Clyde These establishments consist of the naval base at Faslane and the armaments depot at Coulport. Babcock Marine, a subsidiary of Babcock International Group plc, operates HMNB Clyde in partnership with the MoD. The MoD remains in control of the undertaking, through 3 the Naval Base Commander, Clyde, in relation to radioactive waste disposal. The main radioactive emissions from the site relate to the discharge of liquid radioactive waste into Gare Loch from Faslane and the discharge of gaseous radioactive waste in the form of tritium to the atmosphere from Coulport. These are consented under letters of agreement between SEPA and the MoD. Report findings: • The total dose from all pathways and sources of radiation was assessed to be less than 0.005 mSv in 2010 . The most exposed people were adults spending time on the shores of the loch, but as in 2009 the dose was less than 0.5 per cent of the dose limit for members of the public . • Radionuclide concentrations were generally below the limits of detection, with caesium-137 concentrations in sediment consistent with the distant effects of discharges from Sellafield, and with weapons testing and Chernobyl fallout. • Gamma dose rates measured in the surrounding area were Indistinguishable from natural background. In 2010, of note is the work at Faslane to remove the redundant plant from the recently upgraded effluent treatment facility and the reduction in the amount of solid low level radioactive waste generated on the site due to new sorting facilities for solid waste There were no significant changes to operations or procedures at Coulport in relation to radioactive waste disposal. 4.5 Holy Loch A small programme of monitoring at Holy Loch continued during 2010 in order to determine the effects of past discharges from the US submarine base and support facilities which closed in 1992. Report findings • Radionuclide concentrations were below detection limits. • The external radiation dose to people spending time on the loch shore was 0.007mSv in 2010, which was less than 1 per cent of the dose limit for members of the public of 1 mSv/year. • Gamma dose rate measurements from intertidal areas showed elevated levels compared with previous years. 4 4. CONCLUSIONS 4.1 The improved liaison arrangements in place between the Council, the MOD and other regulators are working well. These meet the Councils objective that it be informed of emerging issues associated with the Base and is afforded the opportunity of making an informed decision on any actions that the Council may elect to take. 4.2 The Radioactivity in Food and the Environment Report concludes that. the total assessed dose due to authorised waste discharges and direct radiation for people most exposed to radiation near all major nuclear licensed sites in the UK in 2010 remained well below the national average and European limit of 1milli-sievert/ year (1mSv/yr) 5. IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy : None Financial : None Legal : None Equal Opportunities : None Personnel : None ALAN MORRISON Regulatory Services Manager AM/KT/nov 7374 For further information contact: Alan Morrison Tel: 01546 604292 Regulatory Services Manager e-mail : [email protected] 5 6 APPENDIX 1 TOTAL RADIATION EXPOSURES IN THE UK DUE TO RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISCHARGES AND DIRECT RADIATION (REFERENCE; Radioactivity in Food and the Environment 2010: SEPA) 7 .