Dounreay told to clean up 'while limiting costs'

Published on Thursday 26 July 2007 00:10

DOUNREAY'S operator has been told it should clean up radioactive particles both onshore and offshore, but keep the costs down at the same time.

At present the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) recovers the so-called hotspots from beaches near the Caithness nuclear plant but monitors those offshore without removing them. Groups consulted on the issue say this must change.

The particles have been a recurring problem for Dounreay since 1983 and already 10 million has been spent trying to find a solution.

The recent consultation will feed into research and a draft best practicable environmental option (BEPO) will be made public in September.

Consultants Entec took the views of eight groups, including local people, staff and contractors and national bodies. They also held workshops and exhibitions and issued a questionnaire.

Opinions differed on the risks to the public. Overall, environmental criteria for tackling the particles were given the highest rating, followed by social and economic issues. Among locals, social and economic issues were seen as more important, reflecting concerns about the effects on quality of life and tourism.

Local groups also said health and safety concerns over the particles were least important: "These stakeholders are potentially some of the most informed regarding the particles issue and its implications", the report said.

One clear message was that doing nothing was not an option.

Recovery of onshore and offshore particles, or removing all onshore particles and detectable individual offshore particles were the most favoured options.

The report said the UKAEA should recognise that "many stakeholders, regardless of their view on the level of risk presented by particles, consider that monitoring without recovery offshore is not acceptable".

But it added: "Stakeholders asserted that spending over a certain level would not be acceptable and that expenditure should be proportionate to benefits."

Dredging the seabed, or restricting access to beaches, were not supported.

UKAEA said: "We will use the consistent feedback from the workshops and questionnaires to arrive at a suitable way forward to formulate a long-term strategy that is both environmentally and publicly acceptable."