WEST CUMBRIA SITES STAKEHOLDER GROUP
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUB-COMMITTEE
MEETING 78 OF THE EHSC
HELD AT CLEATOR MOOR CIVIC HALL
29th November 2012
Present:
Professor Steve Jones / ChairmanMr Jim Desmond / Sellafield Ltd
Mr Matthew Lee
Mr Ron Hargreaves
Mr Stephen Tandy
Mr Phil Edge / Sellafield Ltd
Community Representative
Environment Agency
NDA
Mr Simon Hunter
Dr Graham Hutson
Miss Helen McKenzie
Miss Tara Stewart
Mr Daniel Coughlin
Mr Kins Leonard
Mrs Liz Sherwen
Mr John Cain / LLWR
Gosforth PC and Five Rivers
Sellafield Ltd
Sellafield Ltd
Sellafield Ltd
CEFAS
NFU
Copeland Borough Council
1 / AGENDA ITEM 1 Chairman’s introduction
2 / The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming those attending, including representatives of the public.
3 / AGENDA ITEM 2 Minutes of Meeting 75
4 / Two comments were made on the minutes of the last meeting and noted by the secretary. The changes have been made and the final version of the minutes has been placed on the WCSSG website. The minutes were accepted by the committee.
5 / Environmental Health Matters (presented by the Chairman)
6 / The chair gave a summary of scientific studies that have been published over the last six months
The references of the articlesand their abstracts have by the chair and are detailed as an appendix to these minutes and can be found on the WCSSG website. Also added to the website are the references and abstracts for the papers referenced at the 77th meeting, as requested at the meeting.
The chair also updated the committee on the status of the Cumbria Communities Genetics Project. NewcastleUniversity has a number of cord blood samples from children under the age of 16, these were gained with parental consent for unspecified research. This consent will cease apply at the donors age of 16. There is no funding available for studies at present, however samples are being retained, as these reach the age of 16 the identifier for each sample will be deleted ensuring that they are anonymous in future. These samples will not be used as part of a national database.
7 / END OF SECTION – Questions from the committee
8 / An update on the situation regarding contaminated swallows was requested by a member of the public, the update was provided by EA and agreed with ONR as a post meeting note and is as follows
“We continue to work with the Office for Nuclear Regulation to ensure that Sellafield Ltd take all reasonable measures to reduce the risk of contamination transfer by Swallows. We are reviewing and inspecting these measures to confirm that Best Available Techniques (BAT) are being applied. In considering application of BAT, we would not expect Sellafield Ltd to slow its hazard and risk reduction programme on the site, which presents significantly more risk than the swallows do to the environment.”
9 / AGENDA ITEM 3Radioactivity in Food and The Environment Report 2011- Mr Kins Leonard (Cefas)
10 / MrKins Leonard presented the RIFE Report. The presentation can be found on the WCSSG website (
Mr Leonard drew the committee’s attention the FSA announcement on a consultation launch (on the food monitoring programme)- see slide 1. The chair asked how specific this consultation would be, Mr Leonard responded that he was unsure and that as yet there was no firm timetable. Post meeting note- the secretary has notified the FSA of the committee’s interest in this consultation and will receive and circulate relevant information.
Mr Leonard summarised the main changes to the RIFE report
Chapter 8 has now been split into 2, with Chapter 8 now showing overseas information and 9 being regional. It was also noted that all post Chernobyl restrictions in the UK were lifted on 31st May 2012.
The main points from the presentation follow:
- Cs is still present in Cumbria and North Wales, however concentrations are reducing.
- Fukushima resulted in EU controls on food imports from Japan as well as extra monitoring of flora, fauna, foodstuffs and air.
- Milk samples taken from 15 UK farms show very low Iodine concentrations
- The Sellafield Habitats Survey 2011 showed an increase in crustacean consumption but reduction in mollusc consumption.
- The total dose for 2011 was 0.18mSv
11 / End of Presentation - Questions from the Committee
12 / Mr Hargreaves queried figure S from the presentation, asking if the figure represented Drigg, Sellafield and Whitehaven or separated them out. Mr Leonard responded that Figure S represents the total dose for the whole area, to include direct shine, terrestrial pathways and aquatic pathways from an average person representing the above rather than critical group. The total dose is now the agreed methodology for nuclear sites.
The Chair noted that this committee is interested in those people most affected by SL operations; therefore the total dose may not be the best indicator. He asked what population is most affected by SL operations; Mr Leonard responded that local seafood consumers would be and that the data is available on the CD with the RIFE report for 2011 to allow the dose calculation for this group to be made. However a 5 year dose cannot be calculated with this data. The Chair added that he felt that more data should be easily available; Mr Leonard responded that the data is available on request but would consider provided further data in the future. The Chair also asked that habitat data be made available for comparison; Mr Leonard will consider this in future.
Mr Hargreaves pointed out that last year more information on NORM was requested, and while some of this was included this year, data for background radiation was not included, this means that the 100te Uranium from coal power is excluded. Mr Leonard responded that this would be too much data to handle and he would be reluctant to do this as it might detract the doses from site (as background is 2.2mSv).
13 / Questions from Members of the Public.
14 / A Member of the Public asked if figures were presented for financial or caledar years. Financial year is used.
A Member of the public queried the higher Cs-137 concentrations this year over last year. Mr Leonard was unsure as to the reasons but suggested that it could be due to the age of the fish and added that sampling was difficult, he suggested that next year Brown Trout be featured in the RIFE report.
15 / AGENDA ITEM 4EA- Environment Monitoring Update, presented by Mr John Titley, EA.
16 / Mr Titley gave an update report from EA. The presentation can be found on the WCSSG website (
17 / Questions from the Committee
18 / Mr Hargreaves asked if the standards used for the LLW monitoring at Winfrith have been retained to allow for future comparison. Mr Titley responded with affirmation and added that future sampling approaches will be similar to previous sampling.
Mr Hargreaves asked if the number of people used for profiles are quoted with the data, Mr Titley responded that this data is available on the Cefas website.
Mr Hargreaves asked if it had been possible to differentiate activity associated with Fukushima in terms of spent fuel or reactor activity. Mt Titley responded that this had been possible and the activity found related to reactors.
Mr Hargreaves asked if regular gully pot monitoring was being considered in relation to the spikes shown on the slides. Mr Tandy responded that further samples would be considered but noted that impacts associated with these spikes were trivial.
The chair, with regard to the LLWR permit, pointed out that the waste at LLWR is stored rather than disposed and that when the permit for disposal is given the disposal figures will spike. Mr Hunter responded that LLWR do actually dispose of some wastes nut that most is stored in vault 9 awaiting disposal and that the permit variation will allow for this transition.
Mr Hargreaves asked how long MCerts accreditation lasted for. Mr Titeky responsed that this was 4 years but that UKAS assessments in labs are annual, on a 4 year revolving period.
19 / Questions from Members of Public.
20 / A member of the public asked why the data presented had moved from using TBq to Bq. Mr Titley responded that this was because the site inspectors presented data in different ways and some sites had very small doses so Bq’s were used for consistency.
A member of the public asked that is operator’s use MCerts accredited kit and cross checks from the EA are scaled back, how assurance will be maintained. Mr Titley responded that accreditation of MCerts equipment is independent and EA witnessing of samples will continue.
21 / AGENDA ITEM 5LLWR discharges, presented by Mr Hunter
22 / Mr Hunter (LLWR) presented an update from LLWR. The following topics were discussed;
An anomaly on the sea pipeline with air and liquid getting to manhole chambers and out to sea.
The LLWR Environmental Safety Case- this is still under review and is due in March 2013, this will be followed by application for a new permit
The full presentation can be found on the WCSSG website, (
23 / Questions from the Committee
24 / None
25 / Questions from Members of the Public
26 / None
27 / AGENDA ITEM 6: Annual Report on Discharges and Monitoring of the Environment for Sellafield Ltd – Mr Desmond
28 / Mr Desmond presented slides that are available on the WCSSG website (
29 / Questions from the Committee
30 / Mr Hargreaves asked if the abrupt drop in activity seen on page 39 for 2001/03 were due to the cessation of operations at Calder Hall. Mr Desmond confirmed this.
31 / Questions from members of public
32 / A member of the public asked the table on slide 18 and the H3 spike, querying this data. Mr Desmond confirmed that the data was real but this may be due to historic disposals in trenches on site.
A member of the public asked if a leak from the MA and TDN palnt at Sellafield in the 1970’s could be the cause of the H3 found, Mr Desmond stated that this is one of a number pf potential source terms.
33 / Agenda Item 7Beach Monitoring Update- Mr Desmond (Sellafield Ltd)
34 / Mr Desmond presented slides that are available on the WCSSG website ( Mr Desmond pointed out that data was truncated to the end of October due to data availability and noted that the St Bees and Seascale data boxes are larger as he find rates are lower.
35 / Questions from the Committee
36 / Mr Coughlin asked if the softrak vehicle was better than the wheeled vehicle. Mr Desmond replied that the wheeled vehicle is no longer manufactured and that the equipment for monitoring is the sane for both. Both vehicles are calibrated in the same way.
Mr Tandy asked for comment on the recent strandline find. Mr Desmond responded that the strandline is hand monitored to access restrictions and that recently an alpha (1e+5 Bq Am241) particle was found but this was within the range of other similar finds.
Mr Tandy then asked if strandline finds were rare, Mr Desmond replied that lower strandline finds are common but higher strandline finds were rarer. He added that maps are available that show find locations.
37 / Questions from members of public
A member of the public asked if the finds were from repopulation. Mr Desmond stated that Cs-137 allows for finds at the 30-50cm depth but alpha finds are at the 5-10cm depth as a maximum, as the tide changes the top 5-10c of the beach is remobilised and deposited so alpha finds are more likely due to lateral movements on the beach surface.
A member of the public asked if this was the same for all beaches, Mr Desmond confirmed that this was the case.
A member of the public asked if it was possible for signage to be posted at the beaches to warn of particle finds. Mr Desmond stated that the HPA have carried out a thorough risk assessment and have concluded that no specific precautionary measures are required and that it is not a Sellafield Ltd decision to make.
The Member of the public pointed out that Dounreay and Dalgeity beaches have signs, Mr Desmond responded that the 3 beached in question around Sellafield do not have the same deterministic effects as those beached.
A member of the public asked if the finds could be aged, and if this aging shows if fewer particles are coming from Sellafield. Mr Desmond responded that aging was possible and that this shows finds to be greater than 25 years old. He also noted that this does not mean that finds had been held up in pipelines until more recently.
38 / Agenda Item 7 Comparison of findings of SL and LLWR, FSA/SEPA and EA annual environmental monitoring reports for 2011- Professor Jones
Prof Jones presented slides that are available on the WCSSG website (
Professor Jones summarised that the reports are comparable.
39 / Questions from the Committee
40 / None
41 / Questions from members of public
42 / None
43 / Agenda Item 8 Groundwater Monitoring (Sellafield) status report- Miss McKenzie (Sellafield)
Miss McKenzie presented slides that are available on the WCSSG website (
Miss McKenzie summarised that the activity distribution of groundwater at Sellafield was fairly static and that levels off site are below WHO drinking standards.
44 / Questions from the Committee
Mr Cain asked how H3 travelled from the site trenches to the beach. Miss McKenzie responded that the groundwater flow is in that direction and that a buried sandstone channel may enhance the flow.
Mr Titley asked if there was a fingerprint for other nuclides in line with H3, Miss Mckenzie replied that the activity found was mostly H3 but that there was also a small increase in Tc99.
45 / Questions from members of public
46 / None
47 / Agenda Item 9- Works Updates- Sellafield Operations- Mr Desmond
Mr Desmond provided an update as follows
- The Environment Agency has issued a revised Environmental Permit for Radioactive Substances following a variation application made by Sellafield Ltd earlier this year. The varied Permit is effective from the 1 June 2012.
- This includes the removal of limits on a number of low impact nuclides
- The removal of a number of Stack Discharge authorised emissions points (with Miscellaneous outlets and a small number of major outlets now listed as Other outlets)
- The removal of the requirement for Qualified Experts, this has been replaced by the term Radioactive Waste Adviser, Sellafield Ltd is to manage this through corporate arrangements
- The permit now looks significantly different from previous versions
- A variation request for the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Installation Permit is being prepared, the aim is to have this reissued by March 2013, this will include a number of minor changes as well as the more significant inclusion of the Separation Area Ventilation (SAV) stack
- LRQA surveillance against the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 was completed in October/November (Recertification was granted post April 2012 audit and new certificate presented in August 2012)
- Sellafield Ltd is to be recommended for continued certification to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004.
- No major non-conformities have been raised during this visit.
- The next surveillance will start in April 2013
- In April 2010 Sellafield Ltd incorrectly consigned four bags of non exempt waste to the Lillyhall landfill site rather than to the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR). The waste was retrieved and bagged waste export suspended while investigations determined the root cause of the event (a failure in the calibration of a bag monitoring machine).
The Environment Agency (EA) and Office for Nuclear Regulation via the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that the company is to be prosecuted in relation to the incident. The EA and HSE have each issued a summons requiring SL to attend Workington Magistrate’s Court in December. - Magnox Reprocessing Operations have been in planned shutdown for part of this period with a number of issues delaying restart, operations are now running
- Thorp Operations have been shutdown due to an issue with Pressure Vessel Regulation, operations have now restarted
48 / Questions from the Committee
49 / None
50 / Questions from members of public
51 / None
52 / Agenda Item 10 Items of environmental Interest - Professor Jones
53 / Professor Jones gave an update
ICRP website updates- the task group 84- Radioactive Power Plant Accident and Understanding was the bulk of the item, it noted that when translated to Japanese the ICRP recommendations are difficult to understand and also noted that the psychological effects of countermeasures are significant and need to be thought through.
COMARE childhood leukaemia study is still underway and is not yet published.
Professor Jones also outlined Journal Papers of interest, the details of these can be found on the WCSSG website (
54 / Questions from the Committee
55 / Mr Hargreaves drew attention to a recent Kerala Sands Study (
). The study concluded that up to a relatively high natural radiation dose, no detrimental health effects were observed.
Mr Tandy mentioned an Irish Government independent report on the health effects from SL and LLWR, this concluded that the impact was negligible, this is available on the Irish Government Website at
Mr Tandy also drew attention to the characterisation work being done at the Moorside site for new build. Boreholes up to 150m in depth are being dug as well as surface work.
56 / Questions from members of public
57 / A member of the public raised a NDA and DECC forum on the 18th October 2012 where COMARE acknowledged a link between radiation doses and nuclear stations, and noted that the report on this is not due until 2014. They requested that the chair investigate why there was such delay and to see if this could be brought forward. The Chair agreed to investigate the matter.
58 / Agenda Item 11 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman - Professor Jones
59 / Professor Jones was nominated again to the position of Chairman. Mr Ron Hargreaves was nominated and appointed to position of Vice-Chairman.
60 / Agenda Item 12- Any Other Business
61 / Mr Cain asked if there were issues relating to corrosion of containers in LLWR vault 7, Prof Jones answered that there were but that a detailed assessment was currently underway.
62 / Meeting Closed- Next Meeting Thursday 30th May 2013