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6 May 2006 - HSE to Prosecute British
Nuclear Group Sellafield
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are to bring criminal
proceedings against British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL) in connection
with a leakage incident at the Sellafield reprocessing site. The HSE
were notified of the leak of radioactive liquor inside a heavily shielded
facility at the THermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) on 20 April 2005.
The liquor leaked into a stainless steel-lined cell with 1.5m thick concrete
walls and there is no current evidence of any harm to workers or the public.
The HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate carried out a detailed
investigation.
The HSE has applied to the courts for summonses alleging that
BNGSL breached three conditions attached to the Sellafield site licence granted
under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended).
Key points of The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 are as follows:
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The Act provides for the licensing and inspection of sites used
for operating nuclear reactors; manufacturing, storing and reprocessing nuclear
fuel and related activities.
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No site may be used for operating a nuclear installation without
a licence granted by HSE.
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The form of the site licence is the same for each installation
and contains a standard set of 36 conditions, dealing with a variety of safety
requirements.
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Contravention of any condition constitutes an offence under the
Act.
THORP reprocesses nuclear fuel from overseas and UK
second-generation commercial reactors. The plant has been closed
since April 2005.
An initial hearing is scheduled for 8 June 2006 at Whitehaven
Magistrates Court, Cumbria.
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