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OFFICIAL REPORT SLAMS SAFETY STANDARDS AT NUKE PLANT Major nuclear accident was possible warns FOE
15 June 1998
The report heavily criticises safety at the Scottish nuclear facility and, in particular,raises fears that safeguards to prevent sufficient nuclear material building up to start a nuclear chain reaction have not been adequate. If such a chain reaction were to happen then there could be a major uncontrolled release of radiation into the environment.
Dominick Jenkins, Nuclear campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"The publication of this hitherto secret report makes shocking reading and vindicates the concerns that Friends of the Earth has expressed about nuclear safety for many years. It is clear that procedures to prevent a possible nuclear reaction were insufficient and that the nightmare scenario of another Chernobyl-like cloud hanging over Britain could happen, despite the constant reassurances we are given about safety in the UK.When one reads this report it is amazing to think that they are referring to the management of a nuclear facility.
"The report's conclusions also call into question the ability of the Health and Safety Executive to act as guardians of the whole of Britain's nuclear industry since their lack of vigilance allowed such a situation to develop. Its time that the cosy link between the HSE and the nuclear industry was severed and that an open, accountable and properly resourced body replace it instead."
FOE is also calling on Tony Blair to stop blocking the comprehensive review of Britain reprocessing industry called for at last year's Labour party conference and backed by the National Executive Committee.
ENDS
More Information:
Dominick Jenkins
Lang Banks (FOE Scotland)
FOE Press Office (mobile)
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
