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Publication Laka-library:
A critical review of safety assessments for the transport of plutonium between Dounreay and Windscale (1980)

Author	PERG
Date	December 1980
Classification	6.01.8.70/12 (TRANSPORTS - OTHER COUNTRIES - FROM & TO REPROCESSING PLANT (INCL. PU & HAVA))
Front

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF SAFETY ASSESSMENTS FOR THE TRANSPORT
OF PLUTONIUM NITRATE SOLUTION BETWEEN DOUNREAY AND WINDSCALE

A report prepared for Greenpeace Ltd.
by P. Taylor, BA, MIBiol.

ABSTRACT

A review of safety assessment documentation for the transport of plutonium nitrate
solution by sea between Dounraey and Windscale has been attempted. Particular
interest centred upon the environmental impact of loss of containers at sea following
a collision and/or shipboard fire, and upon the potential for atmospheric release in
port following an accident or as a result of terrorist activity. A review of the only
available document is presented - that of the safety assessment document produced
by the Health and Safety Executive (Nuclear Installations Inspectorate). It is found
that a number of crucial assumptions are made concerning accident conditions
which are based upon extensive safety reports prepared for the HSE by BNFL and the
UKAEA. Requests for these reports to be made available have been refused, not by
the Inspectorate, but by the contractors concerned. Without the contractors'
permissions, the HSE are unable to release the crucial data upon which their
assessment is based. In the light of this denial of essential information no full
critical assessment is possible. This report outlines, therefore, the grounds upon
which interested observers may feel justified in not accepting the assurances
provided in the government department's assessment until such time as the data
on which it is based is made publicly available.

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