Web Feed

Consultancy report raises questions about UK nuclear safety regulation

Report by Large & Associates about regulator response to Sizewell radioactive discharge finds that plans to prosecute failed due to legal technicality and lack of resources

23-Jun-09 

Consulting engineers Large & Associates were commissioned by a small NGO, Shutdown Sizewell, to examine why the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) – which is also frequently referred to as the “nuclear directorate” of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - chose not to prosecute Magnox Electric for an uncontrolled spillage of 180m³ (40,000 gallons) of radioactive pond water on 7 January 2007. About a quarter of the spillage was released untreated into the marine environment via the storm sewer system.

• Large & Associates report on NII decision on Sizewell A leak