§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the chemical constituent components of the discharge from Sellafield on 23 January in terms of concentrations of organic and aqueous solvents, including an inventory of any quantities of tributyl phosphate, nitric acid, sulphuric acid and sodium nitrate contained within the discharge together with the concentration of uranium metal, by parts per million, carried in solution or otherwise within the discharged liquor.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe information on the chemical components referred to is as follows:
In parts per million, by weight Organic solvents: tri-butyl phosphate 27 Odourless kerosene 3 Free Nitric Acid 0 Free Sulphuric Acid 0 Sodium Salts about 1,000 Uranium (as Ammonium diuranate associated with ferric hydroxide floc) 300 No uranium metal was present.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent (a) operator error and (b) plant malfunction contributed to the circumstances precipitating need for the discharge from Sellafield to the Irish sea on 23 January; whether this discharge was wholly made following a prior instruction from British Nuclear Fuels Limited management; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe release of uranium was initiated by a plant malfunction which led to material reaching the sea tanks, and it was terminated by operator action to control the malfunction. The discharge from the sea tanks took place later, after consideration by British Nuclear Fuels management and a decision by it that this was the appropriate action. The circumstances are the subject of investigations by the Radiochemical Inspectorate and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.