HC Deb 22 June 1965 vol 714 cc180-2W
Mr. McGuire

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the radioactive life of the various types of effluent from nuclear power stations and Atomic Energy Authority establishments.

Mr. MacColl

The principal radioactive constituent of the gaseous effluent discharged from nuclear power stations is argon 41, which has a half life of less than two hours, and the principal radioactive constituent in the liquid effluent is tritium, which has a half life of just over 12 years. In addition, gaseous, liquid and solid wastes contain small amounts of other radionuclides whose half lives vary from a few seconds to many hundreds of years.

The radioactive substances in the wastes discharged from the various establishments of the Atomic Energy Authority vary according to the operations carried out there. At Capenhurst and Spring-fields the principal constituent of the discharges is uranium, which has a half life of many millions of years. In the discharges from most other Authority establishments the activity is mainly due to fission products with half lives ranging from a few seconds to about thirty years.

Mr. McGuire

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how radioactive effluent from nuclear power stations and Atomic Energy Authority establishments is being disposed of at present; and what quantities are involved.

Mr. MacColl

Gaseous wastes, after treatment where necessary, are discharged to the atmosphere, and low activity liquid wastes are normally discharged direct to watercourses or the sea. Depending on their nature and activity, solid wastes are either stored, disposed of by burial on special sites or dumped at sea.

The high activity liquid wastes arising from the processing of irradiated nuclear fuel are stored indefinitely at the Atomic Energy Authority's Windscale Works.

All radioactive wastes are disposed of in accordance with authorisations granted by my right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Information about the discharges of radioactive effluents from nuclear power stations is regularly given to the local authorities, who are members of the local liaison committee, in environmental monitoring reports. I will send my hon. Friend copies of the latest reports.

The Atomic Energy Authority is producing an Environmental Monitoring Report for 1964, which will show the discharges authorised and actually made from their establishments. A copy will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.