§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the limits on radioactive emissions over a quarter of a mile from(a) coal-fired power stations and (b) nuclear power stations. [53313]
§ Mr. MeacherDischarges of radioactivity to the environment must be authorised by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The guiding principle in authorising discharges from a particular site is the need to restrict the radiation doses that might be received by the most exposed members of the618W public, or "critical group", since adequate protection of this group will ensure that others are also protected. Exposure may result from a number of pathways, for example, through inhalation of airborne activity, through drinking water, or through uptake by animals and transfer to foodstuffs. For the purposes of discharge authorisations, the UK has since 1986 applied a limit of 1 millisievert per year (mSv/y) to members of the public from all man-made sources of radioactivity other than medical exposure and furthermore requires that such doses are
'as low as reasonably achievable'.Coal-fired power stations are exempt from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 because levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the fuel and waste products are below the levels specified in that Act.
§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the safe disposal of radioactive flyash discharged by coal-fired power stations. [53312]
§ Mr. MealeCoal-fired power stations are exempt from regulation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 because levels of naturally occurring radioactivity in the fuel and waste products are below the levels specified in that Act and indeed can be lower than those found in natural deposits. Flyash from such power stations which is disposed of as a waste is therefore managed in the following ways:
- (i) Some ash is stored on site at the power stations, pending processing such as grading. This activity is controlled by the Environment Agency under an IPC authorisation.
- (ii) The majority of the flyash is landfilled, under local authority planning and Environment Agency waste management regulatory controls. The material is regarded as virtually inert. Waste management licensing requirements ensure the protection of human health and the environment.
A significant amount of ash is also used in the construction industry. It is a by-product in this context and as such falls outside waste disposal controls. The best known application is in light-weight concrete blocks used to form internal walls of houses and other buildings. It is a useful civil engineering material and an increasing range of uses are being found.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements his Department has made for public consultation concerning the proposal for a temporary increase in radioactive emissions from AWE, Aldermaston; and if he will make a statement. [54958]
§ Mr. MealeI understand that in respect of the applications made by Hunting-BRAE Ltd. and AWE plc to dispose of radioactive wastes from the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield the Environment Agency is preparing to consult with public bodies, local authorities and members of the public before making any decision. The Agency has placed copies of the applications on its public register at its regional office in Reading and the public register of the local authority, West Berkshire Council, in Newbury. These are available for inspection during normal office hours. The Agency has held two public meetings, one at Reading and one at Newbury, to explain the consultation process, and it will publish a consultative document later this year.
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