§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the site ion exchange extraction and the enhanced altinide removal waste filtration plants servicing the thermal oxide reprocessing plant facility at Sellafield have met their planned operational functions. [119134]
2W
§ Mr. MeacherThe Environment Agency monitors and assesses the performance of the various effluent treatment plant on the Sellafield site including the site ion exchange extraction plant (SIXEP) and the enhanced actinide removal plant (EARP).
During 1998 the Environment Agency report concluded that the Enhanced Actinide Removal Plant (EARP) performed satisfactorily in the removal of plutonium and other actinides from liquid effluent streams. In addition, the report considered that the plant has been reasonably effective for the removal of strontium-90 (Sr-90) and caesium-137 (Cs-137). The Agency considers there is scope for optimising the performance of EARP in line with the best practicable means. The Agency will continue to press for improvements in the effectiveness of EARP in reducing radionuclide discharges.
The Agency also judges that the Site Ion Exchange Plant (SIXEP) has continued to operate satisfactorily in 1998 and has achieved high efficiencies for the removal of both Sr-90 and Cs-137 from the fuel storage pond effluents. The Agency notes that BNFL has made progress in the research and development programme for the optimisation of SIXEP.