§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what materials were deposited in the sea off the North Cornish coast when CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2664]
§ Dr. MoonieThere is no comprehensive record of materials which were deposited into the sea off the north Cornish coast when Chemical Defence Establishment (CDE) Nancekuke was decommissioned.
All plant used in toxic or hazardous operations at Nancekuke was thoroughly decontaminated. All decontaminant was neutralized, diluted and tested on representative local marine species, namely prawns and gobies, before disposal into the sea.
Chemical warfare agents and their precursors were generally destroyed by incineration or transferred to CDE Porton Down. Some precursors and other materials were however treated and disposed of as above. These included approximately 1 tonne of pralidoxime mesylate (treated with sodium hypochlorite before disposal), arsenic chloride (31 litres were hydrolysed then oxidised with sodium hypochlorite before disposal) and 7 kg of a mixture of ethylphosphonyl dichloride and ethylphosphonyl difluoride (hydrolysed and neutralised before disposal).
§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will make a statement on the environmental assessment being undertaken at RAF Portreath. [2666]
519W
§ Dr. MoonieI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 7 February 2001,Official Report, column 522W. Work on the further land quality assessment has been completed. The expert consultant's report has been received and my officials are considering its recommendations and options for remediation work. The next stage will entail discussions on the way ahead with the Environment Agency and Kerrier district council.
§ Ms AthertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sea monitoring has been undertaken since CDE Nancekuke was decommissioned. [2665]
§ Dr. MoonieSea monitoring is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, and its forerunner the National Rivers Authority. No monitoring other than the routine monitoring of South West Water's sewage outfall pipes has been undertaken.