Written question asked by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Monday, 7 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 July 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 17 July 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what quantities of radioactive water (a) have been removed and (b) remain to be moved from Sellafield building B30 as part of the post-operational clean-out (POCO) process; to where this water has been discharged; and whether the POCO activities at B30 have been reported as part of the UK submissions to the OSPAR Ministerial in Bremen in June. - (Holding answer 10 July 2003).

Answer: Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantities of radioactive water (a) have been removed and (b) remain to be moved from Sellafield building B30 as part of the post-operational clean-out (POCO) process; to where this water has been discharged; and whether the POCO activities at B30 have been reported as part of the UK submissions to the OSPAR Ministerial in Bremen in June. [124826] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 10 July 2003]: About 2,000 cubic metres of water a day are currently flushed through the B30 ponds. The water is treated at the SIXEP plant in Sellafield to remove particulate and principally radioactive caesium and strontium. The resulting low-level radioactive liquid waste is discharged to sea. These discharges were included in the Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 2001-2020, published in July 2002, which was the UK's national report to OSPAR.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 124826; 409 c452W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Radioactive waste Radioactive materials Water Seas and oceans Sellafield
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk