THE public are to be consulted regarding an application from Devonport Dockyard to revise its authorisation to dispose of radioactive waste from its site.
The application follows the Dockyard's selection by the MoD for the refitting of new Vanguard class Trident submarines, with work due to start on HMS Vanguard in February 2002. The proposal involves an increase in discharges of tritium (a radioactive form of hydrogen) into the River Tamar via the Hamoaze, and a decrease in the existing authorised limit on discharges of cobalt 60. The Environment Agency says the Dockyard also hopes to release argon 41 and carbon 14, both radioactive gases, into the air. However, they add that radiation doses to the public from the discharges, if authorised by the Agency, would remain well below the UK legal dose limits.
Devonport already has authorisations granted by the Agency for the disposal of radioactive waste from the maintenance and refitting of Trafalgar and Swiftsure class nuclear powered submarines.
A public meeting is to be held at the Lower Guildhall, Plymouth, on June 20 at 6.30pm.
Environment Agency nuclear site inspector, Anil Koshti, said it is an important issue for the neighbouring area, and it is hoped as many people as possible will attend the meeting.