12/04/2006 - The Environment
Agency's review of the radioactive discharge authorisations
for Sizewell B nuclear power station (owned by
British Energy Generation Limited) is currently
open for public consultation until 7 July 2006.
The authorisations set discharge limits within
which the site must operate and include conditions
on the management, operation and maintenance of
the power station to ensure radioactive waste
is minimised and disposed of correctly.
The public consultation gives
anyone who wants the opportunity to read in full
and ask questions about the Environment Agency's
review proposals. The review started in July 2005
and is being undertaken to ensure that human health
and the environment continue to be well protected
by the good management of Sizewell B and take
account of any developments in technology and
environmental policy.
The Environment Agency is responsible
for regulating the environmental performance and
waste disposals from the six British Energy power
stations in England, of which Sizewell B is one.
The Environment Agency has worked closely with
the Food Standards Agency and Nuclear Installations'
Inspectorate throughout the review process.
The new proposals for Sizewell
B reduce the amount of radioactive waste the power
station is allowed to discharge, which are already
well within safe limits, even further. Anyone
who wants to comment on the proposals must do
so by 7 July 2006. Once the Environment Agency
has fully considered all the comments made, it
will publish its final decision on the future
authorisations during the winter of 2006/2007.
A summary document and the full
consultation document are available on our website
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/benar or by calling
0845 988 1188. Local people interested in the
review are being invited to one of three drop-in
sessions being held on Wednesday 19 April, 2-7pm
at the leisure centre in Leiston, Thursday 20
April, 2-7pm at the community centre in Woodbridge
and on Saturday 22 April, 10am-3pm at the Fairfield
centre in Aldeburgh.
Notes to Editors:
„h The six sites in England
being reviewed are:
Hinkley Point B (nr Bridgwater, Somerset)
Heysham 1 and 2 (nr Morecambe, Lancashire)
Sizewell B (Leiston, Suffolk)
Dungeness B (Dungeness, Kent)
Hartlepool (Hartlepool Teesside)
„h Sizewell B produces liquid,
solid and gaseous radioactive wastes. The Environment
Agency stringently regulates the emission and
disposal of these wastes, which must not exceed
the limits imposed in the site's authorisations.
