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| Nuclear sub 'discharge' warning | Nuclear sub 'discharge' warning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The naval base at Faslane has suffered a series of safety breaches including radioactive leaks from nuclear-powered submarines, it has been revealed. | The naval base at Faslane has suffered a series of safety breaches including radioactive leaks from nuclear-powered submarines, it has been revealed. |
| A report, issued under the Freedom of Information Act, showed the Ministry of Defence, (MoD) describing the failings as a "recurring theme". | A report, issued under the Freedom of Information Act, showed the Ministry of Defence, (MoD) describing the failings as a "recurring theme". |
| On three occasions radioactive coolant leaked from nuclear submarines. | On three occasions radioactive coolant leaked from nuclear submarines. |
| Scotland's environment watchdog, Sepa, said it would have considered closing the base if it had had the power. | |
| Formal legal action could not be taken because military bases are exempt from the law governing nuclear sites. | Formal legal action could not be taken because military bases are exempt from the law governing nuclear sites. |
| Formal letter | Formal letter |
| The documents also showed the Navy did not know how much radioactivity was discharged. | The documents also showed the Navy did not know how much radioactivity was discharged. |
| HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, is home to Britain's fleet of submarines armed with Trident nuclear missiles. | HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, is home to Britain's fleet of submarines armed with Trident nuclear missiles. |
| It is also the base for a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines armed with conventional weapons. | It is also the base for a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines armed with conventional weapons. |
| Three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2008, radioactive coolant leaked from nuclear submarines into the Firth of Clyde. | Three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2008, radioactive coolant leaked from nuclear submarines into the Firth of Clyde. |
| An improvement plan is currently under way to ensure modern standards and best practice at the base MoD statement | An improvement plan is currently under way to ensure modern standards and best practice at the base MoD statement |
| In August 2007, the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Superb discharged water, potentially contaminated with radioactive Tritium and Cobalt-60, directly into Gare Loch. | In August 2007, the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Superb discharged water, potentially contaminated with radioactive Tritium and Cobalt-60, directly into Gare Loch. |
| Sepa's response was a formal letter to Faslane expressing its concern. | Sepa's response was a formal letter to Faslane expressing its concern. |
| It noted that it had not been told about the incident for six days. | It noted that it had not been told about the incident for six days. |
| In February 2008, it happened again. | In February 2008, it happened again. |
| This time HMS Torbay was warming up its reactor when a tank overflowed. | This time HMS Torbay was warming up its reactor when a tank overflowed. |
| Sepa issued another letter in the form of an enforcement notice. | Sepa issued another letter in the form of an enforcement notice. |
| The environment watchdog said the radiological consequences were minor. | The environment watchdog said the radiological consequences were minor. |
| But it was concerned proper procedures had not been followed. | But it was concerned proper procedures had not been followed. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "The discharges into the Gare Loch had no environmental consequences. | An MoD spokesman said: "The discharges into the Gare Loch had no environmental consequences. |
| "The MoD is a responsible nuclear operator and informed the appropriate regulatory authorities. | "The MoD is a responsible nuclear operator and informed the appropriate regulatory authorities. |
| "We commissioned an independent study into the facilities and practices at HM Naval Base Clyde and an improvement plan is currently under way to ensure modern standards and best practice at the base." | "We commissioned an independent study into the facilities and practices at HM Naval Base Clyde and an improvement plan is currently under way to ensure modern standards and best practice at the base." |