This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6364351.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nuclear site operator fined £140k | Nuclear site operator fined £140k |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The operator of a nuclear plant in Caithness has been fined £140,000 for illegally dumping waste. | |
| Just hours later a suspected rogue radioactive particle potentially linked to the incidents at Dounreay was found washed up on a nearby beach. | |
| The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) pleaded guilty to four charges under the Radioactive Substances Act at Wick Sheriff Court earlier this month. | The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) pleaded guilty to four charges under the Radioactive Substances Act at Wick Sheriff Court earlier this month. |
| They related to activities at Dounreay between 1963 and 1984. | |
| The UKAEA said a "suspect particle" was found by its monitoring team at Sandside Beach at 1400 GMT on Thursday - less than five hours after the authority was handed down its fine. | |
| A spokesman said it would be 24 hours before experts complete their analysis of the fragment, which was registering radioactivity. | |
| It was believed to be the 85th particle to be found at Sandside. | |
| We accept that mistakes were made and regret those mistakes Dr John CroftsUKAEA director of safety | |
| Geoffrey Minter, who owns the beach, said the UKAEA had "rightly been punished" for practices of more than 20 years ago. | |
| Sheriff Andrew Berry had deferred sentence until Thursday after hearing from the fiscal and UKAEA's solicitor. | Sheriff Andrew Berry had deferred sentence until Thursday after hearing from the fiscal and UKAEA's solicitor. |
| UKAEA's court appearance followed a report to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). | UKAEA's court appearance followed a report to the procurator fiscal by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). |
| The company admitted illegally dumping solid nuclear waste in a landfill site at Dounreay and three charges of allowing fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel to enter the plant's liquid effluent discharge pipe into the Pentland Firth. | The company admitted illegally dumping solid nuclear waste in a landfill site at Dounreay and three charges of allowing fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel to enter the plant's liquid effluent discharge pipe into the Pentland Firth. |
| UKAEA's director of safety, Dr John Crofts, said: "We accept that mistakes were made and regret those mistakes. | UKAEA's director of safety, Dr John Crofts, said: "We accept that mistakes were made and regret those mistakes. |
| "We too share the view that this is an unacceptable legacy of the Dounreay experiment." | "We too share the view that this is an unacceptable legacy of the Dounreay experiment." |
| He added: "Our priority has been and will continue to be to minimise the risk to people and the environment." | He added: "Our priority has been and will continue to be to minimise the risk to people and the environment." |
| Power stations | |
| Eleanor Scott, Green MSP for Highlands and Islands, said the case highlighted the dangers of nuclear power. | Eleanor Scott, Green MSP for Highlands and Islands, said the case highlighted the dangers of nuclear power. |
| She added: "There must be no new nuclear power stations in Scotland. | She added: "There must be no new nuclear power stations in Scotland. |
| "Dounreay is now being managed well, but the surrounding communities and the environment will keep paying for these errors for many years to come." | "Dounreay is now being managed well, but the surrounding communities and the environment will keep paying for these errors for many years to come." |