MOD radiation exemption to be removed All of Scotland’s environmental regulation to be run from Scotland. The Ministry of Defence’s environmental exemption on radioactivity is to be removed. Scotland’s Environment Secretary, Richard Lochhead, announced the Scottish Government’s intention to bring forward proposals to remove the exemption in a statement to Parliament today about the radioactive incident at the UK Government‘s Vulcan Nuclear Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay. The crown exemption – “a historic anomaly” means that at present, regulation of the environment in regard to radioactivity, within the areas of the MOD’s establishments in Scotland, is not subject to regulation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). At present SEPA can only provide regulation under a flawed “gentlemen’s agreement” with the MOD, but lack the powers they have in every other part of Scotland. In the latest incident this meant that SEPA only had full authority for the vicinity of the Vulcan establishment – not within it. It also means they have no power to enforce the MOD to take action where they have concerns. Mr Lochhead told Parliament that the Scottish Government intend to bring forward proposals that will ensure the removal of the exemption. He said: “The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 is an anomaly. Other environmental protection legislation has no similar Crown exemption, and there is no good reason that radioactive substances should be treated any differently from other risks to the environment. The secrecy and lack of transparency in this case is an abuse of the crown exemption. “SEPA can regulate and enforce action on radioactivity across the whole of the nation except for the areas covered by MoD establishments. That is a flawed and historic anomaly which has been of concern for some time, however the latest incident and the culture of secrecy surrounding it are the final straw and the lack of transparency in this case is an abuse of the crown exemption. “By removing crown exemption SEPA will be able to regulate all of Scotland and in this situation they would have had the power to demand that action was taken rather than the MOD being able to withhold vital information.” Speaking further about the UK Government and MOD’s inaction and mis-information relating to the nuclear incident at Vulcan Mr Lochhead continued: “The MOD has again demonstrated a deep-seated culture of secrecy and have also misled local community representatives – telling them everything was fine and routine when it clearly was not. “The MOD is in control of facilities which present great potential hazard in Scotland. The UK Government owe the people of Scotland an apology for the Vulcan incident, and must commit to far greater openness about their nuclear activities in Scotland.”
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 16:30:14 +0000
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