Regulating the Environment The Atomic Weapons Establishment David Griffiths Team Leader Defence and Commercial Team Nuclear Regulation Group
Our priorities and focus Radioactive substances regulation – including discharges to the environment and radioactive waste management/disposal Industrial processes Conventional wastes – water, solids Conventional discharges – water, liquid wastes Construction associated permitting Wider issues – resource usage
My “resources” 2 full time Nuclear Regulators 2 full time Environment Officers Access to the wider expertise of the Environment Agency eg flooding, legal services, waste management expertise Close work with other regulators including HSE,NII and DNSR on common issues
It’s not just about discharge limits! Limits – RSA60, RSA93, EPR10 How limits are met depends on: plant and equipment – abatement, filtration Processes – effluent treatment Maintenance of all environmentally important plant Upgrades and replacements Managing discharges – BPM, BPEO – BAT
Key environmental discharges Aqueous – Pangbourne Pipeline, “trade wastes”, Aldermaston Stream – north ponds Airborne – stack discharges � Alpha � Beta/gamma
Alpha and Beta Discharges to the Thames via the Pangbourne Pipeline (Aldermaston) 10500 9000 7500 Activity MBq Alpha 6000 Beta 4500 3000 1500 0 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 Year
Alpha and Beta Discharges to the Thames via the Pangbourne Pipeline (Aldermaston) 60 50 Activity MBq 40 Alpha Beta 30 20 10 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Year
Tritium Discharges to the Thames via the Pangbourne Pipeline (Aldermaston) 900 800 700 Tritium Activity GBq 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 Year
Tritium Discharges to the Thames via the Pangbourne Pipeline (Aldermaston) 35 30 Tritium Activity GBq 25 20 15 10 5 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 Year
Alpha and Beta Discharges to the Silchester Sewer (Aldermaston) 800 700 600 Activity MBq 500 Alpha 400 Beta 300 200 100 0 1958 1963 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 Year
Tritium Discharges to Aldermaston Stream 2.5 2 Activity GBq 1.5 1 0.5 0 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Year
Alpha and Beta Discharges to the Silchester Sewer (Aldermaston) 60 50 40 Activity MBq Alpha 30 Beta 20 10 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Year
Alpha and Beta Discharges of Treated Trade Waste to Burghfield Brook 12 10 8 Activity MBq Alpha 6 Beta 4 2 0 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 Year
Alpha and Beta discharges to Air (Aldermaston) 400 350 300 250 Activity MBq Alpha 200 Beta 150 100 50 0 1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 Year
Alpha and Beta discharges to Air (Aldermaston) 0.25 0.2 Activity MBq 0.15 Alpha Beta 0.1 0.05 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Year
Tritium Discharges to Air (Aldermaston) 500 400 Activity TBq 300 200 100 0 1959 1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 Year
Tritium Discharges to Air (Aldermaston) 20 18 16 14 Activity TBq 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Year
Alpha Discharges to Air (Burghfield) 2 1.5 Activity KBq 1 0.5 0 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 Year
Tritium Discharges to Air (Burghfield) 0.14 0.12 0.1 Activity GBq 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Year
Checks and balances AWE Environmental Monitoring Programme – imposed through permit by us on the company – various samples – soil, waters, herbage, fruits/vegetables, fish etc EA/FSA Check Monitoring Programmes Audit and Inspections of systems, procedures, assurance, training and standards Radioactivity in Food and the Environment – RIFE Reports
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