The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are to bring criminal proceedings against British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL) in connection with a leakage incident at the Sellafield reprocessing site. The HSE were notified of the leak of radioactive liquor inside a heavily shielded facility at the THermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) on 20 April 2005. The liquor leaked into a stainless steel-lined cell with 1.5m thick concrete walls and there is no current evidence of any harm to workers or the public. The HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate carried out a detailed investigation.
The HSE has applied to the courts for summonses alleging that BNGSL breached three conditions attached to the Sellafield site licence granted under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as amended).
Key points of The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 are as follows:
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The Act provides for the licensing and inspection of sites used for operating nuclear reactors; manufacturing, storing and reprocessing nuclear fuel and related activities.
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No site may be used for operating a nuclear installation without a licence granted by HSE.
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The form of the site licence is the same for each installation and contains a standard set of 36 conditions, dealing with a variety of safety requirements.
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Contravention of any condition constitutes an offence under the Act.
THORP reprocesses nuclear fuel from overseas and UK second-generation commercial reactors. The plant has been closed since April 2005.
An initial hearing is scheduled for 8 June 2006 at Whitehaven Magistrates Court, Cumbria.
