EC orders Sellafield to clean up its act

Britain was today ordered to clean up the Sellafield nuclear plant after the EC complained current conditions prevented its safety inspectors from carrying out proper checks.

“It is essential that these checks can be carried out,” said Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio in Brussels. “The situation has become untenable. It calls into question the credibility of our safeguards.”

The European Commission complained in particular that irradiated fuel is “stored in a pond” where it is impossible to accurately determine how much material is there.

“On-the-spot inspections cannot take place because of the high level of radiation and poor visibility in the part of the facility concerned,” the EC said in a statement.

The Commission complained that British Nuclear Fuels, which operates the plant in Cumbria, had failed to act on earlier warnings.

It added the company would face fines unless it submits plans by June 1 to ensure adequate accounting of the nuclear material and allows physical inspections.