Secret nuclear sites (From Penarth Times)

Secret nuclear sites

A HIGHLY sensitive list of possible nuclear waste dumping sites compiled in 1982 has been published for the first time - and it contained two sites in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Flatholm and St Athan were both considered to be potential sites for the waste, according to the list published by Nirex - the agency set up to research, develop, and operate radioactive waste disposal facilities on behalf of the nuclear power industry.

Nineteen sites in Wales were listed among the 537 locations in Britain that were identified as possible sites for disposing of the UK's radioactive waste.

The then top-secret list was published on June 10 after 15 years of secrecy, as a result of the Freedom of Information Act.

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth director for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: "It is an absolute disgrace that the location of these sites has been kept from the public for so long."

Barry and Vale member of Friends of the Earth, Max Wallace, of Penarth, said: "The waste would be put 1km down below the sea at Flat Holm - but they have decided not to put it there.

"The problem is that no-one knows if it is safe in the long term to put it in the land.

"The waste is classed as medium grade danger. Other ways to get rid of the waste include putting it in cans and vitrifying it, which means it is covered in glass.

"This is then buried somewhere. But at the moment the waste product is stored until somewhere is found to get rid of it."

And while the list is no longer being used as a guideline by NIREX, there is still the possibility of the sites being considered again in the future.

A spokesman for NIREX said: "The UK has not decided what long-term radioactive waste management strategy to implement.

"As part of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme, the Government's advisory committee will make a recommendation in July 2006 on which technical option (or options) should be taken forward.