The Environment Agency has today revealed the findings of an investigation into claims by Green Audit that soil at the Hinkley Point Power Station site is contaminated with 10 tonnes of enriched uranium.
The agency says the findings clearly show no enriched uranium is present at the proposed site for Hinkley Point C, near Bridgwater, Somerset.
The Environment Agency undertook soil sampling to provide reliable scientific information about whether or not uranium contamination is present on the proposed site following claims made by research group Green Audit at a public hearing earlier this year.
Samples were taken on the proposed site and at three farms, several kilometres away. These were analysed using mass spectrometry - an analytical method capable of accurately measuring the "isotopes" present in the soil.
“The results of our sampling show that no enriched uranium is present. Uranium is present naturally in small quantities in all rocks and soils. The levels of uranium found in the soil samples taken both on and off the site are low, and at naturally occurring levels,” said David Bennett for the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency asked consultants Nuvia to carry out the sampling of surface soils and GeoSciences Advisory Unit at Southampton University carried out the analysis. The samples were analysed by high resolution ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry).
The samples were taken from eleven locations on the area of the proposed Hinkley Point C site and three locations on each of three farms several km away from the site, to provide an indication of background.
Post a comment