Vol. 473 No. 4
581 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has received commitments regarding the proper abatement of the radioactive gas Krypton 85 which is to be released in large quantities by THORP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1146/97]
Spent nuclear fuel reprocessing results in the discharge to the environment of all the Krypton-85 in that spent nuclear fuel. Therefore, all Krypton-85 which is contained in fuel reprocessed at the magnox and THORP reprocessing plants at Sellafield is released in gaseous discharges to the environment. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is not aware of any plans by BNFL to limit the discharges of Krypton-85 through the introduction of abatement technologies.
The RPII's atmospheric monitoring programme has, since 1993, included the measurement of Krypton-85 gas at Clonskeagh in Dublin. While the concentrations revealed in Dublin are broadly consistent with those expected at temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere, any emissions from Sellafield are unacceptable.
I might add that during the 1993 public consultation process relating to the THORP reprocessing plant, the Irish Government in the course of two submissions to the UK authorities stated that THORP should not be allowed to proceed without Krypton-85 gas removal technology being in place.
