Plans to dump Hinkley Point mud off south Wales criticised via BBC News

Plans to dredge 300,000 tonnes of mud from near a disused nuclear plant and dump it off Cardiff Bay have been criticised.

A marine pollution expert claims the mud from near Hinkley Point in Somerset could expose people to radioactivity.

EDF Energy, the company behind the plans, said the work was not harmful to humans or the environment.

The Welsh Government said all applications were considered in line with legal requirements.

[…]

He told BBC Wales low level waste from the nuclear plant had entered the site for more than 50 years and there was a lack of knowledge about the potential harm of moving the mud.

“Rather than being relatively stable at the Hinkley site it is being churned up and brought over here to be dumped,” he said.

“Radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants will inevitably enter inshore waters and coastal environments.

[…]

‘No threat’

NRW said protecting people and the environment was a “fundamental concern” and further sampling would be required before any sediment was disposed off the south Wales coast.

[…]

Environment Secretary Lesley Griffiths said she was unable to comment on a process that had been carried out “some time ago”, but added: “All marine applications are considered in line with legal requirements.

“I understand a valid marine licence is in place and there are conditions that need to be complied with by the licence holder before any disposal can take place.”

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