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December 24, 2005
Torness Alert
Emergency services were called to a nuclear power station in Scotland. The alarm was raised at the Torness plant yesterday, when staff disposing of spent fuel noticed "anomalous behaviour" of the irradiated substances. Police and Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade were called in.
A spokesman for British Energy, which operates the plant, said officials were monitoring the situation, but there was no major panic. He said: "Nobody has been evacuated and the plant is continuing to generate electricity. "The emergency services were called as is normal in this situation, but we will continue to monitor the fuel pond."
Willie Waddle, director of the East Lothian plant, said debris prevented a spent fuel element being properly located in position. British Energy, which operates the plant, said that the emergency services were called in as a precaution, because one possible explanation for the problem was that the fuel element was broken and therefore leaking radiation. But the problem was caused by debris which had made its way into the fuel handling area and prevented the element from fitting properly into its container.
"It shouldn't be there, we are surmising the debris will be graphite sleeves from elements, it will be slightly radioactive as it surrounds the fuel element, but there is no risk to anybody on or off the power station."
Mr Waddle said the investigation to find out how the debris appeared in the container could take a number of days.
Posted by peter at December 24, 2005 04:14 PM