Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Emergency teams at Torness as nuclear fear sparks alert
Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Emergency teams at Torness as nuclear fear sparks alert: "Emergency teams at Torness as nuclear fear sparks alert
ALAN MCEWEN
A FULL-SCALE alert was sparked at Torness power station last night after staff became worried about the "anomalous behaviour" of nuclear materials.
Fire crews from six stations wearing specialist equipment raced to the site after the alarm was raised at 9pm.
Workers disposing of spent fuel in the ponds at the plant said they had become aware of "anomalous behaviour" of irradiated substances.
It remains unclear the nature of the reaction that caused concern, but there was no radioactivity released.
An investigation was underway today to determine the cause of the incident.
The plant, near Dunbar in East Lothian, continued to operate during the alert. There were 38 staff on site when it happened, but all of them were accounted for and continued to work.
British Energy, which operates the plant, said that the emergency services were called in as a precaution, but there was no major panic.
A spokesman 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."
He said he could not elaborate on the behaviour of the fuel that was causing them concern.
Nine fire appliances from Dunbar, East Linton, Eyemouth, McDonald Road, Liberton and Marionville all attended the scene.
A fire brigade spokeswoman said: "We were called as a precautionary measure and the crews were stood down at the station's gatehouse. None of the fire appliances were utilised."
Chris Ballance, Green MSP for South Scotland, called for the probe into the scare to be done openly.
He said: "I am very much relieved that the incident is not a threat to people or the environment.
"But I will be pressing for the results of an investigation to be made fully open to the public, and not having to be extracted through Freedom of Information requests as we had to do recently over another incident at the plant," he added.
He said the alert was a reminder of the risks associated with nuclear technology.
The power station is located on the East Lothian coast, five miles south east of Dunbar, close to the main A1 road between Edinburgh and Newcastle.
It emerged earlier this month that its lifespan was to be extended by decades. It had been expected to close in 2023, but British Energy said that updating vital equipment could extend its operating life.
News of the extension follows the Government's announcement of a fresh review of how the UK's ageing nuclear power stations can be replaced.
Environmentalists believe that the review will give the green light to build a new generation of nuclear power stations, with site next to Torness among the areas being touted.
British Energy, which has a �2 billion annual turnover, generates approximately 55 per cent of Scotland's electricity from the Hunterston 'B' nuclear power station in North Ayrshire and Torness itself.
Torness was opened in 1988 and employs about 475 people, generating approximately �25 million into the local economy.
Last year, top Edinburgh architect Malcolm Fraser put the Torness complex - which can also be seen from the east coast railway line - forward for listed building status from Historic Scotland.
"
ALAN MCEWEN
A FULL-SCALE alert was sparked at Torness power station last night after staff became worried about the "anomalous behaviour" of nuclear materials.
Fire crews from six stations wearing specialist equipment raced to the site after the alarm was raised at 9pm.
Workers disposing of spent fuel in the ponds at the plant said they had become aware of "anomalous behaviour" of irradiated substances.
It remains unclear the nature of the reaction that caused concern, but there was no radioactivity released.
An investigation was underway today to determine the cause of the incident.
The plant, near Dunbar in East Lothian, continued to operate during the alert. There were 38 staff on site when it happened, but all of them were accounted for and continued to work.
British Energy, which operates the plant, said that the emergency services were called in as a precaution, but there was no major panic.
A spokesman 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."
He said he could not elaborate on the behaviour of the fuel that was causing them concern.
Nine fire appliances from Dunbar, East Linton, Eyemouth, McDonald Road, Liberton and Marionville all attended the scene.
A fire brigade spokeswoman said: "We were called as a precautionary measure and the crews were stood down at the station's gatehouse. None of the fire appliances were utilised."
Chris Ballance, Green MSP for South Scotland, called for the probe into the scare to be done openly.
He said: "I am very much relieved that the incident is not a threat to people or the environment.
"But I will be pressing for the results of an investigation to be made fully open to the public, and not having to be extracted through Freedom of Information requests as we had to do recently over another incident at the plant," he added.
He said the alert was a reminder of the risks associated with nuclear technology.
The power station is located on the East Lothian coast, five miles south east of Dunbar, close to the main A1 road between Edinburgh and Newcastle.
It emerged earlier this month that its lifespan was to be extended by decades. It had been expected to close in 2023, but British Energy said that updating vital equipment could extend its operating life.
News of the extension follows the Government's announcement of a fresh review of how the UK's ageing nuclear power stations can be replaced.
Environmentalists believe that the review will give the green light to build a new generation of nuclear power stations, with site next to Torness among the areas being touted.
British Energy, which has a �2 billion annual turnover, generates approximately 55 per cent of Scotland's electricity from the Hunterston 'B' nuclear power station in North Ayrshire and Torness itself.
Torness was opened in 1988 and employs about 475 people, generating approximately �25 million into the local economy.
Last year, top Edinburgh architect Malcolm Fraser put the Torness complex - which can also be seen from the east coast railway line - forward for listed building status from Historic Scotland.
"
posted by Greta Jane at Friday, December 23, 2005
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