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Official documents have revealed that radioactive water leaked into Loch Long, Argyll and Bute from a Royal Navy nuclear weapons base due to repeated bursts in old pipes, as reported by The Guardian and The Ferret. The files, which were accessed after a lengthy battle, showed that the material was released into the environment over a period of six years. Despite this, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) stated that the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was not a cause for regulatory concern. Similarly, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) maintained that no unsafe releases of radioactive material occurred.
An investigation into the incident uncovered that the navy had neglected to properly maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes at the Coulport armaments depot, where the Royal Navy’s nuclear warheads for Trident submarines are stored. Issues stemming from a pipe burst in 2010 persisted due to maintenance shortfalls. One such incident in August 2019 led to the unnecessary release of low levels of tritium, a component used in nuclear warheads. The files made public by Scottish information commissioner David Hamilton also highlighted the UK government’s insistence on keeping the information confidential, citing national security concerns.
Sepa emphasized its commitment to ensuring that HMNB Clyde operated in compliance with environmental regulations to safeguard both the environment and the public. The agency noted that regular monitoring data and assessments are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. They assured that the risk from effluent discharges was negligible and highlighted an ongoing replacement program for components at the naval base sites. The MoD echoed the sentiment, emphasizing their dedication to handling radioactive substances safely and securely without any detrimental impact on the environment or public health. They endorsed an open reporting culture and maintained frequent engagement with regulatory bodies
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