Press Releases & Updates 2000

The decision being challenged through judicial review is that of the Environment Agency (EA) to grant authorisations for radioactive discharges to the Atomic Weapons Establishments (AWE) sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield near Reading in Berkshire.

The decision, which took effect on 1st April 2000, enables the troubled consortium of BNFL, Lockheed Martin and Serco to operate the site. Warhead production, decommissioning and the build up of historic wastes result in radioactive discharges into the air, the local sewage works, to natural watercourses and to the River Thames via the eighteen kilometre Pangbourne pipeline.

"According to the Environment Agency’s decision document, 45% of alpha discharges to air from AWE at Aldermaston are caused by the continuing production of Trident. It is time to concentrate on cleaning up this site. We need the Government to publish a timetable for zero discharges" said Pam Vassie today for NAG.

Pam Vassie asked:

"Why has a proper justification not been provided for radioactive discharges from Aldermaston and Burghfield? Why did the Environment Agency not carry out a proper justification exercise?"

There is enormous public interest in this decision given that the sites are used for the research, design, development, manufacturing and servicing of Trident warheads. Although the EA believed that radioactive discharges present a negligible risk to health, the public is concerned that past, present and future discharges from AWE accumulate. They contaminate the environment and pose a long-term threat to public health.

"The United Nations International Court of Justice declared in 1996 that nuclear weapons were subject to the ordinary rules of humanitarian law which forbid indiscriminate attacks on civilians. It is scarcely imaginable that Trident, with its 100 kiloton warhead, eight times the yield of the Hiroshima bomb, could make this distinction. The continuing production of nuclear warheads at AWE Aldermaston cannot be justified." said Emanuela Marchiori, peace campaigner.

Phil Shiner, the lawyer acting in this case said today:

"This is a judicial endorsement that we have an arguable case. This case challenges the Government’s continued manufacture of Trident warheads and raises very important public interest points. We say that the EA had to satisfy itself that the project was justified in terms of the benefits to the public, and that it would have made a difference if it had done so properly. We also say that the EA had to consider an International Court of Justice opinion that a nuclear warhead, such as Trident, will be contrary to international law if it is not capable if discriminating between military and civilian targets".

For more information contact:

Phil Shiner, Solicitor, Public Interest Lawyers: 0121 777 5187, 07715 485248 (mobile)

Di McDonald, Nuclear Awareness Group: 02380 554434, 07880 557035 (mobile)

Emanuela Marchiori: 0118 967 1362

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