Meetings
Debate on NNDM6813 - Disposal of dredged materials from the Bristol Channel
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Meeting: 10/10/2018 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 10)
Debate on NDM6813 - Disposal of dredged materials from the Bristol Channel
To propose that the
National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the
widespread public concerns in relation to the disposal of dredged materials
from the Bristol Channel to locations off the coast of south Wales, relating to
the construction of a new power station at Hinkley.
2. Calls upon the
Welsh Government to:
a) publish more
detailed evidence in response to concerns regarding risks to public health and
the environment, including allowing for further testing in order to provide
greater transparency; and
b) instruct Natural
Resources Wales to suspend the marine licence that enables the disposal
activity and undertake a wide-ranging programme of engagement and consultation
with local communities and stakeholders across south Wales.
The following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment 1 - Julie James
(Swansea West)
Delete all after point 1 and replace with:
2. Notes:
a)
under the terms of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution
by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the London Convention, 1972), to which
the UK is a signatory, only materials with de minimis levels of radioactivity
may be considered for disposal to sea;
b)
the conservative generic radiological assessment, developed by the
International Atomic Energy Agency, is the internationally agreed method for
testing for de minimis levels of radioactivity and this method was used in the
determination of the Hinkley marine licence;
c)
the evidence within the National Assembly Petitions Committee report
that Natural Resources Wales made its marine licence determination based on
expert advice, in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency
procedures for radiological assessments;
d)
all tests and assessments concluded the sediment to be disposed of is
within safe limits, poses no radiological risk to human health or the
environment, and is safe and suitable to be disposed of at sea.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to
instruct Natural Resources Wales to carry out further public engagement to
explain the process and evidence to reassure the public.
[If amendment 1 is agreed,
amendment 2 will be de-selected]
Amendment 2 - Neil McEvoy (South
Wales Central)
In point 2, add as new sub-points:
take into account the information provided
by Emeritus Professor Keith Barnham regarding cooling pond accidents at Hinkley
Point A in the 1960s; and
instruct Natural Resources Wales to carry
out a full environmental impact assessment on the effect on the Welsh coast,
the coastal population and Welsh marine environment of the dumping of sediment
from Hinkley in the Cardiff Grounds.
Professor Keith Barnham, 'New evidence of
the need to test Hinkley Point sediments for Uranium and Plutonium' - copy
placed in the Members' Library.
Minutes:
The item started at
16.42
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM6813
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the widespread public concerns in relation to the disposal of dredged
materials from the Bristol Channel to locations off the coast of south Wales,
relating to the construction of a new power station at Hinkley.
2.
Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a)
publish more detailed evidence in response to concerns regarding risks to
public health and the environment, including allowing for further testing in
order to provide greater transparency; and
b)
instruct Natural Resources Wales to suspend the marine licence that enables the
disposal activity and undertake a wide-ranging programme of engagement and
consultation with local communities and stakeholders across south Wales.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
22 |
0 |
26 |
48 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 - Julie
James (Swansea West)
Delete all after point 1 and replace with:
2. Notes:
a)
under the terms of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution
by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the London Convention, 1972), to which
the UK is a signatory, only materials with de minimis levels of radioactivity
may be considered for disposal to sea;
b)
the conservative generic radiological assessment, developed by the International
Atomic Energy Agency, is the internationally agreed method for testing for de
minimis levels of radioactivity and this method was used in the determination
of the Hinkley marine licence;
c)
the evidence within the National Assembly Petitions Committee report
that Natural Resources Wales made its marine licence determination based on
expert advice, in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency
procedures for radiological assessments;
d)
all tests and assessments concluded the sediment to be disposed of is
within safe limits, poses no radiological risk to human health or the
environment, and is safe and suitable to be disposed of at sea.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to
instruct Natural Resources Wales to carry out further public engagement to
explain the process and evidence to reassure the public.
A vote was taken on
amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
26 |
0 |
22 |
48 |
Amendment
1 was agreed.
As
amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM6813
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the widespread public concerns in relation to the disposal of dredged
materials from the Bristol Channel to locations off the coast of south Wales,
relating to the construction of a new power station at Hinkley.
2. Notes:
a) under the terms of the Convention on the
Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the
London Convention, 1972), to which the UK is a signatory, only materials with
de minimis levels of radioactivity may be considered for disposal to sea;
b) the conservative generic radiological
assessment, developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, is the
internationally agreed method for testing for de minimis levels of
radioactivity and this method was used in the determination of the Hinkley
marine licence;
c) the evidence within the National Assembly
Petitions Committee report that Natural Resources Wales made its marine licence
determination based on expert advice, in accordance with the International
Atomic Energy Agency procedures for radiological assessments;
d) all tests and assessments concluded the
sediment to be disposed of is within safe limits, poses no radiological risk to
human health or the environment, and is safe and suitable to be disposed of at
sea.
3. Calls on the
Welsh Government to instruct Natural Resources Wales to carry out further
public engagement to explain the process and evidence to reassure the public.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
38 |
0 |
10 |
48 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.