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Nuclear Fire Hazard Kept Secret For Fear Of Aiding Terrorists (from Sunday Herald)

Nuclear fire hazard kept secret for fear of aiding terrorists
Hunterston operator promises plant improvements Sunday Herald 21 Sept 08 By Rob Edwards, Environment Editor

DETAILS OF a serious fire hazard at the Hunterston nuclear power station in North Ayrshire have been kept secret because they could aid a terrorist attack.

The government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has refused to release information about a “specific fire scenario” at the reactors because to do so could “threaten national security”.

The revelation has prompted calls from environmentalists for the plant to be shut down as soon as possible…………………………….

Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, accepted that if there was a real opportunity for terrorists, it was right to withhold information about it. “But the public would also be right to worry about why a facility with such a risk is allowed to continue operating,” he said.

“Given its poor reliability record in recent years, Hunterston is clearly approaching the end of its useful life, and this problem should be another nail in its coffin. There should be no question of considering extending its operating life beyond 2011. If anything, it should be closed sooner.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland backed the Scottish government’s decision to phase out nuclear power in favour of renewable energy.

“The likelihood of a terrorist incident at a UK nuclear facility is thankfully low, but the consequences are unthinkable,” warned McLaren.

Nuclear Fire Hazard Kept Secret For Fear Of Aiding Terrorists (from Sunday Herald)

Tags: nuclear, antinuclear, uranium, radioactive

September 22, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties