QinetiQ

2 November 2006-12-08

Petition against the disposal of radioactive wastes on Foulness Island

Thank you for your letter of 11 October in respect of the petition organised by James Duddridge MP about the disposal of radioactive waste on MoD land at Foulness.

QinetiQ holds a licence that authorises us to dispose of very low level radioactive wastes on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The Environment Agency held a public consultation this summer to renew the licence which would also as a consequence reduce the level of waste that could be handled and to allow the Atomic Weapons Establishment to deal directly with QinetiQ. This consultation resulted in local media interest, which in turn led to the petition, supported by the local MP, James Duddridge.

QinetiQ and its predecessor have previously safely carried out disposals of low levels of tritium warhead waste under this license between 1998 and 2003. The level of this radioactivity is less than one would pick up walking around a city centre.

In order to help improve communication with the local community and improve understanding about the proposals QinetiQ was pleased to participate in an open forum held at a local community centre on 20 September, in partnership with the MoD, Environment Agency and hosted by the local MP who had written signatories to the petition to invite them to attend.

The event was most beneficial in helping to raise awareness of the exact nature of the consultation and the related activities at Foulness Island. My colleagues who attended the meeting have informed me that overwhelming majority of the 65 local residents who attended the meeting went away reassured and content that the activities are safely conducted and do not pose a threat to human health.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of any further assistance.

Sir John Chisholm

Chairman