Firm fined over nuclear waste seepage
Magnox Electric Limited was convicted of breaking legislation governing the disposal of radioactive waste while operating the Bradwell power station near Maldon.
A judge also ordered the company to pay £150,000 costs following the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Magnox had denied allowing waste to seep out in breach of legislation but had admitted failing to maintain a sump at the power station.
Jurors were told that "radioactive water" had leaked from a decontamination unit at Bradwell between 1990 and 2004.
Judge Peter Fenn said Magnox had missed an opportunity to check a faulty sump at the unit and missed a warning signal.
But he accepted that the "environmental impact" had been "limited".
The court heard that Magnox had been fined £100,000 plus costs eight years ago after being convicted of failing to maintain equipment, breaching laws governing waste disposal and failing to inform industry watchdogs of an unlawful discharge at Bradwell and at the Hinkley Point power station near Bridgwater, Somerset.
Related News
Tories 'taking the heart out of Manitoba Hydro' by promoting subsidiaries, scrapping low-cost pledges: NDP
WINNIPEG - The board of Manitoba Hydro is being reminded it can divvy up some of the utility's work to subsidiaries — which the NDP is decrying as a step toward privatization.
A sentence seemingly granting the board permission to create subsidiaries was included in the board's new terms of reference, which the NDP raised during question period Wednesday.
The document also eliminated references asking Manitoba Hydro to keep electricity rates low and supply power in an environmentally-friendly fashion.
NDP raises spectre of Manitoba Hydro's privatization with new CEO
"They're essentially taking the heart out of Manitoba Hydro," NDP leader Wab Kinew said.
Cheap,…
