Dumping postponed of Hinkley's toxic mud

The dumping of radioactive mud a mile offshore from Penarth and Cardiff has been abruptly postponed – less than a week before the operation was due to begin .

Hinkley nuclear station builders had notified the start for this week 

Dumping would last 6 months, with some 300 000tonnes to disperse up and down the Estuary.  Penarth’s beach (lowest reaches) receives mud around low tide, so is the obvious first place for the mud to accumulate.  Both the Welsh Labour Government and Natural Resources Wales claim the mud is “safe” – that claim is hotly disputed by Friends of the Earth on the basis of data in NRW's own report (by CEFAS).  Toxic metals breach “Action Level 1” while gamma-radioactivity verges on the no-sea-dumping limit.

Tests of five deep mud samples are fewer than the international minimum.  The anti-dumping law (London Convention and Protocol) requires a specific assessment of the potential adverse impacts to the marine environment including effects upon human health and to marine flora and fauna. The normal Environmental Impact and Habitats Regs Assessments under UK law failed to cover the dumping in Welsh waters; NRW was wrong to suggest these covered our marine environment and asre breaching the anti-dumping law.

Campaigners challenge the Welsh Ministers’ failure to comply with the international agreements (OSPAR, London Convention) and to meet their Marine Act duties. We further challenge NRW for failing to comply with the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and a precautionary approach.

Sign the Petition  to Welsh Government:  Halt the dumping of Hinkley mud in the Severn Estuary