Beach monitoring

Particles discharged into the sea at Dounreay in the past are known to move around the seabed like grains of sand.

These grains of sand can migrate onto local beaches, so a number of beaches around Dounreay are monitored on a regular basis. This monitoring will continue during and after the clean-up of the seabed.

This section of the website provides information about each of these beaches, the monitoring programmes in place and what has been found to date.

It also provides information about the monitoring of land in and around the site.

When a particle is detected, it is retrieved and taken to Dounreay for analysis. The regulator and relevant land-owner are informed, and the find is reported publicly via this website.    (To view the lists of all finds)

Monitoring is regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It is specified in the formal Authorisation granted by SEPA to Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. DSRL adheres to the criteria. Additional, enhanced monitoring is carried out with the agreement of SEPA.

Monitoring of land owned by third parties is subject to agreements on access.

Monitoring is carried out by Nuvia Ltd under a contract with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. Nuvia uses the vehicle-mounted Groundhog Evolution system which can cover large areas of ground more effeiciently than surveyors on foot. Hand-held monitoring equipment is used in areas where vehicles cannot manoeuvre safely.

The programme agreed with SEPA sets out the areas to be covered and frequency. The precise dates for each beach survey vary according to tidal conditions and daylight, and can be interrupted by bad weather.

Particles have been detected on three beaches used by members of the public. All these particles have been below the level of radioactivity that independent experts say are a "significant" risk to health. See health effects.

In 2006, an independent assessment of the monitoring system was carried out by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment and the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group. The assessment can be viewed here.

Dowload a fact-sheet (2008) about beaches monitoring.

Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd publishes a regular summary report of monitoring activity.

Review of local beach monitoring – Jul to Dec 07
Review of local beach monitoring – Jan to Jun 07
Review of local beach monitoring – July to Dec 06
Review of local beach monitoring – July to Dec 05
Review of local beach monitoring – Jan to June 05
Review of local beach monitoring -  to Nov 04
Review of local beach monitoring -  to Nov 03
Review of local beach monitoring -  to Sept 02
Review of local beach monitoring -  to Sept 01

   

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Image: Particles clean-up project manager Phil Cartwright and the Groundhog monitoring vehicle

Particles clean-up project manager Phil Cartwright and the Groundhog monitoring vehicle

Image: Monitoring a local beach for particles

Monitoring a local beach for particles

Image: Monitoring of beaches will continue during the clean-up, subject to access

Monitoring of beaches will continue during the clean-up, subject to access