Beaches monitoring
Subject to access, the Dounreay foreshore and the beaches used by the public at Sandside, Thurso, Scrabster, Crosskirk, Brims Ness, Melvich and Dunnet are monitored as required by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). If a particle is found, SEPA is informed and it is removed and taken to Dounreay for analysis.
The site maintains regular monitoring of the beaches surrounding Dounreay to detect particles according to criteria set by SEPA. The larger beaches obviously require more monitoring effort as tides and the amount of daylight available need to be taken into account before the vehicle is deployed. The current system in use for monitoring on land is Nukem's Groundhog Evolution. To put this into perspective:
Monitoring of Dunnet beach, with a total area of about 1,000,000 square metres of sand, to a depth of 10cm is equivalent to 12,500 average sized dump truck loads or approximately 50 average sized shipping carriers of sand.
Particles have been found on three local beaches used by the public – Sandside, and single finds (both in the minor category) at Dunnet (2005) and Murkle beach (2006).
All particles found on publicly accessible beaches have been below the level of radioactivity which independent experts say would result in long term harm to an individual in the unlikely event a member of the public came into contact with them. These beaches all remain open to the public.
Sandside Beach is normally monitored over a period of about 12 days each month using a combination of vehicle-mounted and hand-held detection systems. In addition, the strandline (the mark of the most recent high tide) is monitored regularly.
Frequencies: To see the frequency of monitoring click here.
Beach monitoring reports: Annual reports on beach monitoring have helped to build the understanding of this issue. Since monitoring began extensive data has been collected and as part of that annual beach monitoring reports are produced. If you wish to see the annual reports click here.
Beach Monitoring Steering Group: A committee consisting of site and external members to primarily explore whether systems for beach monitoring could be assembled or developed which improve on those currently available. In this section you will find the terms of reference and minutes of meetings along with information relating to tests carried out in 2005 of a variety of systems. To see the minutes of the steering group click here.
Technology Improvements: Technology continuously improves and the monitoring equipment deployed has shown a progressive improvement in detection of particles. Independent beach trials on the improved groundhog system were undertaken by The Committee for Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) in 2006 and 2007. Both sets of trials showed improvements. For more information click here.
# not between May - August due to nesting birds
* not a statutory requirement
Beach monitoring annual reports:
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
Further information on monitoring:
Enhanced Monitoring of Low Water Areas at Sandside Beach
Summary of survey of Dunnet beach, 2005
Summary of Sandside Dunes, Oct 2000
Summary of Sandside Dunes, Oct 2000 appendices
Dounreay castle foreshore particle find investigation report, Jan 01
Beach Monitoring Steering Group
The Beach Monitoring Steering Group is a committee consisting of site and external members to primarily explore whether systems for beach monitoring could be assembled or developed which improve on those currently available.
Trials in 2005, undertaken by the Steering group, looked at six different systems for detecting particles on a simulated beach environment.
Terms of reference for the Beach Monitoring Steering Group
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from meeting – January 2006
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from meeting – December 2005
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – July 2005
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – March 2005
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – December 2004
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – March 2004
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – November 2003
Beach Monitoring Steering Group – Minutes from Meeting – October 2003
COMARE FIELD TRIALS ON MONITORING SYSTEM
COMARE (Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment) have concluded their evaluation of the effectiveness of past and present systems used to monitor Sandside and other local beaches for radioactive particles and have reported that the monitoring vehicles demonstrated the capability of detecting larger particles to at least a 20 cm depth.
The trials on the effectiveness of the current system, Groundhog Evolution, and its predecessor, Groundhog Mk 1, which is no longer in service, were tested in the spring of 2006 using radioactive sources deliberately buried on Sandside beach with the permission of the landowner. An area of 15000 m2 was surveyed and confirmed to be clear of detectable particles prior to placement of the test sources.
The tests involved checking that the equipment could detect the caesium 137 and cobalt 60 signals associated with different activities of particles. The trials were carried out between 8-10 April on the recommendation of the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group and COMARE. SEPA officials were in attendance and confirmed that all sources were recovered.
Under the realistic test conditions at Sandside, Groundhog Evolution did meet (and even exceeded) the detection criteria, while its predecessor, Groundhog Mk 1, did not meet all the requirements all of the time. While Evolution can respond to cobalt 60 particles with the present equipment it did not always find the buried cobalt 60 test source. Improvements in detection are underway for the next generation detector system.
Phil Cartwright, Particles Project Manager said “UKAEA has been working with COMARE on this and we are pleased with the report today. We have spent close to £10M on research and development of the particle issue, including the current on and off-shore monitoring programme and we are striving to get in place the best possible technology for particle detection in this coastal environment. The issue of cobalt 60 particles is being actively addressed and tests are already in hand to improve the Evolution system which will improve the sensitivity to monitor for cobalt 60. Since monitoring began, we have continuously looked at ways of improving the system in place and will continue to do so working closely with our regulators and other agencies to ensure the most suitable technology is utilised.”
Simon Middlemas, Acting Dounreay Director said “In April this year we carried out a massive re-organisation of the site and a new team to work on the particles was established. This team is carrying forward the work already established and has brought some fresh thinking to the issue. The data collected from trials such as this will all help to shape the big picture to allow us to consult fully with all stakeholders early in 2007. Our aim is to arrive at the best practical environmental option to deal with this in the long term which is also publicly acceptable.”
COMARE’s report can be found here. Full report.
Particles clean-up project manager Phil Cartwright and the Groundhog monitoring vehicle
Monitoring of beaches will continue during the clean-up, subject to access
Monitoring a local beach for particles
