Timeline
- 1958 Nuclear fuel reprocessing starts at Dounreay
- 1959 Shaft authorised for disposal of waste
- 1963 Documented evidence of swarf release to drain after pond clean-out.
- 1964 Milling of MTR fuel transferred from D1204 pond to DMTR pond
- 1964 Swarf detected in leak from low-active drain
- 1965 Pipe fracture allows pond water to enter storm drain
- 1969 Milling of MTR fuel transferred to D1204 pond
- 1969 Reprocessing of DFR fuel starts in leach dissolver – periodic fires until 1979
- 1969 Routine swarf disposals cease – swarf to be sent to dissolver. Evidence of particle deposition in verges along transport route
- 1971 Wet silo used for storage of waste
- 1972 Fire in leach dissolver results in large gaseous release.
- 1973 Milling of MTR fuel replaced by crushing and cropping technique
- 1977 Explosion in waste shaft
- 1979 Pumping pressure increased in discharge lines to improve effluent discharge rates
- 1979 Possible particle find on Dounreay foreshore
- 1980 Divers clear risers using water-jetting
- 1981 Dye test confirms failures in discharge system
- 1981 New low-active drain installed at site
- 1982 Possible particle find on Dounreay foreshore
- 1983 High-pressure jetting of discharge lines to clear sand blockage off risers on seabed
- 1983 First recorded particle finds on Dounreay foreshore
- 1984 First particle detected on Sandside Beach
- Filtration installed on discharges to low-active drain at Dounreay
- 1988 Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment publishes Second Report on incidence of leukaemia in young people in vicinity of Dounreay
- 1992 New discharge lines and diffuser are installed
- 1995 Joint report on potential health effects and possible sources of particles published by COMARE and Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
- 1995 Particles detected within road verges during site survey
- 1996 Nuclear fuel reprocessing ceases at Dounreay
- 1996 Dounreay foreshore excavated.
- 1997 Old discharge lines taken out of service
- 1997 Particles found at Sandside
- 1997 Particles detected on seabed during first diver survey
- 1997 Fisheries prohibition zone established within 2km radius of old diffuser
- 1998 Scottish Environment Protection Agency publishes report on particles
- 1999 Vehicle-mounted beach monitoring system introduced
- 1999 COMARE publishes Sixth Report on particles
- 2000 Dounreay Particles Advisory Group formed
- 2001 DPAG publishes First Interim Report
- 2002 Vehicle-mounted beach monitoring system modernised
- 2002 Owners of Sandside Estate start civil action against UKAEA under Nuclear Installations Act and Human Rights Act
- 2002 External consultation steering group established
- 2003 DPAG publishes Second Interim Report
- 2004 COMARE statement on particles
- 2005 Additional filtration installed on effluent discharge system
- 2005 Particle found at Dunnet beach
- 2006 Site operator fined £140,000 at Wick Sheriff Court for unauthorised disposals of radioactive waste prior to 1984
- 2006 Public consultation begins on options for management of particle problem
- 2007 Particle found at Murkle beach
- 2007 Third Report published by Dounreay Particles Advisory Group
- 2007 Offshore trials of remotely-operated particle detection and recovery vehicle
- 2008 Public consultation closes
- 2008 Site operator publishes Best Practicable Environmental Option report setting out clean-up plans
- 2008 Seabed clean-up begins
For a full account of the history of particles, see the Third Report of DPAG.
Installing the reactor vessel in the Dounreay Materials Test Reactor during the 1950s
The moment DMTR was shut down in 1969
Monitoring a local beach for particles
A small particle recovered from a local beach during monitoring
