Madam, - The British Ambassador's article on Sellafield (Opinion, May 22nd) is a good example of how attention may be diverted from the most important aspects of Sellafield into discussions about the state of the Irish Sea.
This allows British Nuclear Fuels and its state owner to cite the scientific consensus in Britain and Ireland. They point out, quite reasonably, that most scientists are not unduly worried about current levels of radioactivity in the Irish Sea.
Discharges from Sellafield have, indeed, been significantly reduced over the years, even if there are again what Mr Eldon describes as "short-term increases". The Irish and Norwegian governments, in particular, are worried about the nature of some of these "short-term" deliberate discharges.
However, as I explain in my recent book Fearing Sellafield (Gill & Macmillan, €12.99), the state of the Irish Sea is now something of a diversion because the greatest danger from Sellafield stems from the fact that it has become an unplanned nuclear dump.
BNFL and the UK government have failed to transform highly dangerous radioactive liquids into solid and safer forms and to return these to foreign customers or dispose of them in a safe underground repository.
The consequences of these wastes escaping does not bear thinking about and the security precautions relating to their continued existence are mysterious. I was surprised during my research to find on the Internet an aerial photograph of Sellafield with some of the most sensitive facilities clearly labelled.
One may be either for or against nuclear energy but still want Sellafield closed. It is a reprocessing plant and a nuclear dump, not a power station.
Reprocessing is not necessary and is less environmentally efficient than some believe. Current legal actions by the Irish Government, which I describe in my book, may also lead eventually to the discovery of information suggesting that the real cost of reprocessing for the British taxpayer is far greater than is officially admitted.
As regards the nuclear dump at Sellafield, it is essential that the British move urgently to create a long-term repository similar to that which the US government now plans for Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Radioactive waste will not go away and the only alternative to such a planned dump is a continuation of the present undesirable arrangements at Sellafield and elsewhere. - Yours,etc.,
COLUM KENNY,
School of Communications,
Dublin City University,
Dublin 9.