UK IN DOCK OVER PLANT

[Talon]

UK IN DOCK OVER PLANT

The European Commission has taken Britain to court over safety at the Sellafield nuclear plant.

The EU's executive has issued an unprecedented lawsuit aiming to set clear, common standards.

It has gone to the European Court of Justice in an attempt to make sure inspectors will have proper access to the plant in northern England.

Officials want to check if waste is being properly handled and stored.

The move follows the expansion of the EU from 15 to 25 members.

Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio said it would be unfair that the 10 new members, mainly from the former Soviet bloc, would have to meet different standards than other EU nations.

Ms de Palacio complained Britain had failed to heed her calls for more than four years to improve access and information about irradiated fuel stored in a "pond" at Sellafield.

That left the EU with no option but to sue, she said.

It is the first time the commission has taken a member state to court over a nuclear safety issue.

The B-30 pond in Sellafield has been controversial since 1986, when EU inspectors started complaining of insufficient access.

It is thought to have a radioactive sludge at the bottom, which makes an accurate assessment of the site difficult.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13212563,00.html

Good for the EU, if Westminster wont clean up after itself, Brussels should force them too