(Scotland) Nuke Plant Breached Safety Regulations

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3032209,00.html



LONDON (AP) - A court ruled Friday that the
operators of a nuclear plant in Scotland breached
safety regulations after specks of radioactive fuel
were found on a nearby beach.

Local businessman Geoffrey Minter brought the
case against the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority,
which runs the Dounreay plant in Caithness,
northern Scotland, after the particles were found
on his land.

The particles - specks of irradiated fuel, each
about the size of a grain of sand - were found
during sweeps of Sandside Beach that have been
conducted by Scotland's environmental watchdog
since 1997. Up to now, 38 particles have been
found.

The judge, Lady Paton, ruled that the Atomic
Energy Authority had failed in its duty under the
1965 Nuclear Installations Act. That legislation
requires the authority to prevent damage or injury
to the property of others.