SANE demands an Inquiry
Sheppardine Against Nuclear Power have written to the DECC demanding an Inquiry on the following terms:
* We ask the Secretary of State to hold an inquiry on the draft Justification decision afterthe consultation process closes butbeforehe makes a final decision.
* We believe an inquiry is essential because there has not been open scrutiny of the draft Justification decision. The draft Nuclear National Policy Statement is being examined by the Energy and Climate Change Committee. Any decision made following consultation on the draft Justification decision will not be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.
* There is no opportunity to test the assertions upon which the evidence in the draft Justification decision is based. In light of this, Article 6 (7) of the Convention allows for a public hearing ‘where appropriate’.
* Once Justification has been finalised the higher level questions concerning the benefits and disbenefits of nuclear energy will not be capable of reconsideration - particularly the health impact.
* We have concerns because the draft Justification decision and accompanying documents do not fully inform the public or concerned stakeholders of the full impacts of nuclear power - particularly on health.
* An inquiry would improve the quality of decision making by allowing for cross examination of evidence on the potential health impacts of routine operations, accidents or terrorist attacks on reactors, spent fuel stores and examine waste disposal.
* An inquiry should not only look at the potential detriments/benefits of new build programme but should also allow for discussion of non-nuclear options e.g. renewables.
* Only one meeting on this has been held on the draft Justification decision over the whole consultation period - in London. Local communities - those most at risk of health impacts - have not had the same opportunities to discuss this matter as they have with the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement.
* In their meetings around the country on the nuclear national policy statement, DECC has (to date) not discussed the draft Justification decision or explained what its impact would be.
* It is too much to ask people fully comment on the thousands of pages on the Nuclear National Policy Statement (and make submissions to the Energy and Climate Change Committee) and at the same time expect them to be able to respond properly to the very lengthy draft Justification decision. An inquiry would provide some remedy for this.
* Many local authorities - who will have to oversee emergency planning in the event of an accident at a nuclear plant - are also unaware or unable to respond to the draft Justification decision because of the scale of work required for the six energy related national policy statements.
regards