Effect on Biota of Radiactive Discharges in Irish Sea Case Study
Project: Effects of radioactive discharges on marine biota in the Irish Sea
Client: UK Government
The Challenge
During 2003, the Irish Government brought an action in respect of radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site against the UK Government in an International Tribunal established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In order to defend against the action, the UK Government needed an objective and scientifically robust assessment of the effects, if any, of past and future discharges from Sellafield on the marine biota in the Irish Sea.
The Solution
As a result of our close involvement with the developing science behind radiation effects on ecosystems, and also our considerable experience of modelling the marine dispersion of pollutants, we were able to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the impact of both past and expected future discharges on biota throughout the Irish Sea.
The assessment showed that neither past nor expected future discharges would be expected to cause any harm to the marine ecosystem of the Irish sea.
The assessment was incorporated into an independent expert report, which the client was able to submit to the International Tribunal as a part of their defence case in the action.
The Benefits
- Our well established expertise in this area enabled us to provide the client with a high quality assessment, and a detailed expert report, within a very tight time scale imposed by the legal timetable for the case hearing.
- Our client’s legal team was able to use the report as a significant part of their defence.
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