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of these substances, which can be dangerous to persons working
within the sewers, injurious to the fabric of the sewers and detrimental to the treatment of sewage, were due to the improper use
of manufacturing plant and lack of proper cleansing and maintenance of the factory drainage systems. The firms concerned
were notified and appropriate measures taken.
Radioactive Substances Act, I960.—Circular No. 3/63 received
from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, fixed the
appointed day for the purposes of the above Act as 1st December,
1963.
The Act is concerned with the control of the accumulation
and disposal of radioactive wastes and, as from 1st December, 1963,
persons keeping or using radioactive material will, unless exempted,
be required to register with the Minister and obtain authorisation
from him for the accumulation or disposal of radioactive waste.
The circular draws the attention of local authorities to certain
provisions of the Act, under which, for the purposes of general
public health legislation specified in the Act and any local enactment containing powers for the control of nuisances, pollution and
discharge of wastes, no account shall be taken of any radioactivity
possessed by any article, substance or by any part of any premises.
The Act does not remove from local authorities any existing
rights or powers to restrain, or take proceedings in respect of,
radioactive waste disposals for reasons connected with properties
other than radioactivity (e.g., chemical toxicity).
Under the provisions of the Act, local authorities must be
consulted before authorisations for the disposal of radioactive
waste are granted in respect of major nuclear establishments, or
where the disposal is likely to involve the need for special precautions to be taken. Where a local authority institutes special
precautions in connection with the disposal of radioactive waste,
it may recover the costs from the person to whom the authorisation
was granted.
The circular points out that the policy of the Government
concerning radioactive waste disposal contemplates the use, in
suitable cases, of local conventional methods, e.g., discharge into
sewers or disposal on refuse tips. The Act places a duty on local
authorities to accept and deal with radioactive waste sent to their
refuse tip under an authorisation from the Minister.
Crown establishments are, in general, exempt from the provisions of the Act.
So far, the Minister has forwarded copy of one certificate of