Potentially contaminated RAF Sites in Scotland.

The Secret Scotland web site provides a good indication of number of sites that the  MOD own or once owned in Scotland. 

Whilst there has been considerable publicity about radioactive contamination other contaminates that may be present include  chemical weapons, heavy metals, asbestos, organic solvents and  ordnance.  It is also notable that Gruinard island in Scotland was the site of a biological warfare test by British military scientists from Porton Down in 1942, during the Second World War. Starting in 1986 a determined effort was made to decontaminate the island.

I believe it 's the MODs social and legal responsibility to identify contamination including radioactivity and the consequent risks to man and the environment at these sites and proactively make this information available online.  In fact there is a stautory duty in the Environmental Infomation Regulations that requires authorities to :-

"(a)  progressively make the information available to the public by electronic means which are easily accessible; and

(b) take reasonable steps to organize the information relevant to its functions with a view to the active and systematic dissemination to the public of the information."

The list below taken from the "Secret Scotland" website lists some of the RAF stations in Scotland.  The list provides a good indication of the scale of the defence estate past and present.

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RAF 13 Group Stations

RAF Airfields Clyde

RAF Alness

RAF Annan

RAF Ayr

RAF Balado Bridge

RAF Banff

RAF Benbecula

RAF Bishopbriggs

RAF Black Isle

RAF Brackla

RAF Buchan

RAF Castle Kennedy

RAF Connel

RAF Donibristle  (Dalgety Bay)

RAF Dornoch

RAF Drem

RAF Dumfries

RAF Dundonald

RAF Edzell

RAF Elgin

RAF Errol

RAF Findo Gask

RAF Fullarton

RAF Gailes

RAF Grangemouth

RAF Greenock

RAF Grimsetter

RAF Invergordon

RAF Kirknewton

RAF Kirkton

RAF Kirkwall

RAF Leuchars

RAF Lossiemouth

RAF Machrihanish

RAF Macmerry

RAF Milltown

RAF Montrose

RAF Oban

RAF Peterhead

RAF Pitreavie

RAF Prestwick

RAF Skeabrae

RAF Tain

RAF Tealing

RAF Tiree

RAF Turnberry

RAF Turnhouse

RAF West Freugh

RAF Wick

RAF Wigtown

Radium contamination at RAF Kinloss

The recent  BBC report on radium contamination at RAF Kinloss was supported in part by research from Milcon Research and Consulting

In the report the MOD says "The MoD is committed to assessing land quality across the entire defence estate" this does nothing to address the issue of land that is no longer in MOD ownership. eg Dalgety Bay etc.

MOD is also quoted in the report as saying “This robust, proactive programme mirrors industry best practice,” whilst MOD is a member of Safegrounds  which promotes “Good practice guidance for the management of contaminated land on nuclear and defence sites”.  

I believe that MODs’ compliance with Safe Grounds “best practice” should be subject to independent audit and verification.

Dalgety Bay on-shore Radium Contamination

Recent press reports about Dalgety bay featuring interviews with Gordon Brown speaking about the ”new” discovery of particles of radioactive onshore at Crowhill wood should not ellicit any surprise, it appears that Gordon Brown is playing  catch-up. 


Links to recent press reports

• Courier
• STV including video
• Fife Today
• Link to a 2008 press report  before the Enviros report was published 

It’s clear from a report that MOD commissioned Enviros to produce in 2009 that the possibility of onshore contamination was an issue. The report  describes on-shore contamination including investigations of domestic properties and gardens built over the former RNAS/RAF Donibristle salvage area in the 1960s.  This and associated reports were released by Defence Estates in response to a FOI request made 2010.


Extract from the Enviros report describing areas surveyed inshore from the beach


Link to full report


“Investigation Works Undertaken


8.  As a result of the data from the first Phase Two LQA and in particular the findings relating to Property D in Zone 2A, a further phase of investigations were undertaken. The site works involved both radiological walkover surveys and intrusive investigation, the areas investigated are summarised below (Zone designation used in original Phase Two LQA are shown in brackets):

• Dalgety Bay Sailing Club Boat Park (Zone 1): Radiological walkover survey of northern area where access was previously not possible;
• Property A in Zone 2A and Properties H & I in Zone 4B: Radiological walkover survey and random soil sampling from two properties in Zone 4B.
• Radiological walkover survey and random soil sampling from one property in Zone 2A which had not allowed access during the original Phase Two LQA.
• Former Salvage Section (Zone 2A): 1m by 1m gridded radiological walkover surveys and soil sampling in the garden areas of six properties. Where radium-226 and elevated count rates were identified removal of disseminated contamination and point sources was undertaken where possible.
• Internal Monitoring: Count and dose rate surveys covering accessible areas of the ground floor of six properties on the former Salvage Section and the sailing club house. A similar property outside the impacted area was also surveyed to provide a typical background for the developments which could be used as a comparison.”

Link to full report


Reference: 


DALGETY BAY LAND QUALITY ASSESSMENT PHASE 2B: INTRUSIVE INVESTIGATION AND INTERVENTION LAND QUALITY ASSESSMENT REPORT – FINAL V1 DEFENCE ESTATES, PROJECT NO: 12920, TECHNICAL REPORT, November 2009, by Enviros Consulting.