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MINUTES OF THE SOUTHERN ENGLAND RADIATION MONITORING GROUP MEETING HELD ON THE 1 MAY 2001 |
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Chairman lan Higgins, Portsmouth City Council Present
Alan Higgins, Portsmouth City Council John Carter, West Wiltshire DC Kate Bishop, West Wiltshire DC Dr Ian Croudace, University of Southampton Wink Janes, University of Southampton
John Leach, Exeter City Council; Monica Wilsch, Slough Borough Council The Minutes were agreed. Alan noted that he had received no comments on the Radon document that he had circulated. He was still keen to hear from authorities on this issue, particularly those in the South West. Wink reported that the Annual Report was ready for distribution; 2 copies to be sent to all Heads of Department. The new sampling programme based on the old format was ready for distribution to Quality Managers. Wink noted that there was some targeting of nuclear installations for background transuranics but some authorities were not eager to participate in case they upset other government monitoring bodies. It was noted that Chiltern do send extra samples due to the proximity of Nichomed Amersham Plc. Wink noted that the ability to deal with Radon in water and tritium could be an issue that we need to develop in respect of the programme. Monitoring of incinerators was another issue that Local Authorities may wish to pick up on and Wink would sent out a letter with the programme. No response as yet from the DETR but Alan would chase this up. A number of authorities had responded that they would be prepared to contribute towards the Quality Assurance programme and if the DETR response is in the negative then we would proceed on the basis that lack of response implies agreement. Many updates to the handbook will be ready be distribution by the end of the week 6 May, including the Emergency Response section. This would need to be completely overhauled and rewritten by the end of the year. New Cascade was not circulated with the last Minutes and no emergency test has been carried out. Immediately following the distribution of the updates to the manual there will be an emergency response drill which will also seek to test the University's capacity to deal with additional levels of samples during an emergency. New stations at Portsmouth, Slough, Hillingdon and Basingstoke to enable web access. The Argus source is still travelling around Local Authorities and this is a slow process due to staff changes. The software which was promised at the last meeting has been sent but as yet has not been linked up. A copy of the Annual Report has been forwarded to them. Alan noted that he had received very few responses from the mailing on best value and asked that at least members of the Steering Group reviewed the papers and responded to them. ACTION: All Ian noted that he had attended this and presented on radioactivity in the Solent. The following issues were identified as possible topics for an annual conference: Radon - speakers Alan Blythe, NRPB / BRE Incinerators - Alan Ashworth Argus New System Radioactive Contaminated Land - Safegrounds presenter or Alan Ashworth Non-Ionising Radiation - Richard Doll Mobile Phones on mobile phone transmitters Best Value - Alan Higgins The Annual Report was now available and would be circulated. Entrust - Alan would pursue this further to see if there was likely to be any funding. John Carter - John had been promoted and would no longer be attending and he introduced Kate Bishop who would be taking his place. John was thanked for his support to the group and everyone wished him well. 18 September 2001, 11am at Southampton University (please note this date replaces the 2 October date agreed at the meeting). NOTE TO STEERING GROUP MEMBERS Members of the Steering Group are asked to advise Lisa Slight at Portsmouth City Council on (023) 9283 4847 of their preferences as to venues as recent Steering Group meetings held at Southampton have been relatively poorly attended. |
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