Sellafield Ltd is facing prosecution over a waste disposal incident, the Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation confirmed today.
The regulators said the joint action follows “an extensive investigation which has led to allegations that the company sent and disposed of four bags of low-level radioactive waste from its site in West Cumbria, to Lillyhall landfill site, in nearby Workington, Cumbria, in 2010”.
The company faces nine charges, to be heard before Workington Magistrates Court on 12 December 2012.
Eight charges have been brought by the Environment Agency and one charge brought by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
The Environment Agency charges are brought under the Radioactive Substances Act and Environmental Permitting Regulations, while the Office for Nuclear Regulation charge is brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.
It comes after Sellafield projects were recently slammed for £1 billion in cost overruns and delays.
A spokesman for Sellafield Ltd said: “The EA and the HSE have summoned us to attend Workington Magistrate’s Court in relation to offences arising from the consignment of waste bags to Lillyhall in April 2010.
“We now need to take the time to consider the information provided to us by the EA and HSE. As this matter is subject to court proceedings we are unable to comment further at this stage.”