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Daily Record
10-08-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Radioactive water 'leaked into' loch from Faslane nuclear base
The investigation uncovered SEPA files revealing that the Navy neglected proper maintenance. Radioactive water leaked into a loch from a Royal Navy nuclear weapons base after old pipes repeatedly burst, official documents have revealed. The Guardian, and The Ferret uncovered the release of radioactive material into Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, following a six-year fight to access the files, which involved Scotland's Information Commissioner. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said its checks showed the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was "of no regulatory concern". The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also insisted there had been "no unsafe releases of radioactive material" into the environment. The joint investigation revealed files from Sepa, the government pollution watchdog, showing the Navy failed to properly maintain around 1,500 water pipes at the Coulport armaments depot. Coulport stores the Royal Navy's nuclear warheads for its Trident submarines, which are based at HMNB Clyde, Faslane, near Helensburgh. Sepa said the problems at Coulport - going back to a pipe burst in 2010 - were caused by "shortfalls in maintenance". One incident in August 2019 led to the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" - low levels of tritium, a radioactive element used in nuclear warheads. The files only came to light after a ruling by Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton, who oversees freedom of information laws. The UK government had tried to keep the files secret, claiming national security concerns - reports the BBC. But in June, Mr Hamilton ruled most of the files had to be made public, as revealing them risked "reputations" not national security. Sepa said it recognised the public interest in the naval base and was committed to making sure it operated "in accordance with standards equivalent to those in environmental regulations" to protect both the environment and the public. A spokesperson added: "All discharges from HMNB Clyde, Sepa's monitoring data, and an assessment of potential environmental and public impacts are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. "Based on these assessments the risk to the environment from effluent discharges is of no regulatory concern." They added an "extensive replacement programme for components" had already been undertaken and the agency was satisfied that the site had made "substantial improvements" to asset management and maintenance across both Faslane and Coulport. A MoD spokesperson said: "We place the upmost importance on our responsibilities for handling radioactive substances safely and securely. "There have been no unsafe releases of radioactive material into the environment at any stage. "We frequently engage with regulators who report there is no significant impact on the environment or public health and are supportive of an open reporting culture."
The National
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The National
Radioactive water 'leaked into loch' from nuclear weapons base
A joint investigation from The Guardian and The Ferret – also reported by the BBC – found that the material was released into Loch Long in Argyll and Bute. It comes after a six-year battle to access documents which involved Scotland's information commissioner. READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon opens up about self-doubt 'superpower' ahead of memoir The investigation revealed that files compiled by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) – the environment watchdog – stated the Royal Navy failed to properly maintain a network of 1500 pipes at the Coulport armaments depot. Coulport holds the Royal Navy's supply of nuclear warheads for its fleet of Trident submarines, which are based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane, near Helensburgh. Sepa said the issues at Coulport, which date back to a pipe burst in 2010, were caused by "shortfalls in maintenance". One incident listed in the files, which took place in August 2019, resulted in the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" in the form of low levels of tritium, which is used in nuclear warheads. The environment watchdog insisted that its assessments found the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was "of no regulatory concern". Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there had been "no unsafe releases of radioactive material" into the environment. The files were released after a ruling by Scottish information commissioner David Hamilton, who oversees the country's freedom of information laws. According to The Guardian and The Ferret, the UK Government allegedly insisted the files had to be kept secret for national security reasons. READ MORE: Inside the Scottish demining charity working to secure a safer future for Ukrainians However, in June Hamilton ruled that most of the files had to be released as their disclosure did not threaten national security but "reputations". The release of the files was delayed yet again in July by another intervention from the MoD, which cited "additional national security concerns". The files were eventually released by Sepa on August 5. Speaking to The Ferret, the Scottish Greens said the findings of the joint investigation were "deeply concerning" and called for "full transparency and accountability" from the MoD. Patrick Harvie MSP Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "There are few sites as dangerous and where an accident or shoddy maintenance could have such potentially catastrophic consequences." A spokesperson for Sepa said it recognised the public interest in the naval base and was committed to ensuring that it operate "in accordance with standards equivalent to those in environmental regulations". All discharges from HMNB Clyde, Sepa's monitoring data, and an assessment of potential environmental and public impacts are published annually in the Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report. READ MORE: David Pratt: Are Trump and Putin about to stitch up Ukraine? "Based on these assessments the risk to the environment from effluent discharges is of no regulatory concern." They added an "extensive replacement programme for components" had already been undertaken and the agency was satisfied that the site had made "substantial improvements" to asset management and maintenance across both Faslane and Coulport. A MoD spokesperson said: "We place the upmost importance on our responsibilities for handling radioactive substances safely and securely. "There have been no unsafe releases of radioactive material into the environment at any stage. "We frequently engage with regulators who report there is no significant impact on the environment or public health and are supportive of an open reporting culture."
