Any living creature near the pipeline during discharges would be quickly dissolved, although the acidity is greatly reduced once it is dispersed in the sea. In the two years since the HRPB's 'discovery' of the illegal discharges its officials were in negotiation with Dounreay's operators and are understood to have argued that action be taken to neutralise the discharge. Dounreay has offered to build a neutralising plant, at an estimated cost of UK 3.5m, but it would not be ready before 1998, when reprocessing work at the plant could have nearly ended. A report was submitted to the procurator-fiscal by the HRPB after the outcry which followed the discharges becoming public knowledge. However, the procurator-fiscal has yet to take action against Dounreay despite its admission of illegal discharges which are continuing on a regular basis.
Any legal action seems to have been postponed and consultants study the effects of the discharges.
The results are expected later this summer. Dounreay, and others, are no doubt hoping the study finds the acid has little environmental effect and can continue. There have been two leaks of plutonium-239 dust from the D1206 residue oxide recovery plant in 11 weeks. On 11th February 20 megabecquerels of pu-239 dust escaped into the atmosphere and workers were contaminated when a glovebox used for remote handling depressurised. On 28th April there was another leak during maintenance work on a glovebox and a further two men were monitored for contamination.