Mud from nuclear plant 'no risk to human health or the environment'

Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

The Environment watchdog in Wales has hit back at Independent Assembly Member, Neil McEvoy's criticism of its decision to allow mud from outside a nuclear power plant in England to be dumped in Welsh waters.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has given a license to an energy company to move 300,000 tonnes of mud dredged from outside Somerset's Hinkley Point C nuclear power site to waters near Cardiff Bay.

Neil McEvoy AM was among hundreds of campaigners who gathered outside the Senedd yesterday to protest the mud being dumped in Wales.

Neil McEvoy at the protest outside the Senedd yesterday. Credit: Neil McEvoy
Campaigners protesting the mud dump. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales
Campaigners gathered outside the Senedd yesterday. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales

NRW said the sediment has been tested by independent experts on three occasions in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

It said the tests in 2009 were sampled in depth and they were shown to be safe within international limits.

It said the data from those samples is still completely credible and there is "no risk to human health or the environment".

The work is due to begin next month.