In 1957, a Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) was agreed by the mem­bers of the European Community. When UK became a member of the European Community in 1973, she also became subject to the provisions of the Treaty. The two Articles of the Treaty that have most effect on the operations of the CEGB are Articles 31 and 37.

Article 31 requires that ‘basic standards shall be laid down within the Community for the protection of the health of workers and the genera! public against the dangers arising from ionising radiations’. A Direc­tive on this subject was issued prior to the UK joining the Community, with a date for compliance of June 1978. This reflected the philosophy encompassed in the International Commission on Radiological Protec­tion Publication No 9 (1966). This publication has been followed by ICRP Publication No 26 (1977) w’hich revises and updates this philosophy and contains re­vised recommendations on numerical values for some dose limits. As a result, the group of experts estab­lished to advise the Commission on the Directive re­commended a new text reflecting the recommendations of ICRP 26, and also proposed a two year extension to the period for implementation. Any proposals for change in the current European Directive are subject to consultation between the Health and Safety Exe­cutive and those likely to be affected by such provi­sions. Government legislation and CEGB Safety Rules, with which nuclear power stations must comply, re­flect. ICRP recommendations.

Article 37 of the Treaty requires each Member State to submit to the Commission ‘such general data re­flecting to any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste in whatever form as will make it possible to determine whether the implementation of such plan is liable to result in radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State’.

The general data is presented as a submission do­cument to the European Economic Commission by DoE on behalf of the UK Government after consulta­tion with the operator — in this case CEGB. The Commission, after consulting its group of expert ad­visers, must deliver its opinion within 6 months. Pro­vided the opinion is favourable, the plant may then be authorised by the Government Authorising Depart­ments, to begin discharging radioactive effluents.

Because the requirements of Article 37 are not re­trospective, submissions have been presented by DoE only for the more recent CEGB power stations, that is to say, Hinkley Point B, Dungeness B, Hartlepool, Heysham / and 2. These were all favourably received by the EEC.