In the wake of Japan鈥檚 Tokaimura nuclear accident, residents of Derby in the
English Midlands were incensed last weekend when they discovered that a plant in
their midst, which processes highly enriched uranium, failed an emergency
exercise earlier this year. Britain鈥檚 Nuclear Installations Inspectorate ruled
that Rolls Royce, which runs the plant, was 鈥渦nable to demonstrate adequate
contamination control鈥�.
The plant makes fuel for nuclear submarines, and the classified nature of its
work means that the inspectorate won鈥檛 reveal additional details. However, it
says that there should be no possibility of radioactive contamination outside
the site.