Radioactive Substances Act 1993

22 Prohibition notices

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, if the chief inspector is of the opinion, as respects the keeping or use of radioactive material or of mobile radioactive apparatus, or the disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste, by a person in pursuance of a registration or authorisation under this Act, that the continuing to carry on that activity (or the continuing to do so in a particular manner) involves an imminent risk of pollution of the environment or of harm to human health, he may serve a notice under this section on that person.

(2) A notice under this section may be served whether or not the manner of carrying on the activity in question complies with any limitations or conditions to which the registration or authorisation in question is subject.

(3) A notice under this section shall—

(a) state the chief inspector’s opinion,

(b) specify the matters giving rise to the risk involved in the activity, the steps that must be taken to remove the risk and the period within which those steps must be taken, and

(c) direct that the registration or authorisation shall, until the notice is withdrawn, wholly or to the extent specified in the notice cease to have effect.

(4) Where the registration or authorisation is not wholly suspended by the direction given under subsection (3), the direction may specify limitations or conditions to which the registration or authorisation is to be subject until the notice is withdrawn.

(5) In the case of an authorisation granted by the chief inspector and the appropriate Minister in accordance with section 16(3), the power to issue and withdraw notices under this section shall be exercisable by the chief inspector or by the appropriate Minister as if references in subsections (1) and (3) to the chief inspector were references to the chief inspector or that Minister.

(6) Where a notice is served under this section the chief inspector or, where the notice is served by the appropriate Minister, that Minister shall—

(a) in the case of a registration, if a certificate relating to the registration was sent to a local authority under section 7(8) or 10(5), or

(b) in the case of an authorisation, if a copy of the authorisation was sent to a public or local authority under section 16(9)(b),

send a copy of the notice to that authority.

(7) The chief inspector or, where the notice was served by the appropriate Minister, that Minister shall, by notice to the recipient, withdraw a notice under this section when he is satisfied that the risk specified in it has been removed; and on so doing he shall send a copy of the withdrawal notice to any public or local authority to whom a copy of the notice under this section was sent.