Environmentalists have blasted the idea of building a nuclear waste disposal facility under the Irish Sea.

The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has relaunched its search for the site for a geological disposal facility.

And one option that is being considered is to build it under the Irish Sea up to 22km out from Sellafield. This would bring it within six to seven miles of Manx territorial waters.

Pete Christian, of the Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, said: ’The proposal to transport nuclear waste to a location underneath the Irish Sea is not supportable.

’The history of storage of such highly dangerous substances is littered with incidents of contamination. Inadequate containers and sealant, erosion, cracking, human error, have all been found to pose significant risks.’

He said there is an added level of risk associated with storage of high level radioactive waste deep under the seabed.

’The nuclear waste industry itself has flagged up potential problems of ventilation and, if necessary, retrieval of hazardous substances,’ he pointed out.

’We should no longer consider the marine environment as infinitely capable of soaking up our human wastes, as has been done so often with explosive and toxic munitions, and whatever else has been dumped at sea.

’We have wonderful marine life in the Irish Sea, and massive underground workings could cause untold damage.’

Allen Moore, environment spokesman for the Mannin branch of the Celtic League, said: ’We oppose any plans for nuclear disposal facilities in or close to any of the Celtic countries.

’The stated preferred option of the NDA is close to or actually under Manx territorial waters, something which the Manx Government should also oppose.’

The Manx Government said any objections or input from it must be presented at the appropriate stage in the planning process.