Paul Mobbs Mobbs' Environmental Investigations Reports Archive This section provides access to some of the reports and information developed as part of my work over the last few years. This isn't all of the work I have produced, just some of the significant reports to have emerge over this period. The reports are provided as 'portable document' files so that they can be reproduced in the same format as the original report. The file size is given for each file – note that some of these files are very big! Implementing Directive 2001/29/EC: Comments on the proposed amendments to the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (October, 2002) A response to the consultation on amendment to UK copyright law for GreenNet, focussing especially on the impacts the proposed changes would have on the use of information in the community. There are two files: Objection for the Patent Office 124 kilobytes GreenNet users briefing 86 kilobytes GreenNet Internet Rights Toolkit Briefings (2002) During 2000 I undertook a length writing commission from GreenNet to help them produce a series of briefings as part of their 'Internet Rights Tookit'. These are the first editions. For the latest information see their web site – http://www.internetrights.org.uk/ An Introduction to the Internet 84 kilobytes Data Protection 49 kilobytes Using Encryption and Digital Signatures 35 kilobytes E-Consumer Protection 29 kilobytes Privacy and Surveillance 53 kilobytes Campaigning Online 44 kilobytes Intellectual Property 68 kilobytes Computer Crime 46 kilobytes Expression and Defamation 53 kilobytes Electronic Rights in the Workplace 37 kilobytes Media Regulation and Convergence 47 kilobytes Civil Rights and Internet Regulation 40 kilobytes Interception and Surveillance 37 kilobytes Keeping Your System Secure 80 kilobytes New Terrorism Legislation 53 kilobytes "Participating With Safety" (March 2002) 'Participating With Safety' was a project created by the Association for Progressive Communications that sought to develop a training package for activists, jounalists and human rights workers on using information and communications technology safely. To support the project I was commisisoned to write the outlines for seven briefings, which I then edited in co-operation with interested users from Europe and the former Soviet Union. Introducing Information Security 135 kilobytes Backing-up Information 208 kilobytes Passwords and Access Controls 30 kilobytes Using Encryption and Digital Signatures 53 kilobytes Computer Viruses 38 kilobytes Using the Internet Securely 64 kilobytes Living Under Surveillance 64 kilobytes The Cherwell Local Plan: A Response to the Deposit Draft (March 2001) 381 kilobytes The report, for The Edge group in Banbury, on the proposals contained in the draft local plan of Cherwell District Council in north Oxfordshire. Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan: A Response to the Deposit Draft (March, 2001) 260 kilobytes A review of the Welwyn-Hatfield draft local plan for local Friends of the Earth groups. Little Town, Big Problem: hacktivism comes to Llandeilo (February 2001) 380 kilobytes A briefing produced for the electrohippie collective on a computer system I designed to assist a campaign group in Llandeilo. The Byker RDF Plant and the Contamination of Land in Newcastle upon Tyne with Incinerator Ash (Report draft, November 2000) 3.7 megabytes This report was never properly finished, and still remains as a draft. However, it provides a detailed account of an investigation into how Newcastle City Council's incinerator plant was run, and how contaminated ash was used on allotments and parks in Newcastle. Consultation on RSA authorisations for the UKs Magnox Nuclear Power Stations (August 2000) On behalf of an ad-hoc consortium of environmental and anti-nuclear groups I undrtook a major study of the operaion and radioactive discharges from the Magnox nuclear power stations. This is a very large report, and is split into many sections for easier downloading: Main report 318 kilobytes Annexes contents 19 kiloytes Annex 1 – Radiation, health and the environment documents (index) 54 kilobytes A-bomb survivors: factors that may lead to a re-assessment of the radiation hazard, Alice Stewart/George Kneale, International Journal of Epidemiology 2000; 29, 708-714 671 kilobytes Radioecology: relevance to the problems of the new millennium, F. Ward Whicker, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 2000; 50, 173-178 397 kilobytes Environmental effects of radionuclides observations on natural ecosystems, D. Copplestone et. al. Journal of Radiological Protection 2000; 20, 29-40 850 kilobytes Evaluation of annual external radiation doses at values near minimum detection levels of dosimeters at the Hanford nuclear facility, David Richardson et. al., Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 2000; 10, 27-35 788 kilobytes A system for radiological protection of the environment: some initial thoughts and ideas, R.J. Pentreath, Journal of Radiological Protection 1999; 19/2, 117-128 1.1 megabytes Control of low-level radiation exposure: time for a change?, Roger Clarke, Journal of Radiological Protection 1999; 19/2, 107-115 776 kilobytes The Seascale cluster: a problematic explanation, Richard Doll, British Journal of Cancer 1999; 81/1, 3-5 346 kilobytes Unexpected sensitivity to the induction of mutations by very low doses of alpha particle radiation: evidence for a bystander effect, Hatsumi Nagasawa/John Little, Radiation Research 1999; 152, 552-557 607 kilobytes Genetic heterogeneity in the population and its implications for radiation risk, Report of NRPB Advisory Group on Ionising Radiation, Documents of the NRPB, 10/3 323 kilobytes Childhood cancer and nuclear installations: a review, C.R. Muirhead, Nuclear Energy 1998; 37/6, 371-379 993 kilobytes Cancer in the offspring of radiation workers, F. Alexander, Busby/Scott Cato, A. Stewart, British Medical Journal 30/5/98; 316, 1672-1673 229 kilobytes Intercellular communication is involved in the bystander regulation of gene expression in human cells exposed to very low fluences of alpha particles, I. Edouard et. al., Radiation Research 1998; 150, 497-504, 797 kilobytes Radiation roulette, Rob Edwards, New Scientist, 11/10/97; 36-40 1.1 megabytes Fitness and germline mutations in barn swallows breeding in Chernobyl, Hans Ellegren et. al., Nature, 9/10/97; 389, 593-596 472 kilobytes Further evidence for elevated human minisatellite mutation rate in Belarus eight years after Chernobyl accident, Yuri Dubrova et. al., Mutation Research 1997; 381, 267-278 978 kilobytes Death rates from leukaemia are higher than expected in areas around nuclear sites in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, Chris Busby/Molly Scott Cato, British Medical Journal, 2/8/97; 315, 309 100 kilobytes Childhood leukaemia in US may have risen due to fallout from Chernobyl, Joseph Mangano, British Medical Journal, 19/4/97; 314, 1200 91 kilobytes Case control study of leukaemia among young people near La Hague nuclear reprocessing plant: the environmental hypothesis revisited, Dominique Pobel/Jean-Francois Viel, British Medical Journal, 11/1/97; 314, 101-106 695 kilobytes Infant leukaemia after in utero exposure to radiation from Chernobyl, E. Petridou et. al., Nature, 25/7/97; 382, 352-353 238 kilobytes Chernobyl's legacy to science, Editorial, Nature, 25/4/97; 380, 653 167 kilobytes Cancer risk of low-level exposure, Marvin Goldman, Science, 29/3/96; 271, 1821-1822 239 kilobytes Genomic instability induced by ionising radiation, William Morgan et. al., Radiation Research 1996; 146, 247-258 1.7 megabytes Incidence of leukaemia in young people around La Hague nuclear waste reprocessing plant: a sensitivity analysis, Jean-Francois Viel/Dominique Pobel, Statistics in Medicine 1995; 14, 2459-2472 868 kilobytes Risk of radiation induced cancer at low doses and low dose rates for radiation protection purposes, Cox, Muirhead et. al., Documents of the NRPB 1995; 6/1 430 kilobytes Inconsistencies and open questions regarding low-dose health effects of ionising radiation, Nussbaum and Kohnlein, Environmental Health Perspectives 1994; 102/8, 656-667 1.8 megabytes Excess of other cancers in Wales, Chris Busby, British Medical Journal, 22/1/94; 308, 268 88 kilobytes Child leukaemia after Chernobyl, Ivanov et. al., Nature, 21/10/93; 365, 702 71 kilobytes Tritium: the overlooked hazard, Ian Fairlie, The Ecologist, Sept./Oct. 1992; 22/5, 228-232 755 kilobytes Neonatal mortality in Germany since the Chernobyl explosion, Jens Scheer, British Medical Journal, 28/3/92; 304, 843 37 kilobytes Cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities: A survey of mortality nation-wide and incidence in two states, Seymour Jablon et. al., Journal of the American Medical Association, 20/3/91; 265/11, 1403-1408 821 kilobytes Background gamma radiation and childhood cancer within ten miles of a US nuclear plant, Maureen Hatch & Mervyn Susser, International Journal of Epidemiology 1990; 19/3, 546-552 561 kilobytes Cancer near potential sites of nuclear installations, Paula Cook-Mozaffari et. al., The Lancet, 11/11/89; 1145-1147 314 kilobytes The risk of childhood leukaemia near nuclear establishments, J.W. Stather et. al., NRPBR215, January 1988 196 kilobytes Annex 2 – Legal and procedural documents 2.2 megabytes Annex 3 – Engineering and economics Documents 2.1 megabytes Briefing on Magnox Consultation 53 kilobytes Objections to the Application by the UKAEA for a Radioactive Substances Act Authorisation at Harwell Laboratory (March 2000) On behalf of Oxford and Southampton Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament I produced objections to the review of the Radioactive Substances Act authorisation at the UKAEA's Harwell Laboratory in south Oxfordshire. Oxford CND 501 kilobytes Southampton CND 35 kilobytes New Labour and the Planning Agenda (2000) 60 kilobytes An article, wrtieen for and published by Corporate Watch, and the way that New Labour has sought to restructure the planning system to favour corporate interests and keep out the public. Stevenage Local Plan and the West of Stevenage Development On behalf of the local Friends of the Earth groups I undertook work on the draft Stevenage Local Plan, the draft North Hertfordshire Local Plan, and on the proposals for the development of 10,000 houses west of the A1. "Development west of the A1(M) At Stevenage: Local Authority Master Planning Principles" An appraisal of the scheme and the legal implications of approval (April, 2000) 33 kilobytes Stevenage Local Plan: A Response to the Deposit Draft (January, 2000) 285 kilobytes Removing the WOS Development from the North Herts. Local plan (December, 1999) 40 kilobytes The Stevenage District Plan: How to object! (December, 1999) 105 kilobytes Application for a RSA Authorisation for the AWE Aldermaston (November 1999) 168 kilobytes This report is a response, on behalf of the Nuclear Awareness Groups, to an application by the company that runs the UK's Atomic Weapons Establishment (where Britain makes its nuclear weapons) for a license to discharge radioactive substances. The Internet, Disintermediation and Campaign Groups (Autumn 1999) 106 kilobytes An article in the importance of the communications media provided by the Internet to civil society groups. This was published in vol.21/no.1 of ECOS, and magazine of the British Association of Nature Conservationists. Abernant Farm Landfill Application (October 1999) 165 kilobytes A response, on behald of Dinefwr Friends of the Earth, to a planning application for a landfill site, near Abernant in Carmarthenshire, that sought to regularise the unlawful activities on the site. Response to the Deposit Draft of the Denbighshire UDP (July 1999) 562 kilobytes A report, on behalf of Vale of Clwyd Friends of the Earth, objecting to the draft unitary development plan (UDP)of Denbighshire council in North Wales. Harwell Laboratory: Southern England's New Radioactive Waste Repository? (February 1999) 300 kilobytes An analysis of the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory, and the significance of the information it provides in relation to radioactive waste storage at Harwell in south Oxfordshire. A Response to the Dacorum Local Plan (January, 1999) 220 kilobytes A report, for the Tring Envronmental Forum, on the draft local plan of Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire. 'Best Value' and Waste Management in Local Authorities: An Independent View (November 1998) 34 kilobytes A paper for a seminar I gave to the Institute of Waste Management's conference on 'best balue'. A Critical Evaluation of the Essex Waste Local Plan (November 1998) 198 kilobytes An evaluation of the proposals contained in the draft Essex Waste Local Plan. Response to the Deposit Draft of the Warwickshire Structure Plan (October, 1998) 150 kilobytes A review of the draft Warwickshire Structure Plan for local Friends of the Earth groups. Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan Public Inquiry (1998) I undertook a major amont of work on waste in Lancashire for the ARROW group in Skelmersdale from 1996 to 1999 – in order to defeat proposals for a large landfill site on the edge of Skelmersdale in Round O Quarry. Below are some of the more interesting proofs of evidence produced for the public inquiry into the waste and minerals plan: Session 1 proof: Minerals 146 kilobytes Session 2 proof: Waste Round Table 45 kilobytes Session 3 proof: Landfilling 113 kilobytes Session 3 supplementary proof: Arisings and Site Selection 259 kilobytes Session proof: Minerals and Waste 102 kilobytes Briefing on Landfill Need in Lancashire 19 kilobytes Apraisal of Biffa's Application to Change Waste Types at Stewponey Landfill Site, Stouton (September 1998) 197 kilobytes On behalf of the local community group FLAGS, I undertook a eries of reports on the proposals by Biffa to switch from inert to tocix wastes at their landfill site near Stourton west of Birmingham – which sits on one of the most important groundwater resources in the area. Response to the Deposit Draft of the Hertsmere Local Plan (September, 1998) 203 kilobytes A report of the policies of the draft Hertsmere Local Plan for Watford and District Friends of the Earth. Response to Nuffield Council on Bioethics Consultation, "Genetically Modified Crops: The Social and Ethical Issues" (July, 1998) 247 kilobytes A response, for the Free Range Network, to a consultation on the social and ethical issues raised by the growing of genetically modified crops. Response to Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Development Plan Deposit Draft (May, 1998) 157 kilobytes A report for the Friends of the Earth Cymru Local Groups Network on the draft Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Development Plan (UDP). Response to the 'Opportunities for Change' Consultation (May, 1998) 143 kilobytes A report for the Free Range Network on the government's proposals for revising the UK Sustainable Development Strategy. Round O Quarry Landfill Public Inquiry On behalf of ARROW in Skelmersdale, I undertook a large amount of work in relation to a public inquiry into the proposals to allow landfilling in Round O Quarry. Below are the two main proofs produced for the inquiry, and a brifing produced for members of the public who wished to take part inb the inquiry process. Inquiry Supplementary Proof (August 1998) 227 kilobytes Inquiry Proof of Evidence (July 1998) 260 kilobytes Briefing on Round O Public Inquiry (March 1998) 79 kilobytes Final Draft PPG10: Response to Consultation (March, 1998) 188 kilobytes A report, for the Free Range Network, on the Department of the Environment and the Regions consultation on new waste planning guidance. Project Proposal: Development Plans in Wales (February, 1998) 320 kilobytes A proposal for a project to undertake work on all the development plans in Wales on behalf of Friends of the Earth local groups. Response to the Colne Valley Local Environment Agency Plan (LEAP) (January, 1998) 123 kilobytes A report, produced on behalf of Friends of the Earth groups in Hertfordshire, to the Environment Agency's management plan for the Colne Valley (west of London) Radioactive Substances in South East England (October 1997) 180 kilobytes A report for anti-nuclear groups in the south-east on the presence and use of radioactive substances and the storage of radioactive wastes. Cilyrychen Quarry IDO Stage II Registration – Analysis of Tarmac's Application and Technical Statements (June, 1997) 244 kilobytes A review, on behalf of the Campaign for the Protection of the Gwenlais Valley, of the application to update the quarrying permission for large quarry in an area with important nature conservation sites.