Defence minister Andrew Robathan has visited Dalgety Bay but said further investigations to find out how radioactive particles contaminate the beach and who is responsible should take place before decisions are made on designating it as radioactively contaminated land.
With the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's deadlines for designation approaching (BB, December 2011) , the pressure is on the MoD as there is little doubt the contamination originated with luminous aircraft dials at an airbase above the bay which closed 53 years ago.
But the minister expressed doubts during his visit and said there had also been industrial sites locally.
"Who knows who's liable?" he wondered.
"We're not denying liability but I think we need to be quite clear how this contamination has come about."
He said he understood there had been ship breaking yard nearby and earth moving had disturbed a lot of material. He also mentioned the building of housing estates.
"We don't say that we are not in any way willing to help," he said. "We are willing to help. But I don't think you would expect us to accept liability before we know exactly what the situation is. We are therefore looking at this and we are willing to co-operate with the environment protection agency and others to find out exactly what the situation is and then we can determined who is responsible for clearing it up, if there is a need to clear it up."
He noted the Ministry's three-year programme of monitoring and particle removal. He said it would be a pity if the beach were designated and believed that would be premature.
But Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Gordon Brown, who has campaigned on the issue, said the issues go beyond monitoring and include paying for remediation.
"First the MoD must accept liability for the remedial action that is required to make this site safe and secure in the long-term," he said.
"Second, the MoD must work with SEPA to come up with a remediation plan setting out clear timescales for the work to be carried out."
He said he was concerned the minister's language suggests MoD involvement is voluntary, but he believed it has a duty to take whatever steps are necessary.
He has table five Parliamentary questions to the MoD on the issue.
