The Ministry of Defence has been challenged to set a start date for the clean-up of radiation on Dalgety Bay beach.
Local MP Gordon Brown said the Fife town should not face another winter without protection against more radioactive contamination.
The MoD’s agreement to an investigation plan announced this week by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was a belated recognition of its obligations, he claimed.
The MoD was named as the sole polluter of the beach in a Sepa report last month.
If the Ministry was to refuse to fund the clean-up, the beach could be declared the first radiation-contaminated area in the UK by Sepa.
Following a meeting between the MoD and Sepa, the ministry gave a commitment to commissioning the final phase of the investigation plan, which will identify the long term management and/or remediation options.
Mr Brown said: “This is a first step however late and grudging that has to be taken if we are to see a clean-up.
“Last month Sepa named the MoD as the sole polluter of the beach area and called for them to fund the clean-up.
“Yesterday the Ministry took the first step to accepting liability for the dumping of radioactive materials at Dalgety Bay.
“I have asked that the report be done within weeks so that we can agree a timetable of remedial action that can start by the end of the summer.”