“This accident and ensuing investigation and decontamination,
which could result in U.S. weapons-grade plutonium being stranded
in France, is reason enough to halt the shipment,” said Tom
Clements of Greenpeace International. “Shipment of weapons-grade
plutonium not only poses an environmental hazard but also reveals a
proliferation double standard by the U.S. government.”
In a September 9 statement by the CEA, the French state-owned
nuclear company, the company revealed that two workers were
contaminated on September 6 when plutonium and uranium leaked from
a container. The CEA said the accident was due to a “violation of
procedures” and could result in a lengthy investigation.
On Monday, Representative Ed Markey, released a September 8
letter from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which reveals
Coast Guard preparation for security escort of the two ships (2).
The letter reveals that “a formal threat assessment specific to
this evolution has not been prepared.”
However, despite failure to prepare an assessment of potential
risks of the shipment in the United States, on the high seas or in
France, the DHS letter goes on to say that “the Coast Guard Field
Intelligence Support Team in Charleston has prepared a field
intelligence report concerning environmental activist groups and
their potential to impact this shipment.”
“It is the height of absurdity to investigate Greenpeace and
local activists while doing nothing to analyze potential threats to
the plutonium shipment,” said John Bowler of Greenpeace
International. “Focusing on those working to stop proliferation
risks rather than real security threats reveals a policy failure in
the extreme and merits an investigation by Congress.”
A local group in Charleston, Citizens Against Plutonium (CAP),
is planning a flotilla in the harbor on Wednesday afternoon from
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to protest the shipment. Greenpeace will
join the flotilla and associated events in Waterfront Park in
downtown Charleston.
Notes to Editor:
(1) The accident occurred at the
“ATPu” plutonium fuel (MOX) manufacturing plant at the Cadarache
nuclear complex.
Read the CEA news release (in French). Read a detailed report on
ATPu (also in French) contained in a report for Greenpeace
International in July 2003 (“LTA Briefing” produced by independent
consultancy WISE-Paris).
(2) The letter is available through the office of Representative
Markey by calling (202) 225-2836 or by calling Tom Clements of
Greenpeace at (202) 415-6158.
