Greenpeace demands halt to U.S. nuclear shipment plans after plutonium contamination accident in France
Washington/Paris, 10 September 2004 - In response to yesterday's revelation of an accident at the French Cadarache
nuclear plant (1), which has contaminated two workers, Greenpeace has called for the immediate cancellation of next
week's plans to send US weapons grade plutonium to the facility.
According to a statement by the French nuclear regulator, CEA, two workers were contaminated on Monday when radioactive
plutonium and uranium leaked from a container. The workers are now undergoing urgent health checks. The CEA said the
accident was due to a 'violation of procedures'.
"In addition to exposing the workers to danger, this accident exposes risks of producing plutonium MOX fuel. It is one
more reason why the United States should not send its plutonium to Cadarache next week," said Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace
International.
The French nuclear facility, which is operated by nuclear state company AREVA/Cogema, has a long history of leaks and
accidents.
"There is no justification for this transport as the whole policy of using weapons plutonium in reactors is dangerously
misguided. After September 11th terrorist attack, any risk to international security by shipping plutonium across the
ocean should be automatically avoided." said Yannick Rousselet of Greenpeace France.
Two armed British ships are expected to arrive at the South Carolina port of Charleston on September 15 to pick up a
cargo of weapons grade plutonium.
Notes to Editor:
(1) The accident occurred at the 'ATPu' plutonium fuel (MOX) manufacturing plant at the Cadarache nuclear complex. The
AtPu will be used for three months to manufacture MOX fuel before shipping it back to the United States. A detailed
report on ATPu can be found at: http://www.stop-plutonium.org in a report for Greenpeace International in July 2003 "LTA Briefing" commissioned by GPI from independent consultancy
WISE-Paris.
Photos and background information on nuclear transport ships and plutonium in France available at http://www.stop-plutonium.org