SUMMARY: It has been agreed with the Japanese and British Authorities to make a tripartite approach to the State Department to inform the American Authorities confidentially of the date and the itinerary of the next transport of glassified radioactive waste to Japan.

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Please contact the British and Japanese Embassies who should have received the same instructions. The approach has to take effect as soon as possible (it should in effect take place before the industries COGEMA, BNFL, ORC, publish at a first press release in which the precise date of the transport will be announced).

Please indicate confidentially that:

- A ship with radioactive glassified waste, the "Pacific Teal", of the float of PNTL (Pacific Nuclear Tranport Limited), will leave the port of Cherbourg on 16 January 1997 with the destination of Japan (Mutsu Ogawara).

- It will sail past the Cape of Good Hope, the East of Australia and through the South Pacific.

- The Authorities of the States along the route will be informed, confidentially, on 23 December of the passage of the boat through their region.

- The Authorities of the States along the two alternative routes will be informed in the west of 6 to 11 January.