N U C L E A R W A S T E S H I P M E N T T O J A P A N
The Governor of Puerto Rico
January 30, 1998
The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright Dear Madam Secretary:
In 1995 and again in 1996, I had occasion to contact the U.S.
Department of State concerning the imminent prospect that maritime
cargoes consisting of extremely hazardous nuclear waste would be
crossing the Caribbean sea. Both times, fortunately, the shipments
in question were diverted elsewhere (around Africa in one instance;
around South America in the other).
I communicate with you today because the threat posed by such
shipments has arisen anew, and because the scenario now confronting
our region is even more immediately alarming than those which
prompted my previous correspondence on this subject.
The freighter Pacific Swan -- which departed France on January 21,
1998, bound for japan -- has entered Caribbean waters en route to the
Panama Canal. Sometime this weekend, that vessel is expected to
transit the Mona Passage that separates the islands of Puerto Rico
and Hispaniola. Reportedly aboard the Pacific Swan are at least 60
tons of nuclear waste material.
On behalf of the 3.8-million United States citizens of Puerto Rico, I
take this opportunity to join our Caribbean neighbors in urging that
you monitor this shipment closely to guarantee its secure transit
through the Mona Passage and that you take steps to ensure that the
risk of radioactive contamination is reduced to an absolute minimum
through the rigorous application of United States-Euratom Agreement
safety measures pertaining to "irradiated nuclear material."
Thank you in advance for addressing this perilous situation at once.
Sincerely,
Pedro Rossello
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