GREENPEACE REVEALS PLUTONIUM COMPANY'S FLAWED EFFORTS TO CAPTURE RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES
The environmental group challenges government agencies to investigate

3 July 1998

Cherbourg, France -- Greenpeace revealed today that Cogema, the operator of the state-owned La Hague reprocessing plant, has installed inadequate equipment off the plant's discharge pipe, 30 metres under the sea, in a flawed attempt to prevent the routine discharge of radioactive particles into the ocean. Levels of radiation on the outside of the two steel chambers are so high (up to 500 micro-sieverts each hour) that a no-dive zone was self imposed by Greenpeace's radio-protection officer.

The data have been collected during diving operations conducted from the Greenpeace ship MV Sirius on the discharge pipeline, and have been summarised in a briefing paper by Dr John Large, an independent consultant engineer on board the Greenpeace ship (1).

In October 1997, Cogema denied that there was any significant problem with the routine discharge of radioactive particles into the ocean. The recent findings reveal a clandestine and incompetent attempt to collect the radioactive discharges, in a way that will not stop dangerous particles from entering the environment and potentially contaminating the human food chain.

"These chambers are a smoking gun - they reveal that even Cogema knows it has a problem with dangerous radioactive particles. Will Cogema now confirm that it is trying to stop dangerous particles from being discharged and that it is failing?" asked Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace. "If Cogema is really serious about preventing the radioactive particles from contaminating the oceans, it should stop all discharges."

Last week Cogema announced the start of seabed dredging operations, following the accidental release of approximately 500 kilograms of solid nuclear waste in the summer of 1997. This new operation will require the removal of the chambers containing the radioactive particles, but independent analysis suggests that there has been no adequate preparation for this operation to be conducted with minimised risk for the environment and for the workers involved (2).

Greenpeace has written to the French Government requesting immediate clarification of the situation, and has called for an investigation into Cogema's current discharge operations. Greenpeace has also been seeking confirmation from the French Government on the start of the public consultation process for Cogema's nuclear site and discharge licences, which are now over 12 months overdue.

According to the environmental group, this latest discovery shows the inadequacy of the retention systems inside the La Hague plant, and of the current discharge authorisations applied to Cogema.

"The French Government has utterly failed to control Cogema and to apply strict regulations on its operations. One cannot help wonder if the so-called safety authorities have colluded with Cogema as they have done over contaminated nuclear waste transports", said Burnie. "The authorities must immediately prove that they have no tolerance for nuclear companies breaking the law and act to stop this daily contamination".

In less than one month, the French Government along with 14 others from countries in the North-East Atlantic will meet to discuss ocean pollution issues, including the need to reduce and eliminate radioactive discharges into the sea. Greenpeace is demanding that the OSPAR nations commit to an immediate halt to all discharges from plutonium reprocessing plants, and in particular that the French Government commits to zero discharges in advance of the Ministerial meeting, which will be held in Portugal from July 20th to 24th.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Shaun Burnie, Greenpeace International, mobile +31 6 53 50 07 82
(Cherbourg)
- Dr John Large, mobile +31 6 53 46 42 89 (Cherbourg)
- Luisa Colasimone, Greenpeace Communications, mobile +31 6 53 66 29 70
Footage and stills available from Greenpeace Communications. The technical drawings of the particle `plenum' chambers are available on the web.

(1) "Brief critique of Cogema's particle removal operation", Dr John Large, Large and Associates, London July 1st 1998, for Greenpeace International. Copies available on request.

(2) Greenpeace has requested that the Government conduct a full environmental impact of Cogema's dredging operation prior to any start of activities. In 1997 Greenpeace requested such action prior to Cogema's pipe cleaning, but it was denied by the present government on the advice of DSIN. Shortly after, approximately 500 kg of solid highly radioactive waste was `accidentally' dumped from the end of the pipeline.