SWEDISH MILITARY CONCEDES TO GREENPEACE DEMANDS TO CONTAIN ITS TOXIC POLLUTION

11 May 2001

Amsterdam - Today the military conceded to Greenpeace's calls to contain toxic pollution that is leaking from Sweden's underground naval base, "Muskö", directly into the Baltic Sea.

After ongoing negotiations between the Swedish military and Greenpeace inside the restricted underground base, the Swedish National Defence accepted it was responsible for releasing persistent organic pollutants into the Baltic environment. In a press release issued today, it committed to stopping ships using their propellers as they enter the base's tunnels immediately to avoid the contaminated sediment from being disturbed.

In addition, it agreed to put forward proposals, no later than 5th June, which will further address how to stop the PCBs leaking from the tunnels into the environment and implement these measures as soon as possible. It also reassured Greenpeace that it would investigate all possible sources of the PCB pollution and to take appropriate measures to stop pollution and to clean up the wider area around the archipelago. Agreement was reached that the gate to the tunnels would not be closed immediately due to fears that this would further disrupt the contaminated sediments.

"This toxic legacy has spread into the Baltic environment for too long. Greenpeace is encouraged by the military's commitment to contain its pollution and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that it acts on today's agreements," said Emma Öberg, Greenpeace toxic campaigner on board the MV Greenpeace. "For Sweden, who will be hosting the signing of an historic treaty (1)to eliminate these poisons in just two weeks time, to ignore a toxic hotspot on her doorstep is clearly unacceptable," she added.

The Greenpeace vessel MV Greenpeace sailed into the military area yesterday, May 10th, and demanded that the Swedish navy contains PCBs and other POPs contamination that Swedish authorities discovered at the base and prevent it from spreading into the environment. The navy has known about the problem for over a year yet, until today, had done nothing to prevent these very hazardous substances from leaking into the Baltic Sea.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
For interviews with Greenpeace campaigners or the crew of the MV Greenpeace call:

Emma Öberg, Greenpeace toxics campaigner on + 46 70 608 74 83 (m)
Darryl Luscombe, Greenpeace International toxics, on +46-(0) 70-6087481 (m)
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International press officer, + 31 20 524 9545 or +31 6 535 04701 (m)
Ulrika Tenlid, Greenpeace Nordic press officer on + 46 8 702 70 73 (office) or + 46 70 668 70 70 (m)

For comment from the Swedish National Defence call: + 46 8 788 7500

Footage taken inside the restricted military tunnels taken today as well as images of the MV Greenpeace and pollution in the Baltic are available on request.

(1) POPs, including PCBs, are some of the most dangerous chemicals known to science and are at critical levels in the Baltic Sea. Concern over the havoc they are causing the environment and human health have led world governments to agree that all POPs must be eliminated from the planet. PCBs are among the twelve POPs that the United Nations Environment Programme has identified as in need of urgent action. Governments will meet in Stockholm to sign the treaty to eliminate POPs in two weeks time.

Greenpeace will continue to tour the Baltic region on board the Greenpeace vessel, MV Greenpeace, highlighting the problems of toxic pollution in the area.

The Baltic tour is a culmination of a three year tour exposing toxic pollution worldwide and will end in Stockholm on 23rd May as the POPs treaty is signed.

For further information on the tour and the impending Stockholm Convention see:

http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/globaltour/