Greenpeace takes radioactive waste to the European Parliament
International - Greenpeace delivered radioactive waste to the door of the European Parliament today to remind MEPs in their last plenary session before considering a new nuclear waste law that there is no solution to nuclear waste.
(Media-Newswire.com) - International — Greenpeace delivered radioactive waste to the door of the European Parliament today to remind MEPs in their last plenary session before considering a new nuclear waste law that there is no solution to nuclear waste.
Two qualified Greenpeace radiation specialists delivered four radioactive samples in two concrete and lead-lined containers to Parliament’s twin entrances on Rue Wiertz. Dozens of trained Greenpeace volunteers zoned off areas with tape before handcuffing themselves in rings around the containers to ensure their safety. MEPs and staff looked on as Greenpeace climbers scaled 16 nearby flagpoles to hold out banners reading ‘Nuclear waste, no solution’ below the flags of those countries with nuclear energy programmes producing the largest amounts of nuclear waste [1].
Four samples of radioactive waste were collected from unsecured public locations: Sellafield beach in the UK; the seabed at la Hague in France; the banks of the Molse Nete River in Belgium; and from the uranium mining village of Akokan in Niger [2]. Despite their danger, the materials are not classified as radioactive waste when discharged or left in the open environment as they stem from so-called ‘authorised emissions’ or from uranium mining. Yet, when collected and put in a container, the samples are classified as radioactive waste that needs to be guarded for centuries until decayed [3]. Other nuclear waste, such as that waste from decommissioning and spent nuclear fuel, is even more dangerous and must be stored for hundreds of thousands of years. There is no way of securing this waste over such long time periods with guaranteed safety, and it continues to pile up all over the world.
Parliament will consider a nuclear waste law for Europe next month [4]. But early drafts exclude the type of radioactive waste Greenpeace delivered and paper over the fears of scientists who say that disposing of highly radioactive waste deep underground could be disastrous [5].
Greenpeace EU nuclear policy advisor Jan Haverkamp said: “It is a scandal that the waste Greenpeace delivered today is being pumped into our seas, rivers and left to accumulate near where people live. The nuclear sector has no idea what to do with this waste, let alone the far more dangerous and long-lived waste that also continues to pile up. As the vast majority comes from the power sector, the only logical step is to phase out nuclear power. The EU has phase-out clauses for other no-go substances such as mercury. MEPs must ensure that radioactive waste is treated no less severely. As it stands, the proposed directive is little more than a PR exercise to smooth the way for new nuclear power stations.”
Immediately upon arrival, Greenpeace made contact with Parliamentary security services to notify them of its action and the waste it was delivering. It also informed the Belgian national waste authority, which is responsible for containing such waste. Notes to Editor [1] Greenpeace climbed the flagpoles of the following countries: Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The slogans were in each national language.
[2] Further information on the samples are as follows:
Sand ( 1.2kg ) from Sellafield, contaminated by waste water from the nearby reprocessing facility. The sample contains 11,670 Bq/kg Americium-241 and 5,990 Bq/kg Cesium-137. The levels of Americium-241 are 11 times over the limit set by Belgian authorities for radioactive waste of 1,000 Bq/kg. The Sellafield reprocessing facility, owned by the British Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – – a non-departmental public body- - takes spent fuel from nuclear power stations in the UK, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Japan. It extracts usable uranium and plutonium while producing vast amounts of radioactive waste. Part of that is emitted into the Irish Sea, where it contaminates shores, seabed, plants and fish.
Soil ( 300g ) from near a mining vent at Akokan, Niger. This is waste material from uranium mining by French company Areva, which produces nuclear fuel for nuclear power stations worldwide. The sample contains 6,200 Bq/kg Uranium-238, 6,700 Bq/kg Radium-226 and 6,900 Bq/kg Lead-210. The Uranium-238 levels are six times over the Belgian limit of 1,000 Bq/kg. The uranium mining region in Niger is continuously polluted by radioactive dust, waste rocks and radon gas from mining operations and tailings. Greenpeace found not only contamination near one mining vent, but also in the streets of Akokan and on vehicles at scrap metal dealers. More information can be found at: www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/reports/Left-in-the-dust/
Sludge ( 50g ) from the seabed near the la Hague reprocessing facility in France. This sludge is contaminated by the reprocessing facility owned by French company Areva. The sample contains 1,210 Bq/kg Americium-241, 2,840 Bq/kg Cesium-137 and 1,016 Bq/kg Cobalt-60. The Americium-241 is over the Belgian limit of 1,000 Bq/kg. La Hague reprocesses spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power stations in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, en Japan. It extracts still usable uranium and plutonium while producing vast amounts of radioactive waste. Part of that is emitted into the English Channel, where it contaminates shores, seabed, plants and fish.
Soil ( 300g ) from the Molse Nete River, near Dessel in Belgium. The Molse Nete is contaminated by the nuclear fuel factory FBFC and Belgonucléaire, the nuclear waste management factory Belgoprocess and the nuclear research centre SCK. The waste sample contains 1,700 Bq/kg Americium-241 and1,800 Bq/kg Cesium-137. The Americium-241 levels are over the Belgian limit of 1,000 Bq/kg. The largest proportion comes from waste management in the former reprocessing plant Eurochemie and the treatment of waste in the Cilva waste incinerator. Contamination has spread through sludge in the river. Dredging throws sludge onto the river banks and some sludge is spread on agricultural fields. Other waste was removed to an unknown location, likely to be spread on fields elsewhere.
[3] The authorities will examine the waste to determine its radioactivity and how long it should be kept out of the environment. This could be decades, or over 100,000 years.
[4] In the second half of October, the European Parliament is expected to receive a proposal for a Euratom directive on nuclear waste from the European Commission. Under the Euratom Treaty, the European Parliament has to advise the European Council on new nuclear laws.
[5] For more information see Dr Helen Wallace’s report, Rock Solid? A scientific review of geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, London / Brussels ( 2010 ), of GeneWatch UK ( click here for the report ). Contact information Jan Haverkamp EU Energy Campaigner - Coal and Nuclear Energy jan.haverkamp@greenpeace.org Telephone: +420 603 569 243/Mobile: +32 477 79 04 16
Jack Hunter Media officer Phone: 32 2 274 19 15 Telephone: Mobile: 32 476/988 584
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