Groups Criticize DOE for Failing to Close Idaho Breeder Reactor

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Groups Criticize DOE for Failing to Close Idaho Breeder Reactor
  
Washington, Aug. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Department of Energy 
was criticized by organizations opposed to the spread of nuclear 
arms for failing to close a reactor in Idaho that can produce 
plutonium, six years after Congress ordered a shutdown. 

The groups, including the National Resources Defense Council, the 
Federation of American Scientists and Physicians for Social 
Responsibility, called for immediate closure of the Experimental 
Breeder Reactor II in a letter to Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. 

They cited a critical report issued June 27 by the DOE's inspector 
general. It found that the shutdown has proceeded with little 
oversight, and only $55 million of the $444 million Congress 
appropriated in 1994 to close the reactor has been spent. 
Research was conducted at the plant for 30 years. 

``We think the DOE is dragging its feet to possibly keep the 
reactor alive and possibly get it running again sometime in the 
future,'' said Tom Clements, executive director of the Nuclear 
Control Institute. 

Breeder reactors produce more plutonium than they consume. 
Plutonium is used in nuclear weapons and can fuel conventional 
reactors. 

The DOE has already put off the Idaho plant's closing date three 
times, the groups said. To permanently shut the reactor, sodium 
still must be drained from its primary cooling loop, Clements said. 

The inspector general's audit said the reactor's management team 
agreed with its assessment, though DOE officials didn't. 
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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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