Greenpeace says N-shipment to Japan dangerous

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

Greenpeace says N-shipment to Japan dangerous
  
PARIS (Reuters) - Greenpeace said Wednesday a shipment of nuclear 
fuel containing plutonium was due to leave France for Japan next 
month and warned countries along the route they would be at risk. 

The environmental group said in a statement the shipment of 28 
containers of recycled MOX -- plutonium-uranium mixed oxide -- would 
contain some 500 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium. 

``The shipment poses a totally unnecessary risk for people living in 
countries along the route and for those living in the countries where 
this fuel is made,'' Greenpeace said. 

Environmentalists fear the ship could sink in a storm or be attacked 
by terrorists trying to seize the plutonium. 

The shipment will be the second of dozens expected to take recycled 
Japanese plutonium back to its utility owners in the form of MOX. 

A first shipment of 40 MOX containers was made from the French port 
of Cherbourg a year ago. Greenpeace protesters briefly delayed the 
departure of the ship which sailed to Japan via the Cape of Good Hope 
and Tasmania. 

Japanese power companies have contracts overseas for reprocessing and 
recycling nuclear fuel with France's Cogema and British Nuclear Fuels 
Plc. 

No comment was immediately available from Cogema. 

Greenpeace and Japanese environmental groups asked a Japanese court 
Wednesday to halt the use of MOX at a reactor in the north of the 
country. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
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