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Australian Government begins search for nuclear waste dump



Friday 11 August, 2000 

Australian Government begins search for nuclear waste dump

The Federal Government says it will take a further two years to 
decide  on a storage site for Australia's medium-level nuclear waste.

The Federal Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, has announced the start 
of  a national search for a site to store 500 cubic metres of  
intermediate-level waste accumulated in Australia. 

With the site for the storage of the nation's low-level waste 
narrowed  down to six sites, all in South Australia, the Federal 
Government is  looking at its medium level waste.  

Senator Nick Minchin says a scientific committee will be set up to  
advise the Government on an appropriate site.  

But South Australian State Labor leader Mike Rann says there has 
already  been a deal between the state and federal governments to 
locate the site  in South Australia.   

"We (Labor) believe that the Federal Government, the Howard 
Goverment,  has made its decision to locate the nuclear waste in 
South Australia,"  Mr Rann said. 

"Now there's a political problem out of it, they've set up a 
committee  to delay the formal announcement till after the next state 
and federal  elections.  

"And if they do that, you can bet your bottom dollar, it'll be 
located  here in South Australia. 

"But they think they can get away with it after the election the way  
they did with ETSA (the Electricity Trust of South Australia)." 
Greenpeace 

Greenpeace has described the Federal Government's decision to search 
for  a site to store Australia's intermediate-level radioactive waste 
as an  "out of sight, out of mind" solution. 

The Government says a scientific committee will be formed over the 
next  two months to advise on an appropriate area for the national 
store.  

But Steve Campbell from Greenpeace says the decision characterises 
the  Government's haste in pursuing the nuclearisation of Australia.  

"It follows a pattern for these kinds of projects that we'll put it 
out,  outback in indigenous peoples' land, and not deal with the 
problem at  the site of production," Mr Campbell said. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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