Serbia ships out nuclear rods amid heavy security

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

NOTE: This is my last news distribution. I will be out of the country 

from August 23 - September 1. Depending on internet connections 

available, there may not be any news distributions during this time  



Index:



Serbia ships out nuclear rods amid heavy security

U.S. uranium fuel plants told to beef up security

Success of PA's Potassium Iodide Distribution

====================================



Serbia ships out nuclear rods amid heavy security



BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Serbia said on Thursday it had flown 

6,000 uranium rods -- enough to make two atomic bombs -- back to 

Russia in an operation involving special forces and helicopters that 

alarmed Belgrade residents.



Science Minister Dragan Domazet said the operation was kept top 

secret to avoid any possible terrorist attacks but it was safe to 

disclose now that the material had reached the Ulyanovsk Nuclear 

Processing Plant, around 600 km (373 miles) east of Moscow.



"If it were to fall into the hands of trained terrorists it would 

have been a great threat to world peace and this way we showed 

clearly we want to assist the international fight against terrorism," 

Domazet told reporters.



The rods had been kept unused since 1984, when a reactor at the Vinca 

nuclear research institute near Belgrade was closed.



The shipment back to Russia, where the rods originated, was part of a 

deal with the United States. Washington has donated $720,000 to the 

Vinca institute to "go green" and clear up radioactive waste from its 

compound.



Belgraders alarmed by the unusual activity called into radio stations 

at around 2 a.m (midnight GMT), saying they had seen special police 

with gas masks near a highway and heard helicopters flying overhead.



"You always have to foresee everything, like a possible terrorist 

attempt to seize the fuel. The quantity shipped was enough to make at 

least two atom bombs," Domazet explained.



With the shipment of the rods containing 80 percent of enriched 235 

uranium, Yugoslavia began complying with the rules of the Vienna-

based International Atomic Energy Agency, which the country rejoined 

after the ouster of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.



The IAEA said on Thursday it had witnessed the loading of uranium 

into shipping containers between August 15 and 16 and had sealed them 

for transit.



"It was about 50 kgs (110 lbs) of highly enriched uranium," an IAEA 

official told Reuters.

------------------



U.S. uranium fuel plants told to beef up security



WASHINGTON Aug 22 (Reuters) - Two uranium fuel plants in Virginia and 

Tennessee must immediately adopt stricter anti-terrorist measures 

such as more guards, vehicle barriers and patrols, the Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission said Thursday.



The plants, owned by BWX Technologies Inc. and Nuclear Fuel Services, 

take enriched uranium and make it into fuel for nuclear reactors.



The NRC said it ordered the two enrichment plants to adopt similar 

measures already put in place by U.S. nuclear power plants as a 

precaution after the Sept. 11 attacks.



The agency did not disclose details of its order, but said it 

included requirements for "increased patrols, augmented security 

forces and capabilities, additional security posts, installation of 

additional physical barriers, vehicle checks at greater standoff 

distances, enhanced coordination with law enforcement and military 

authorities, and more restricted site access controls."



The NRC in June said it was analyzing what devastation might occur if 

a fuel-laden commercial airliner crashed into a nuclear power 

reactor. The agency is also considering whether to order plants to 

conduct more frequent drills against potential sabotage or terrorist 

attacks.



Some U.S. lawmakers and activist groups are concerned that a Sept. 11-

type attack against a nuclear plant or enrichment plant could release 

deadly radioactive materials.



Senate Democrats have endorsed a plant to federalize the privately 

employed security guards at plants, but that approach is opposed by 

the NRC and U.S. utilities.



Nuclear power plants provide about 20 percent of the nation's 

electricity.

-------------------



Pennsylvania Health Secretary Notes Success of PA's Potassium Iodide 

Distribution; Residents Picked Up 436,300 KI Pills Between Aug. 15 

and 21



HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Pennsylvania 

Gov. Mark Schweiker, Health Secretary Robert S. Zimmerman Jr. 

reported that, in the last week, state public-health professionals 

distributed 436,300 free potassium iodide (KI) tablets to residents 

living within a 10-mile radius of Pennsylvania's five nuclear 

facilities.



"I'd like to commend the many Pennsylvanians who took the time to 

become informed about KI and the thousands of residents who visited 

our distribution sites," Secretary Zimmerman said.  "Many asked 

questions and expressed their appreciation to Gov. Schweiker, my 

staff and others who worked to make the effort successful.  We thank 

them for making our job of education and distribution easier."



KI can add an extra layer of protection in the unlikely event of a 

release of radioactive iodine.  Throughout the week, the department 

continued to emphasize that evacuation is still the most important 

action in the unlikely event of a release of radioactive iodine.  KI 

pills only provide temporary protection for the thyroid gland against 

cancer and hypothyroid conditions, not other types of health 

problems that may result from exposure to radiation.



There are five nuclear facilities in Pennsylvania: Beaver Valley 

Power Station, Limerick Generating Station, Peach Bottom Atomic 

Power Station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, and Three Mile 

Island Nuclear Generating Station.  There are more than 

640,000 people who live within a 10-mile radius of these facilities.



Secretary Zimmerman noted that the distribution numbers in 

Pennsylvania seem to be higher than other states that have offered 

the 

tablets.  "I'd like to thank the news media for working with us to 

get excellent information to the public both about KI and about the 

distribution," Secretary Zimmerman said.



Tablet distribution in other states that accepted the Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission's offer of free KI tablets for those in the 10-

mile 

emergency planning zones (EPZs) has averaged about 25 percent.  

During Pennsylvania's one-week distribution, 34 percent of 

people living in the 10-mile EPZs picked up KI.  Once business and 

school numbers are added into the totals, the final number will 

increase.



The Department of Health asked businesses to schedule KI pick up 

after the one-week public distribution.  Business owners within 

the 10-mile radius who want KI for their employees should contact the 

Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH to arrange for pick 

up.



Secretary Zimmerman said school districts and their boards have been 

very receptive to the information the department has sent 

them about KI distribution.  No school districts have yet made final 

decisions on whether to accept KI for distribution to students and 

staff.



Two tablets were issued per household member.  Public-health 

officials were on-site for questions.  Individuals picking up KI 

tablets 

were asked to sign for the KI and were allowed to pick up tablets for 

their family members and those who are unable to pick them up on 

their own.



In Montgomery County at the Limerick Fire Station, the county health 

department and its local emergency-services professionals came up 

with the novel idea of doing a "drive through" pick up for those who 

didn't have questions for the public-health professionals.  The 

planners anticipated, and got, thousands of customers, but were able 

to easily handle them quickly and efficiently.



-------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle

Director, Technical

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626



Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100  Extension 2306

Fax:(714) 668-3149



E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com



Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/



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