NATO Press Release (95)32

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

For info:  Note the pitch to create concerns about rad contamination in the
Arctic. 

Regards, Jim

-------------forwarded message-------------

PRESS RELEASE (95)32                   26 April 1995

MEETING OF NATO COMMITTEE ON THE CHALLENGES OF MODERN
SOCIETY (CCMS) WITH COOPERATION PARTNERS

On 27 April, 1995, the NATO Committee on the Challenges
of Modern Society (CCMS) will hold its annual meeting
with Cooperation Partners at NATO Headquarters in
Brussels.  For the first time representatives from
Austria, Finland, Slovenia and Sweden, which are members
of PfP, will send observers.

The meeting will be chaired by Dr. Jean-Marie Cadiou,
NATO Assistant Secretary General for Scientific and
Environmental Affairs.  Nations will be represented by
senior officials of Ministries of Defence, of Foreign
Affairs and of Environment.

Participants will exchange information about the ongoing
CCMS pilot studies which cover a broad spectrum of
environmental issues including defence-related
environmental problems.  Last year, over 161 experts from
Cooperation Partner countries participated in CCMS
activities.

The final report of the pilot study on "Cross-Border
Environmental Problems Emanating from Defence-Related
Installations and Activities", jointly led by Norway and
Germany, and its conclusions will be presented to the
Committee.  The conclusions with respect to radioactive
and chemical contamination can be summarized as 
follows:

-    Although the present level of radioactive
contamination in the Arctic is low, there are
potential risks for the future.
-    Radioactive and chemical material dumped at the
Barents & Kara Seas and the Baltic Sea, must be monitored
closely.
-    Environmentally safe methods of decommissioning
nuclear submarines should be developed.
-    Chemical munitions dumped at sea do not, at the
current time, present a threat to human beings or to the
marine environment; however, their long term effects
should be investigated.

At the CCMS Plenary Meeting, a second phase of this study
was launched within the framework of the NACC Workplan 
for 1995-1996, focusing on some of the most urgent problems 
associated with radioactive pollution, in particular risk
assessment of nuclear submarine decommissioning as well
as management and storage of spent fuel and radioactive
waste.

The meeting is supported by the NATO Division of
Scientific and Environmental Affairs.  Journalists
wishing more information on this meeting may call Dr.
Deniz Yuksel-Beten, CCMS Programme
Director, at int'l-32-2-728.4846.