French nuclear policy is an issue

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

The following article further denotes that the all out commitment for
a nuclear program in France is seriously being questioned. While this 
is going on, "A controversial shipment of nuclear waste forced the 
German Soccer Federation on Tuesday to rearrange eight league 
fixtures scheduled for next month. The federation was forced to act 
after police said they would not have the capacity to both protect 
the shipment from anti-nuclear protesters and staff the matches." 
This is an excerpt from the Reuters news item published today, which 
will be provided in detail to members of my news distribution list. 
This all looks very bad for nuclear, in general.

PARIS, Feb. 4 (UPI) _ France has begun to examine the consequences of
its all-out commitment to nuclear power to generate more than 80
percent of its electricity. 

Nuclear power is being scrutinized as estimates surface for the huge
cost of decommissioning its giant Superphenix, the world's largest
fast- breeder reactor near Lyon. 

The largely Socialist government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin
announced Monday it would shut down the plant at a cost of $1.76
billion. Now estimates put the cost much higher. 

The one member of France's Green Party belonging to the government,
Environment Minister Dominique Voynet, told French radio today
dismantling the plant will force France to rethink its nuclear policy.


She noted it cost $4.3 billion to build ``and may eventually cost as
much to get rid of it.'' 

She added, ``There is really no way to estimate the dismantling cost.
No one ever thought about a handbook for dismantling.'' 

Backed by several environmental groups in Europe, Voynet noted France
may have to reconsider its virtual total dependence on nuclear power. 

She said the country's 50 nuclear power plants will have to be
decommissioned within the next 10 to 15 years. 

Superphenix opened in 1985 to take used fuel and change it into new
plutonium to produce electricity. 

But even industry proponents acknowledge it has had a disappointing
history because of repeated cooling system leaks that often shut it
down.
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Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
sperle@icnpharm.com

Personal Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

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

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -