Re: Question on German spent fuel shipping

[GACMail98@aol.com]

Some info is available from IAEA daily press releases at www.iaea.org.  A
sample:

Daily Press Review
Date 1998-05-26
Number 098 

[info deleted]

Chronology of German nuclear contamination controversy as Germany halts all
nuclear fuel transports. German utilities seek solution to problem of
contamination of spent fuel transport wagons but Bayernwerk considers the
contamination harmless; query as to whether police guarding the transports
were irradiated. German Environment Minister Merkel calls for better control
of Castor tranports as she comes under pressure to resign, but she blames
nuclear industry chiefs for failing to report high levels of radioactivity in
rail cars to Government, reportedly had known of situation since 1980s; IAEA
said also to have known of problem; some wagons showed radiation spots 3000
times accepted level. German Government has obtained data from France's DSIN
showing some contamination of several transports of spent fuel from Germany to
France in 1997 was 900 times more than German Government reported to the
public. German nuclear industry representative issued personal apology to
Minister Merkel. Castor transports expected to be an election topic. Not all
German NPPs are involved in controversy; Greifswald Castor container not
contaminated. Criticism of IAEA proposals for air-transport of spent fuel.
BNFL may take control of Dounreay. UK scientists to sow flower and vegetable
seeds on contaminated ground in hope that the plants will draw radioactivity
from the soil. 

Glenn
GACMail98@aol.com