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Foe calls on Government to ban nuclear waste flights
9 June 1997
Friends of the Earth today called on the Government to ban the transportation of nuclear waste by air following reports that British Nuclear Fuels is planning to fly highly radioactive plutonium waste from Europe and Japan to its new 'recycling' plant in Sellafield. An air accident involving plutonium - one of the deadliest substances in existence - could have a devastating effect on millions of people, and contaminate huge areas for many generations.
Dr Patrick Green, Nuclear Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
"We are horrified to learn that the nuclear industry is planning to fly highly radioactive waste into its new recycling plant at Sellafield. If an accident were to happen the consequences would be devastating. The Government must act immediately to ban these flights"
Friends of the Earth is also calling for an immediate halt to BNFL's plans to manufacture plutonium-based "MOX" fuel at its new recycling plant in Sellafield. The plant would take plutonium from overseas nuclear power plants, enrich it, and then send it back again.
Dr Patrick Green continued:
"If this new plutonium recycling plant is allowed to start operating, it will lead to a major increase in the transportation of plutonium around the UK. This is totally unacceptable. Plutonium transports must be banned now, and plans for BNFL's'MOX' plant must be halted immediately. The UK population must no longer be exposed to the horrific risks created by the nuclear industry's activities"
ENDS
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Dec 2008
