Subject: Bad News for Mobile Chernobyl

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DECEMBER 17
23:44 EST

Plutonium OK'd To Ship Through Mich.

By LISA SINGHANIA
Associated Press Writer

http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_story.html?FRONTID=NATIONAL&STORYID=APIS71D
H29G0

GRAND RAPIDS
Mich. (AP) — The Department of
Energy indicated on Friday that it will ship a small
quantity of plutonium from New Mexico to Canada after
a judge rejected a request by environmentalists to block
the transport.

Chief Judge Richard Enslen ruled that although the
plaintiffs' contentions that the government violated the
law appeared to have merit
the government's assertions
that an injunction would hurt nuclear disarmament
talks were more important.

``We are pleased by the judge's decision to allow ... this
important
non-proliferation initiative
'' a Department
of Energy spokeswoman said
speaking on the condition
of anonymity. ``We are currently working with our
Canadian government counterparts to finalize the
shipment details.''

The transport is part of the Parallex Project
a joint
American-Russian experiment to determine whether
commercial nuclear reactors in Canada can use material
from decommissioned Russian nuclear weapons as fuel.

As part of the experiment
the United States is shipping
a sample of radioactive material from New Mexico to
Canada. The sample
which contains about 4.2 ounces —
or 119 grams — of plutonium
will be transported on an
armored truck.

The truck's itinerary is not being publicly released. But
when it does occur
the transport is expected to pass
through Michigan.

The Energy Department says the test is a key
component in its nuclear disarmament efforts with
Russia. It is picking up the $20 million tab for the entire
experiment.

But the six individuals and environmental group that
sued the government had argued the law required the
agency to conduct an environmental impact statement

instead of the less-exhaustive assessment the
department did.

Verna Lawrence
mayor of Sault Ste. Marie
the last
Michigan community the shipment will pass through
before entering Canada
was upset with the ruling.

``I'm mad as hell
'' said Ms. Lawrence
who said she will
stop the shipment's passage through her community if
she can figure out a way to do it. ``It is too risky. The
Great Lakes basin will be contaminated for years and
years if there's an accident.''

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