U.S. Government Ships Plutonium to France

Associated Press ^ | september 20th, 2004 | JENNIFER HOLLAND

[Artemis Webb]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A shipment of weapons-grade plutonium has left the United States for a nuclear reactor in France, drawing protests from activists who believe the shipment poses both an environmental and terrorist threat.

Government officials confirmed the plutonium had left the United States aboard an armored ship escorted by second ship, but they would not say when the shipment departed, citing security concerns.

However, about 20 activists waved signs and banners along the Charleston waterfront Monday to protest what they said was the departing plutonium.

"This is really the wrong signal to be sending to countries around the world," said protester Tom Clements of Greenpeace International, calling the transport and use of nuclear weapons material "just the wrong thing given the security climate in the world right now."

Once in France, the material is to be converted into nuclear fuel and returned next year for a test run in a commercial reactor. The U.S. Energy Department must ship the material overseas for conversion because there isn't a plant in the United States that can do it.

[Artemis Webb]

For once I agree with Greenpeace. I just can't imagine how dirty the processed material will be once the Frogs are done fingering it.

[freeangel]

What makes anyone think they won't sell it to Iran or N. Korea?

[familyop]

What a move! Ship the material to France and precede it with a press release. ...all eyes on France. LOL!

[steveyp]

Great news!

Now if the Frogs can just build the assemblies on schedule, we can start burning the suckers.

The bombs helped make the peace and now they are helping make electicity.

What a country!

[Henchman]

I, for one, am boycotting France and French products. Love BUSH BWTF is he thinking¿

[manic4organic]

And hopefully it's in an inbound missile arriving about....NOW! Just kidding, kind of.

[103198]

Its a shame that we don't have the capability to manufacturer the assemblies here. We should not only have the ability to integrate plutonium in our fuel rods (and assemblies) but should also be using an nuclear material reprocessing strategy to dramatically extend our nuclear energy market. This is just another example of us creating a great technology and letting politics/PC kill it.

[MCH]

Hmmm. One can only hope that there was a detonator attached to it. Radioactive frog legs "jump" to mind.

[ProxyAccount]

The reprocessing of weapons-grade plutonium into reactor fuel is something that's been going on for quite a while. However, due to the anti-nuke movement in the United States, we lack sufficient facilities to handle our own reprocessing. It's a consequence of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) and DIYDDIYD (Damned If You Do....). However, we've progressed a lot further in nuclear technology since Three-Mile Island. We need to get past the fear and anti-nuclear rhetoric and restart our own nuclear fuel processing and power programs.

[Navy Patriot]

Are these in twelve kilo shipments delivered 400 meters over Paris?

[Gator113]

I would oppose sending so much as a glass of clean water to France, let alone this stuff.

[Between the Lines]

The weapons-grade plutonium being shipped to France will be processed into MOX fuel (Mixed Oxide Fuel) to be burned in the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie SC (literally in my back yard).

Everyone around here is looking forward to our very low electric bills getting even lower when they switch to MOX. We are also happy to know that since switching to MOX the reactors will be granted an additional 20 years on their licenses, guaranteeing us low property taxes till 2040!

[SC Swamp Fox]

SC Ping

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[thulldud]

Hmph. I should come over there.

[faithincowboys]

Why are we doing this? it'll probably end up in Iran.

[Artemis Webb]

"Why are we doing this? it'll probably end up in Iran."

The only thing worse than a country of cowardly back stabbers is a country of self righteous cowardly back stabbers.

[RadioAstronomer]

Its a shame that we don't have the capability to manufacturer the assemblies here. We should not only have the ability to integrate plutonium in our fuel rods (and assemblies) but should also be using an nuclear material reprocessing strategy to dramatically extend our nuclear energy market. This is just another example of us creating a great technology and letting politics/PC kill it.

I agree completely!