Support Pacific Campaign to Oppose the Use of the Marshall Islands for Radioactive Waste Storage

Contact: Kilali Alailima, Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee Pacific Program, 2426 O'ahu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96822, ph:(808) 988-1124, fax: (808) 988-4876, kilali@igc.apc.org

Although the government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI)has been steadfastly maintaining that it has only negotiate a feasibility study for the storage of radioactive wastes in the Marshall Islands, reliable sources say that this has not been the case. The agreement which was reached earlier this month with B&W Nuclear Environmental Services, Inc is believed to be for the actual storage of wastes on the atolls of Wotto (also spelt Wotho), which is inhabited, and Erikub; a turtle sanctuary used traditionally as a food source during emergencies.

B&W Nuclear Environmental Services, Inc, is an affiliate of Babcock and Wilcox, an operating unit of McDermott International, Inc.; a leading worldwide energy services. B&W company officials are rumored to be in Taiwan and Japan to seek sources of nuclear waste.

There has been expressed concern that the agreement was unconstitutional and against existing US environmental legislation. The government also refuses to publicly release the terms of agreement.

Opposition to the agreement is mounting in the Pacific. The high potential for accidents from increased trafficking of wastes, risk to human health and the environment, and the fact that atolls are vulnerable to typhoons, title waves, and rising sea levels makes this problem a Pacific concern. Further, there is also considerably congressional lobbying from other US based companies to use Wake and Palmyra atolls for nuclear waste storage. The agreement to move ahead to store wastes in the Marshall Islands sets a precedent through-out the Pacific as a place where the worlds most hazardous wastes can be dumped.

Please write to B&W, the President or the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and express to them your concern of their decision to use their atolls to store nuclear wastes.

FAX: PRESIDENT'S OFFICE (692) 625 4021

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (692) 625 3685

B&W's address is: P.S. Box 11165, Lynchburg, VA 24506-1165. The tel. is 804-522-5021, and the fax is 804-522-6950. The people involved on the project from B&W are Mr. Richard Govers (who is in Taiwan now), Mr. Hooker, and Mr. John Lewis - the attorney.

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