International Moratorium in U.S. state on nuclear plants?

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 9

International Moratorium in U.S. state on nuclear plants?

NZPA-Reuter Portland, < Oregon 1 A moratorium on nuclear ; fower-plant construction has 5 ien approved by the Oregon House of Representa- < tives after lengthy debate ] over the hazards of stock- i piling nuclear waste and ’ risks to the future standard I of living. i The measure, approved 36-' 24, would ban the construction of new nuclear power I plants in the state until ground is broken somewhere 1 in the country for a per- s manent storage facility for high-level radioactive waste. 1 “We’re talking about a 10year delay to solve a mil-lion-year problem,” said < Representative John Schoon, a supporter of the bill. I He said two months ago he would have opposed the i measure, but he changed his position after learning more about the waste-disposal problem. The bill was called a •‘middle ground” between a proposal to ban construction until a storage facility is completed, and a proposed one-year moratorium. Supporters argued that no method for safe storage exists, and some questioned whether one ever would be available. Opponents accused them of acting out of hysteria over the Three Mile Island nuclear-reactor accident in Pennsylvania, and said a one-year moratorium to study waste and safety Issues was adequate. The bill was sent to the Senate, where it is expected to have trouble getting out of committee because of the

opposition of the Senate President (Mr Jason Boe), who favours a Senate-ap-proved bill calling for a oneyear moratorium.

The House bill would delay the construction of a proposed 53500 M nuclear complex in north-eastern Oregon, and opponents said they feared the Portland General Electric Company would decide to build the complex in Washington, on the other side of the Columbia River, which forms the border between the two states.

In Torness, Scotland, seve,al hundred demonstrators have continued their occupation of a site for a planned gas-cooled nuclear reactor on Scotland’s east coast between Edinburgh and Berwick. calling for the scrapping of the project.

About 3000 anti-nuclear protesters piled up bales of straw to climb over a fence into the site on Monday.

Their number ” later dwindled to a few hundred. They intended to spend a night there and argue their case with construction workers returning to work after a public holiday. Opponents of nuclear energy will hold demonstrations in 11 European countrie? on Sunday, June 3, West Germany’s biggest environmental group has said in Hamburg. The protests will take place in West Germany, France, Britain, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Most demonstrations will be at the sites of nuclear plants.