WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1169/96 by Elly PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL to the Commission. Storming of the JRC's high-flux reactor in Petten
Date: 1996-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL
Subjects: Netherlands, commemoration, ecology movement, nuclear accident, nuclear reactor













EUR-Lex - 91996E1169 - EN






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91996E1169

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1169/96 by Elly PLOOIJ-VAN GORSEL to the Commission. Storming of the JRC's high-flux reactor in Petten  


Official Journal C 322 , 28/10/1996 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1169/96 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission (3 May 1996)Subject: Storming of the JRC's high-flux reactor in PettenOn 26 April 1996 Greenpeace staged a protest at the JRC in Petten (Netherlands) to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. Campaigners were able to climb to the top of the roof of the high flux reactor in no time at all.1. Is the Commission not surprised that the protesters were so easily able to force access to this sensitive installation?2. What is wrong with security at the reactor?3. What plans does the Commission have for improving security at the Petten site?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (28 May 1996)1. Early in the morning of Friday 26 April 1996, a group of about 14 demonstrators from Greenpeace gained unauthorized access to the Joint research centre (JRC) Petten site and climbed to a high level walkway on the outside of the high flux reactor (HFR) containment building. They unfurled a publicity banner, protesting against the Tchernobyl reactor accident. The action ended peacefully later the same morning and the demonstrators were escorted from the site by the Dutch police.There were also peaceful demonstrations near other nuclear installations in the Netherlands.The Commission regrets that this demonstration to mark the tenth anniversary of Tchernobyl chose the site of a research reactor the activities of which are strictly related to research and to the production of radio-isotopes for hospitals and other medical centres in the Community. The Commission considers that this type of demonstration can only lead to confusion in public opinion.2. The security measures surrounding the reactor worked in accordance with established procedures set down and agreed with the Dutch authorities. These security measures are directed against all possible incidents concerning unauthorized interference with plant processes, materials and equipment. The internal JRC Petten security measures are fully in agreement with the measures to be taken by the police in case of alarm, and the response by the guards and police are dependent on the nature and gravity of the incident. The HFR guards and Dutch police reacted in accordance with these established procedures.At no time were any of the demonstrators or the staff at Petten under any risk of radiation or contamination and at no time was the reactor under threat. The demonstrators did not attempt to break into any of the more security restricted areas of the reactor. Throughout the incident the reactor and its radio-isotope production facilities continued normal uninterrupted operation.3. The Commission is reviewing the incident and security measures with the Dutch authorities. If necessary, relevant decisions will be jointly taken but, as the Honourable Member is aware, such decisions have to be kept strictly confidential.