Champagne loses radioactive battle

The Champagne region has suffered a blow as its request to stop radioactive waste being stored on the edge of its appellation was rejected.

The legal battle, which started over four years ago between the CIVC and the national agency responsible for processing radioactive waste, ANDRA, finally drew to a close at the end of last week.

Concerns were initially raised when ANDRA reported a leak at their Soulaine site, only nine kilometres from the Champagne appellation, in 2006.

The Soulaine site has room for one million cubic metres of low-activity, short life-time waste produce, which, if the current filling rate continues, will reach its limit in 2050. Despite the “short life-cycle” label, the site will have to be supervised for a further 300 years.

ANDRA maintains, however, that despite the proximity, the Soulaine site does not pose any threat given that it is “downstream” from the Champagne limit.

While there are no official records of radioactive material leaking into the Champagne area, there are grounds for concern, according to Greenpeace, after a similar site controlled by ANDRA in Normandy reported a series of leaks from 1976 to 2006 that resulted in the contamination of local farmlands and drinking water.

The rejection was based on lack of definitive proof of leakage and contamination from the site.

Daniel Lorson, director of communications for the CIVC, said: “The CIVC accepts the tribunal’s decision, but will remain actively vigilant on the matter.”

Marinel FitzSimons, 20.10.2010