NUCLEAR PHYSICS LAB SHUT DOWN FOR ALLEGED

UNCLAS ROME 002414

SIPDIS


PARIS FOR NSF REP SCHINDEL
DEPT FOR OES/STC AND STAS, EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TBIO TPHY IT
SUBJECT: NUCLEAR PHYSICS LAB SHUT DOWN FOR ALLEGED
POLLUTION



1. ON MAY 30, THE PRESS REPORTED THAT THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS (INFN) GRAN SASSO LABORATORY
WAS SHUT DOWN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. IN PARTICULAR,
THE MAGISTRATE DECIDED TO KEEP THE HALL C SEALED, WHERE THE
BOREXINO EXPERIMENT IS AND FROM WHERE PSEUDOCUMENE LEAKED
INTO A RIVER LAST AUGUST. NOTE. THE LEAK WAS DUE TO A
"HUMAN MISTAKE" - ACTUALLY TO LACK OF PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF
THE SUMMER HOLIDAY - NOT A TO DAMAGED OR UNSAFE FILTERS.
END NOTE.


2. HOWEVER, ON MAY 29 INFN DECIDED TO SUSPEND "ALL RESEARCH
ACTIVITIES WHICH IMPLY THE USE OF ANY KIND OF LIQUID". INFN
PRESIDENT IAROCCI HAS ASKED THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY TO
URGENTLY INSPECT ALL THE LABS AND FIX WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE
REPAIRED SO THAT THE RESEARCH ACTIVITY COULD START AGAIN AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. ACCORDING TO IAROCCI'S ASSISTANT, THIS IS
THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CONTINUOUS ATTACKS AND ACCUSATIONS
FROM SEVERAL GREEN NGO'S. SKODON

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2003ROME02414 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED