Paris (Platts)--18Jul2008

No trace of uranium was found in 19 residents near the Socatri plant at
Tricastin, in southern France, site of a uranium leak on July 7, the Institute
of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, IRSN, reported July 18. IRSN
said it had run confirmatory checks on urine samples from 19 people living
near the Socatri uranium treatment plant who feared contamination from the
uranium-bearing effluent that accidentally leaked offsite and into local
rivers and groundwater. The 19 had already been checked at their request at
Areva's Tricastin facilities. Socatri is a subsidiary of Eurodif, itself a
subsidiary of Areva. Jacques Repussard, IRSN director general, said that the
level of uranium in the groundwater around the plant now is under the World
Health Organization guidelines for drinking water of 15 micrograms per liter.
He said local prefects were expected soon to lift restrictions on drinking
well water and using surface water. The restrictions had been in place since
the incident. "There is no reason for concern about health" impacts from the
Socatri leak, he said at a press conference called by the environment
minister, Jean-Louis Borloo. Borloo said he would press for publication of
radioecological status reports for all of France's major nuclear installation
sites. An initial assessment is due to be completed by September.