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The radiological situation at the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa (1998)

Author	IAEA
Date	1998
Classification	4.26.8.00/13 (PACIFIC - FRENCH TESTING AREA)
Front

FOREWORD

At the present time there are various locations around the world affected by 
radioactive residues. Some of these residues are the result of past peaceful 
activities, others result from military activities, including residues from the testing 
of nuclear weapons. Stimulated by concern about the state of the environment, the 
welcome trend away from military nuclear activities, and improved opportunities 
for international co-operation, attention in many countries has turned to assessing 
and, where necessary, remediating areas affected by radioactive residues.
Some of these residues are located in countries where there is ail absence of the 
infrastructures and expertise necessary for evaluating the significance of the 
radiation risks posed by the residues and for making decisions on remediation. In 
such cases, governments have felt it necessary to obtain outside help. In other cases, 
it has been considered to be socially and politically desirable to have independent 
expert opinions on the radiological situation caused by the residues. As a result, the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been requested by the governments 
of a number of Member States to provide assistance in this context. The assistance 
has been provided by the IAEA in relation to its statutory obligation ''to establish ... 
standards of safety for protection of health ... and to provide for the application of 
these standards ... at the request of a State".
On 22 September 1995, a resolution of the General Conference of the IAEA called on 
all States concerned "to fulfil their responsibilities to ensure that sites where nuclear 
tests have been conducted are monitored scrupulously and to take appropriate steps 
to avoid adverse impacts on health, safety and the environment as a consequence of 
such nuclear testing".
The Study reported upon here was requested by the Government of France, which 
asked the IAEA to assess the radiological situation at the atolls of Mururoa and 
Fangataufa in French Polynesia, where France had conducted a nuclear weapon 
testing programme between 1966 and 1996. The IAEA convened an International 
Advisory Committee (IAC), under the chairmanship of Dr. E. Gail de Planque of 
the United States of America, to supervise the Study.
The IAC, which was given the tasks of providing scientific guidance and direction 
to the IAEA in the conduct of the Study, and of reporting on the Study's findings, 
conclusions and recommendations, met formally for the first time on 13-14 April 
1996; this signalled the start of the Study of the Radiological Situation at the Atolls 
of Mururoa and Fangataufa. The Study has now been completed and a number of 
documents have been prepared. These documents are: the Main Report (which 
includes the Executive Summary); a Summary Report; and a Technical Report 
in six volumes.
I am pleased to have received these reports, which are being made available 
through the IAEA to a wider audience.

Mohamed ElBaradei
Director General
International Atomic Energy Agency

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