Cablegate: Brazil No Longer Seeks to Send Low Level Radioactive

VZCZCXRO6316
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1149 2581854
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151854Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5089
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 4550
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 8196
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 9935
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 6353
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0181

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001149

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ETTC KNNP KSCA TRGY BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL NO LONGER SEEKS TO SEND LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR DISPOSAL

REF: A) STATE 68832, B) 2008 STATE 97571

(U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.

1. (SBU) Per REFTEL A, on September 11 Science Counselor and
Science Officer discussed with Brazil's Ministry of External
Relations' (MRE) Acting Director of the Division for Disarmament and
Sensitive Technologies (DDS) Fabio Simao Alves the proposal to
transfer of low-level radioactive items from Brazil's Angra I
nuclear power plant to the United States for decontamination and
disposal. Earlier, per REFTEL B, the Embassy had sent the MRE a
diplomatic note (no. 456 in September 2008) regarding this proposed
import into the United States from Brazil of low level radioactive
protective clothing for decontamination and disposal. Following
delivery of that diplomatic note, Emboffs had pressed the MRE/DDS
for a response. On those occasions, the MRE/DDS said that a
response would be forthcoming, but until this latest meeting that
had not happened.

2. (SBU) Now, we have an answer. Acting Director Alves said he had
looked into the matter. He informed Post that the Brazilian
state-owned company Eletronuclear had the protective clothing and
that it planned to decontaminate and dispose of the clothing in
Brazil. Therefore, Brazil no longer has plans to export this low
level radioactive clothing to the United States for decontamination
and disposal.

KUBISKE

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