Russia Deny Radiation Sleuths Andreeva Bay Access

A study aimed to determine possible leakages of radioactivity from Russia’s nuclear waste dump in Andreeva Bay has been stopped by the navy. Citing Salve Dahle with Akvaplan-niva, Barents Observer reports that the missing samples make it impossible to conclude the study.

Andreeva Bay is the largest nuclear waste storage on the Kola Peninsula, holding more than 21,000 spent uranium fuel assemblies. The storage tanks, located a few hundred meters from the shoreline, are all three in a serious worn-down state. Radioactive contamination has been discovered in the soil several places within the nuclear storage complex.

Barents Observer now asks: Are here any leakages to the sea?

Russia’s Northern Fleet denied the civilian researchers access to the waters. The storage is located close to the Litsa fjord, which is connected to the Barents Sea, famous for its huge stocks of cod important for both Russian and Norwegian fisheries. The distance from Andreeva bay to Norway is less than 60 kilometers. 

Source: Barents Observer