2 SEPTEMBER 1976.

EWS RELEASE

MINISTER FOR i i ÃÂ» . ,  *  *  ÃÂ»  Â«  ^

L m  * h i v ^ N i v t c i v  i f ti i* v> Â·Â«

AND C O M M U N IT Y  DEVELOPMENT

Canberra A.C.Y.

P76/4Q

The Minister for Environment,  Housing and Community  Development,  Mr Kevin Neuman,  said today that the decision to  permit nuclear-pouered warships to enter Australian ports had only  been taken after exhaustive consideration of the environmental  aspects of the proposal. .

.  As the Prime Minister announced in the House of Representatives on 4 Dune 1976, a classified draft Environmental  Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Defence and  the Australian Atomic Energy Commission.  This statement was .   subjected to close scrutiny by the Australian Ionizing Radiation  Advisory Council and by officers of the Department of Environment,  Housing and Community Development.  They advised that the provisions  for environment safeguards were reasonable and provided responsible  precautions.

As much of this information as was consistent with  security has been made available in the document entitled  "Environmental Considerations of Visits of Nuclear-Powered WarÂ­ ships' to Australia" which was tabled in Parliament by the  Prime Minister on 4 Dune 1976.

.  Mr Neuman said that the administrative procedures of  the Environment Protection Act had been scrupulously complied  with.  He said that every reasonable precaution is being taken '   to ensure that there is no risk to public safety as a result  of the visit. .  Â·

In the last 20 years, US nuclear-pouered warships nave  visited more than 30 ports in. more than 30 countries.  In addition,   US nuclear-pouered warships have visited more than 40 ports .   throughout the United States. There hasÂ· been no reported leakage  of radioactivity.  All authorities agree that an atomic bomb

type explosion is physically impossible.

LAUNCESTON

