Soviets Sign Off on German Uranium Pits
CHEMNITZ, Germany — The Soviet Union rid itself of a radioactive nightmare in eastern Germany Thursday when it signed over to Bonn its share of the giant Wismut uranium mines.
A grim relic of Soviet occupation after World War II, the Wismut pits were mined secretly for Moscow’s nuclear program, causing health and environmental damage expected to eventually cost billions of dollars.
Soviet Atomic Energy Minister Vitaly Konovalov and German Economics Minister Juergen Moellemann signed an accord under which the Kremlin transferred its 50% share in the Wismut mines to Bonn--along with all liability.
The two countries’ parliaments must ratify the deal, which requires that Bonn shoulder all costs of the shutdown, cleanup and conversion of the uranium mines for other uses.
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