U.S. sub may have leaked trace amounts of radiation at Japan, Guam bases

[unhappycamper]

U.S. sub may have leaked trace amounts of radiation at Japan, Guam bases
By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, August 4, 2008

TOKYO — A Guam-based U.S. Navy nuclear submarine this summer may have leaked trace amounts of radiation at bases in Japan and in Guam, a Navy spokesman confirmed Saturday afternoon.

The leak on the USS Houston was found on July 17 when the submarine was in dry dock in Hawaii, according to Lt. Cmdr. David Benham, a spokesman for Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii.

Navy officials are still investigating the cause of the leak and when it started, Benham said in a phone interview.

But he stressed that the leak was extremely minimal — less than amount of radiation found in a 50-pound bag of fertilizer — and that the Houston’s nuclear reactor and crew were never in danger.

"We are talking about extremely low levels," Benham said. "This is definitely not nuclear waste. This is water."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56532