CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION





CRIGGION NO HEALTH RISK SAY MOD



Perseverance pays off! Following further requests to the Ministry
of Defence about incidents in which damage occurred at the top secret
VLF (Very Low Frequency) communications base at Criggion on the Wales/England
border in May 2000 the MOD have finally advanced an explanation.

The facility ostensibly operated by British Telecom is used to provide
covert communications to military users, the most significant of which
is the Royal Navies ballistic missile carrying nuclear submarine force.


The Celtic League had asked why roads in the area of the radio station
had been sealed off by police. It however appears that the security
services over reacted at the time assuming that Criggion was the target
of peace activists or others.

Certainly, given its role, it would be a prime target for any peace
activists concerned about the morality of the United Kingdom lecturing
other countries about the dangers of nuclear proliferation whilst
maintaining its own 'nuclear deterrent'.

The MOD finally broke its two year silence on the issue explaining
that investigations by both the Police and BT eventually attributed
the damage caused to operators of a nearby quarry.

The League also took the opportunity to query the MOD on possible
health risks posed by the extensive Criggion VLF aerial array. We
said, in correspondence to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon MP, given
that:

"The aerial array at Criggion is quite extensive. Can you advise if
any area or site plan is available for the transmitter? You will,
I feel sure, be aware of the concerns at present about the implications
of electromagnetic radiation, particularly that pulsed from transmitter
arrays or microwaves. Could you advise therefore if any environmental
impact research has been carried out by either the MOD or the site
operator to ensure that no health concerns are implicit because of
attendant radiation".

The MOD Defence Logistics Organisation have reassured us that:

"Measurements of the electromagnetic environment around Criggion have
been conducted by the site operator, British Telecommunications Radio
Services, and by an independent specialist, and have confirmed that
the site was operating safely within National Radiological Protection
Board (NRPB) guidelines".

We will be checking this information with the NRPB.



J B Moffatt

Secretary General

Celtic League.



28/04/02





The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It focuses
on human rights abuse and civil liberty issues and also monitors the
impact of military activity.

TEL + (0)1624 877918 MOBILE + (0)7624 491609

Internet site at

http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

b.moffatt@...