News of Norway, issue 2, 2001
Together with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, nuclear, defense and environmental experts were allowed to inspect what is considered one of the world's most radioactively dangerous places.
"This really is an area we must do something about. Very large amounts of radioactive waste are stored here under very unfavorable conditions, and we have seen a facility marked by such decay that there is reason to take action as soon as possible," Eide told Norwegian state radio NRK.
Eide said radiation detectors showed significantly elevated levels. There are more than 100 nuclear submarines at Russian's Northern Fleet bases on the Kola Peninsula, where northwestern Russia borders Norway.
A 1996 report by Bellona states that about 21,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies are stored at Andreeva, and that many of the containers are leaking. Norway does not allow nuclear weapons or power on its own soil in peacetime and has been deeply concerned about the nuclear waste on the Kola. Norwegian authorities have for years held $2.2 million ready help clean up Andreeva Bay.