Exemption to Labeling of DU Munitions Not Renewed

In CADU News 16 we reported on a campaign by US groups to force labelling of DU munitions in transportation. Previously DU munitions were subject to a special U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption, DOT-E 9649, which allows the shipment of depleted uranium munitions without a DOT "Radioactive" placard displayed on the shipment. This potentially put emergency services and the public at risk as responding services would not have known to implement special protective measures in case of an accident. The exemption ran out on the 30th June and so far has not been renewed, although the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC, formerly MTMC), which manages the shipment of depleted uranium munitions, has been granted a time extension in order to provide information requested by the DOT. Campaigners are still being urged to send letters to the Department of Transportation to ensure a future exemption is ruled out.