What are the water and environmental problems associated with the Gran
Sasso Neutrino Laboratory in Italy? Specifically, problems with Tavo,
Tinno, and Enel Rivers. Also, issues raised by "Committee for the
Protection of the Waters of Gran Sasso."

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 03 Feb 2004 20:09 PST

Here's a link to an article from the New Scientist magazine that
discusses the trimethylbenzene spill and other concerns at the
laboratory:

http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/pollution/pollution.jsp?id=ns99993800

The main concern was not over the spill that did happen, but for the
potential for a much worse incident that could contaminate local
groundwater.

Beyond the information provided in the article, what additional sorts
of details are you looking for?

An article appeared in Science magazine about a trimethylbenze
(detector fluid) spill in the lab that contaminated a local creek.  A
court ordered study found no traces in the local drinking water, but
found that future spills had the potential to contaminate the local
drinking water supply.  The court then ordered the hallway where the
spill occurred to be closed off indefinitely.  No mention was made of
the specific rivers or the committee you asked about.  Science,Volume
300, Number 5626, Issue of 13 Jun 2003, p. 1634.