Bans lifted on water use after nuclear site spill

July 8 uranium spill in southern France prompted ban

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updated 6:34 p.m. ET July 22, 2008

MARSEILLE, France - Authorities in southern France said they are lifting a ban on water sports and fishing in two rivers that was imposed after a leak at a nearby nuclear site.

Other bans on drinking well water in three towns or watering crops from the Gaffiere and Lauzon rivers are also being lifted.

The bans have been in place since July 8, after liquid contaminated with unenriched uranium spilled from a tank being washed at the Tricastin nuclear site near Avignon.

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Authorities in the Vaucluse and Drome regions said Tuesday that nuclear and health experts agreed the pollution had diminished sufficiently to lift the bans. However, surveillance is to continue.

The incident was one of two problems at French nuclear facilities in the last few weeks.