A proposito di sommergibili a La Maddalena

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

 U.S. Nuclear Submarines to Leave Italian Island Base
By REUTERS, ROME

The United States navy is closing its submarine base off the island of 
Sardinia, one of only two stations in the world outside the United 
States that services nuclear submarines, the Italian Defense Ministry said.

A Defense Ministry statement released Nov. 22 said the timetable for the 
closure would be agreed at a later date.

The decision was part of a broader U.S. plan to revise its military 
deployment across Europe, it added.

The U.S. support operation at La Maddalena was commissioned on Jan. 1 
1973, but has faced calls for its closure in recent years from local 
authorities because of environmental concerns.

Conservationist group Legambiente said last year it had conducted tests 
that showed increased levels of radiation in the waters that could be 
traced to the submarines.

Local leaders hailed the U.S. decision.

"It’s the best news we’ve had in a long while," said Sardinia’s regional 
president, computer tycoon Renato Soru.

Some 1,800 U.S. personnel work at La Maddalena, built on a tiny island 
off the north eastern tip of Sardinia. Submarines use the facilities for 
repairs and none is based there.

The only known accident occurred in 2003, when the nuclear-powered 
Hartford submarine ran aground near the base causing substantial damage 
to the vessel. The captain and another top officer were later relieved 
of their command.

Sardinia is famed for its sandy beaches and sunny climate, but locals 
complain that the presence of the U.S. base has hindered tourism 
development on the island.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1371942&C=landwar