U.S. Dept. of Energy says "speak now or forever hold your peace".
Urgent Yucca Mountain Action Alert!!!
Only two and half weeks left to say NO!!! to Yucca Mountain
September 17, 2001
Tell the DOE and Congress to Keep Yucca Mountain Nuclear-Free!
Background
Over 20 years of "scientific study," grassroots activism, and political rancor are coming to a head. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who as a Michigan Senator voted time and time again to ship nuclear waste to Nevada ASAP, will give his thumbs up to go forward with the Yucca Mountain Project by late this year/early next year at the latest. The DOE is accepting final public comments on the ill-conceived proposal until Friday, October 5th, 2001.
Despite major scientific uncertainties and widespread public opposition, the DOE is rushing to develop a high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Marking the latest insult to democratic process and public participation in the controversial project, the DOE recently gave Las Vegas residents only 9 business days notice of a crucial final public hearing on the Secretary of Energy's intention to recommend the nuclear waste dump plan to the President.
Yucca Mountain, located 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is on disputed territory claimed by the Western Shoshone Indian Nation under the Ruby Valley Treaty of 1863, but currently held by the DOE. An aquifer beneath the site is the only source of drinking water for the closest community. Seismic activity in the area makes it likely that radioactivity from the proposed repository would eventually contaminate the groundwater and surrounding environment.
Moreover, 70,000 metric tons of high-level radioactive waste from commercial nuclear reactors and DOE weapons sites across the country would be shipped to the proposed dump, launching an unprecedented nuclear transportation scheme. Routing projections indicate that tens of thousands of highly radioactive atomic waste shipments would likely pass within half a mile of the homes, schools, and workplaces of 50 million Americans in 43 states over the course of several decades.
The DOE's Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation (a document released on August 21st which launched this final public comment period) is premature at best. In addition to longstanding technical problems with the repository proposal, a safe transportation scenario has never been identified, the required Environmental Impact Statement has not been released, and key regulations are yet to be finalized.
A woefully short 45-day comment period has been initiated that will close on October 5th. Apart from the hastily announced Nevada hearings, submitting comments is the only opportunity for public involvement in the site recommendation process.
If the Energy Secretary and President give their thumbs up to the Yucca Mountain dump, Nevada has officially announced it will veto those decisions — its right under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. However, a simple majority in both Houses of Congress can override Nevada's veto. Congress will likely vote on the repository proposal within the next year.
Take Action!
Let DOE and Congress know that you object to the dramatically flawed process that continues to characterize the Yucca Mountain Project, and oppose hauling deadly waste throughout the nation to dump in a leaking earthquake zone on Native American land! See below for sample letter and addresses.
* Help spread the word! Host a letter writing party and encourage others to participate.
* Bring this issue to the attention of your local organization. organizational letters are very helpful!
* Contact NIRS for postcards, comment forms, and petitions to circulate.
* Forward this action alert to friends and family, as well as e-mail alert lists.
Join the new "Yucca Challenge" campaign and receive regular e-mail alerts and !QU!s on how you can help stop Yucca Mountain and the Mobile Chernobyl. Let Kevin Kamps, NIRS nuclear waste specialist, know that you want to sign up: kevin@nirs.org.
SAMPLE LETTER to DOE and CONGRESS
Carol Hanlon, DOE
Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office (M/S #025)
P.O. Box 30307
North Las Vegas, NV 89036-0307
E-mail: YMP_SR@ymp.gov
Fax: 1-800-967-0739
Dear Ms. Hanlon:
I am writing to express my deep concern over the wayward Yucca Mountain Project and the flawed process railroading it toward unacceptable approval. How can the Secretary of Energy be preparing to recommend Yucca Mountain for a high-level nuclear waste dump when thousands of public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement still have not been addressed? Without a Final Environmental Impact Statement, a detailed transportation plan, finalized Dept. of Energy repository siting guidelines, or a Nuclear Regulatory Commission repository licensing rule, the Department of Energy lacks any basis whatsoever for consideration of site suitability. The public cannot accept a recommendation to move ahead with the Yucca Mountain Project that arises from such a fatally flawed process.
In short, Yucca Mountain is a very bad site. Yucca Mountain is a very active earthquake zone, with a number of volcanic cinder cones visible a short distance away. The highly fractured and fissured rock allows rainwater infiltration at a fast rate, which will corrode waste containers and wash their deadly contents into the groundwater, the drinking water supply for nearby farming communities. Because of this fast flow of water, Yucca Mountain should be disqualified, for it violates the DOE's own repository siting guidelines.
Given that 75% of commercial nuclear reactors are east of the Mississippi River, moving the waste many thousands of miles across the country to Nevada would require many tens of thousands of shipments, past the homes of 50 million Americans, through 43 States. A severe transport accident on our roads and rails, such as the recent Baltimore train tunnel fire, could release radiation and cost tens or hundreds of billions of dollars to clean up, not to mention the untold health impacts. In addition, DOE has not addressed terrorist and sabotage threats against high-level waste shipments.
I urge you to abandon the Yucca Mountain Project and the countless "Mobile Chernobyl" truck and train shipments it would launch.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
cc. The Honorable [NAME OF SENATorS]
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable [NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE]
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
*Be sure to send copies of your letter to your Representatives in Congress!
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