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Calling for Falls Township of Bucks County of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to oppose transportation of high level radioactive waste through
Falls Township and the Commonwealth.
Whereas, the Department of Energy plans to move high-level radioactive waste
through Falls Township and 43 states as early as 1998 should Senate Bill 167 or
similar legislation be enacted by the U.S. Congress; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania can expect 3,879 truck casks and 2,190 rail casks to
come through highly populated areas, including Falls Township; each rail cask
holding up to 24 fuel assemblies which in terms of radioactivity is at least 240
times the radioactivity released by the Hiroshima bomb; and
WHEREAS, existing and proposed rail and truck casks have not been physically
tested and there are no plans to physically test them; and
WHEREAS, Falls Township does not have adequately trained emergency response
personnel or equipment to cope with a radiological disaster that could occur as
a result of radioactive materials or waste transportation through Falls
Township; and
WHEREAS, the federal governments under Senate Bill 167 and similar
legislation, would limit funding to Falls Township for training of emergency
response personnel and for purchase of necessary equipment to cope with a
radiological emergency and
WHEREAS, radioactive waste transportation through Falls Township would be a
threat to the safety and the environment of Falls Township residents and likely
decrease property values; and
WHEREAS, this radioactive waste is to be transported to an "interim"
site on Yucca Mountain Nevada which belongs to the Western Shoshone tribe and
straddles 32 fault lines; and
WHEREAS, we generally oppose radioactive waste transportation through Falls
Township; and
WHEREAS, no proven technology exists to contain radioactive
materials from the biosphere for the duration of the material's hazardous
life; and
WHEREAS, continued production of nuclear waste from nuclear power plants
will create additional transportation and disposal problems; and
WHEREAS, alternative, clean, safe, economical, renewable energy sources and
technologies in energy efficiency can replace nuclear energy and its hazardous
waste;
THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that:
FALLS TOWNSHIP is on record as opposing Senate Bill 167 and all similar
legislation which would require radioactive waste transportation near or through
Falls Township and the Commonwealth until the generation of nuclear waste from
nuclear power and nuclear weapons making has ceased; that
FALLS TOWNSHIP supports creation of an independent presidential commission
to re-examine our nation's radioactive waste and energy policies; and that
FALLS TOWNSHIP will carry this resolution to all of our
elected local, state, and federal officials, and to the President of the
United States.
Passed unanimously February 17, 1995
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