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