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The tiny Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians Reservation in Utah is targeted for a very big nuclear waste dump. Private Fuel Storage (PFS), a limited liability corporation representing eight powerful nuclear utilities, wants to "temporarily" store 40,000 tons of commercial high-level radioactive waste (about 80% of the commercial irradiated nuclear fuel in the U.S. as of the end of 2004) next to the two-dozen tribal members who live on the small reservation. The PFS proposal is the latest in a long tradition of targeting Native American communities for such dumps. But there is another tradition on the targeted reservations as well–fighting back against blatant environmental racism, and winning. NIRS, joining with allies such as Indigenous Environmental Network and Honor the Earth, has been privileged and honored to assist tribal members opposing dumps targeted at their communities for well over a decade. Of 60 Indian communities directly targeted by the nuclear power establishment, 59 have fended off the threat. But the Skull Valley proposal has advanced further than any other before, and could be granted an operating license by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission sometime in early 2005. NIRS and Skull Valley Goshute tribal opponents to this environmental racism – and threat of irradiated fuel trains by the hundreds rolling through dozens of U.S. states as early as 2007 – need YOUR help today!
2006
2005
- Statement
of Michael Mariotte, Executive Director of Nuclear Information and Resource
Service (NIRS) on Federal Racism as Radioactive Waste Approved for Native
American Land. September 09, 2005
- On behalf of the millions
of members our 437 organizations represent (31 Native American, 26 national,
366 regional/state/local, and 15 international organizations), we urge
you not to approve the license application by Private Fuel Storage,
LLC (PFS) to open an "interim storage site" for commercial
irradiated nuclear fuel at the Skull Valley Goshute Indian Reservation
in Utah. This letter was delivered to the NRC Commissioners on July
7, 2005. But on September 9, 2005, by a split 4 to 1 decision, the NRC
Commissioners voted to issue PFS a construction and operating license.
- NIRS and Public Citizen have compiled two timelines -- one on the
targeting of Native American tribes in general, and the other on the
targeting of the Skull Valley Goshutes of Utah in particular, for high-level
radioactive waste dumps -- plus a backgrounder on why the Private Fuel
Storage dump is all of a sudden on the fast track. June 14, 2005: The
History of Targeting Native American Communities with High-Level Atomic
Waste Dumps
Skull Valley
Goshutes/PFS Timeline
Why
is the Nuclear Industry Pushing for Private Fuel Storage (PFS)?
- Timeline (from Feb. 24 to June
10, 2005) showing recent developments in the struggle against the Private
Fuel Storage, LLC high-level radioactive waste dump targeted at the
Skull Valley Goshutes in Utah. June 10, 2005
- Stop Radioactive Racism! Last chance
to sign anti-PFS letter; Letter to Editor campaign to local papers.
NIRS alert. June 3, 2005
- Opposition to Private Fuel Storage Mounts
from Public Interest Groups and Tribes. Citing National Security
and Environmental Justice Concerns, Groups Urge Nuclear Agency to Listen
to Utah’s Appeal. NIRS press release. April 4, 2005
- NRC Licensing Board Today Ruled in
Favor of Granting a License to the Private Fuel Storage Dump on Native
Land in Utah. Sign on to Oppose This Project! NIRS Alert, February
24, 2005.
- Contact NRC--No Nuclear Dumps on Native
Lands. NIRS alert, January 26, 2005.
2004
2002
2001
- Kevin Kamps and Naomi Butorac were
sentenced to 7 days in jail for protesting proposed high-level nuclear
waste on Native American land at Skull Valley, Utah. Press Release.
August 3, 2001
- Beware of "Private Fuel Storage" New
Report Criticizes Industry Plan for Nuclear Waste. Press Release
by NIRS, Ohngo Guadedah Devia Awareness, and Public Citizen. July 26,
2001.
- NIRS press advisory, “Protest
Against Cook Nuclear Plant for Attempting to Dump High-Level Wastes
on Native American Reservation in Utah,” Airplane banner (“Don't
Cook Native Lands with Waste Dumps!") flying over the Cook Nuclear
Power Plant, June 15, 2000
- NIRS “No Nuke Waste on Native
Lands!” Action Sheet,
June 9, 2001.
- NIRS National Day of Action Against Radioactive Racism, in commemoration
of Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe anniversary, March 26, 2001 (alert,
flyer ,
press release).
- Private Fuel Storage's proposed
interim high-level nuclear waste dumpsite on the reservation of Skull
Valley Goshute Tribe 40 miles west of Salt Lake City. Factsheet.
February 15, 2001
- Environmental Racism, Tribal
Sovereignty and Nuclear Waste, NIRS Factsheet, February 2001
2000
1998
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