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The Senate version of the FY 2007 Energy and Water
Appropriations Bill (HR 5427), authorizes the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to take irradiated nuclear
fuel currently housed at commercial reactors and
temporarily store it at federal sites. The
“interim” storage sites, termed Consolidation and
Preparation (CAP) facilities, would be located within a
state or regional site for up to 25 years, without the
possibility of license extensions. Current DOE
sites would be the most likely locations.
The mothballed DOE uranium enrichment plant outside
Piketon, Ohio, is being proposed as a site to accept
this waste. If enacted, this provision would
result in a dangerous transformation of the nation’s
nuclear waste policy without the prospect of a public
debate or hearings. Currently, more than 50,000 metric
tons of nuclear waste is piling up at nuclear power
plants in 31 states, awaiting geologic repository at
Yucca Mountain. However, a series of scientific,
political and technical problems have delayed the
opening of Yucca Mountain.
With the Bush Administration pushing for a nuclear
power revival, the nuclear industry will have a
difficult time finding investors until the waste problem
is resolved. These industry considerations have
led the drive for interim storage, not safety issues as
proponents claim. only could interim storage facilitate
the licensing of new nuclear power plants, it will not
change the fact that the US lacks a viable, permanent
solution for nuclear waste.
- Interim storage provision will override states’
rights The bill would still give DOE authority
to build these facilities over objections from states
and local governments. This dangerous provision
could force at least 31 new nuclear waste storage
sites which could become permanent waste dumps.
regional interim storage sites are opened, states may
be forced to accept other states' nuclear waste.
This is one of the more ominous features of this bill.
- Interim storage will not solve the waste problem
Moving waste from the reactors to interim storage
sites will not resolve the US nuclear waste problem nor
improve security at the reactor sites.
- Interim storage will increase transportation
risks Transporting high level nuclear waste from
the 103 reactors in 31 states to the interim storage
sites will only weaken our ability to protect the nation
against the threat of terrorism. There will be
added risks to public health and safety as the 50,000
metric tons of highly radioactive waste is transported
on busy highways and railroads.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Ask Governor
Taft to tell Congress that he DOES NOT want Ohio to
become a nuclear waste dump. HR 5427 may not
see any floor action in the Senate, but will be delayed
until after the November elections and settled in an
omnibus bill. If this happens, it will make it
more difficult to voice your opposition. Your
action now is needed!
This article was adapted from information obtained
from the
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA). |
The Senate version of the FY 2007 Energy and Water
Appropriations Bill (HR 5427), authorizes the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to take irradiated nuclear
fuel currently housed at commercial reactors and
temporarily store it at federal sites.
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