[NukeNet] MFP pushes NRC to take terrorism seriously, D.C. hearing

[MoJo]

PRESS RELEASE

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace
June 30,  2008
For immediate release
                                       
Contact:         Jane Swanson, spokesperson
                        San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace
                        Cell phone (805) 440-1359
                        janeslo at kcbx.net

 
NRC PUSHED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE THREAT OF TERRORIST ATTACK ON NUCLEAR WASTES

Washington,  D.C

In a highly unusual proceeding, on Tuesday, July 1, the four Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners will hear oral arguments from San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (MFP) on the potentially catastrophic environmental consequences  of a terrorist attack on dry cask storage containers at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant located in California. More commonly, contested issues are argued before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. EDT at the NRC's headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and will be webcast (see details below). MFP will be represented by attorney Diane Curran, assisted by expert witness Dr. Gordon Thompson. MFP spokesperson Jane Swanson will also be present.

"The NRC has been irrational in concluding  that a terrorist attack on the casks at Diablo Canyon would have no significant impact," according to MFP spokesperson Jane Swanson. "Our expert witness has shown that radiation could be released over a broad geographic area, with damage to public health and the environment costing billions of dollars."

Ms. Swanson also stated that while the MFP hopes for a good decision from the NRC, the group is prepared to return to the Ninth Circuit if further litigation is necessary to force the NRC to protect the public from radiation that could be released by a terrorist attack.
 
Spokesperson Jane Swanson will be available to media for a statement after the conclusion of the hearing at (805) 440-1359.


BACKGROUND

The precedent-setting case began in 2002, when the NRC refused to evaluate the environmental impacts of an attack on the proposed dry cask facility before issuing a permit to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) to store spent fuel on the site.  In 2006, the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered the NRC to do such a study in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.  In response, the NRC produced an extremely abbreviated environmental study, devoting just a few pages to its conclusion that the impacts of an attack would be insignificant.  MFP's expert witness, Dr. Gordon Thompson of the Institute for Resource and Security Studies, contends that the agency's technical analysts erred by assuming a cask could be punctured without also recognizing that its contents could be ignited, allowing a large quantity of radioactive cesium and other contaminants to become airborne and transported over a broad geographic area.  The resulting
 damage to public health and the environment would cost billions of dollars.

Further background is available at www.mothersforpeace.org.

The Hearing may be viewed live as a webcast, or later from the webcast archives. Go to http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings, scroll down to the July 1 Diablo Canyon hearing, and click on "Webcast". One may download from this NRC website RealOne  plugin, which is necessary  to view the webcast.


-- 

Jane Swanson
janeslo at kcbx.net



      
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