[NukeNet] Tell NRC to deny license to import radioactive waste from Italy

Mon Mar 3 17:23:12 EST 2008

Nuclear Information and Resource Service 

6930 Carroll Avenue Suite 340

Takoma Park MD 20912

301 270 6477 x 16

dianed at nirs.org <mailto:dianed at nirs.org> 

www.nirs.org

http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/llwhome.htm
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/llwhome.htm> 

ALERT

Oppose License Applications to

IMPORT MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF NUCLEAR POWER WASTE from EUROPE 

to BURN, MELT, TRANSPORT and DUMP in the US!

EnergySolutions (often called EnergyPollutions) runs 2 commercial
nuclear waste dumps in the US (in South Carolina and Utah) and
incinerators, a metal melter and other "processing" facilities in
Memphis and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

EnergySolutions is applying for a federal license to import 20,000 tons,
one million cubic feet and over 600,000,000,000,000 becquerels
(radioactive emissions per second) of radioactive waste (mainly from
Italian nuclear power and related industries) into the US for processing
including incineration, "recycling" (into unspecified waste streams and
destinations), transport and disposal. 

The "Low" and Intermediate Level Nuclear Waste from ITALY would 

~Enter the US via Ports of Charleston and New Orleans (possibly others)

~Travel to and throughout Tennessee --  

~Be Burned, Smelted, Chopped, and otherwise "Processed," in Memphis and
Oak Ridge giving off routine radioactive emissions and creating more
waste.

Some could be "cleared" and Dumped in Solid Waste Dumps in TN or
"Released" and "Recycled" for use as if not radioactive.

Some would be transported to Utah to be buried.

This opens the doors (or the borders) to foreign radioactive waste
coming in from around the world.

This would give a huge financial boost directly to EnergySolutions (and
indirectly to other "processors") that routinely release radioactivity
and use Tennessee (Dept of Envt and Conservation-TDEC) state licenses to
release the waste from regulatory controls normally required for nuclear
power waste. It facilitates dispersing nuclear waste in this country via
Tennessee.

This would fill up existing (already-controversial) disposal capacity
for the massive amounts of nuclear waste already generated by nuclear
power and weapons in the US.

ACTION NEEDED:

Comment to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to say NO to License
Applications Nos. IW023 and XW013 (Federal Register Volume 73, Number
28, 2/11/08)

Send copies of your comments to your Congressmembers and Senators and to
your State legislators especially if you are in TN, UT, LA, SC and
states between and downwind.

Comment to NRC (secy at nrc.gov) by March 12, 2008; Contact NIRS (
dianed at nirs.org) to join requests for hearing(s) and to intervene.

>From NIRS website:  http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/llwhome.htm

In the US "low-level" radioactive waste includes all the commercial
nuclear waste except irradiated fuel from nuclear reactors, the liquid
and sludge from reprocessing and the solid into which that is converted.
In most of Europe this same range of waste is considered "low" and
"intermediate" level. Regardless, it includes the same long-lasting,
deadly radionuclides as in high level radioactive waste and sometimes in
even greater concentrations.

Despite no place or technology to isolate the waste as long as it is
radioactively hazardous, the nuclear industry creates more and more. 

UPDATE February 2008. A major US nuclear waste company, EnergySolutions,
with a near monopoly on commercial nuclear waste treatment and disposal
in the US, proposes large scale importation nuclear waste from Italy for
processing and disposal in the US. This import license application is
open for public comment until March 12, 2008. On February 28, 2008. over
50 national, state and local groups and individuals  requested an
extension of 90 days for public comment and requests to intervene and
hold hearings.
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/italyenergysolutionsrequest022808.pdf>

Congressmembers including (Rep. Gordon
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/21208gordonkleinenergysolutions.pdf> 
and Rep.Matheson
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/repmathesonut022808nrcforeignnw.pdf>  
), state legislators  
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/scresolutionitalywasteimport.pdf> , a
governor
<http://www.nirs.org/radwaste/llw/govfruedenthalwyomingresponse2708.pdf>
and newspapers have expressed concern and opposition.

A million cubic feet, 20,000 tons, and large amounts of radioactivity
from the Italian nuclear industry facilities - what appears to be most
of Italy's "low" and intermediate level radioactive waste - could be
brought around the globe to the US through the ports of Charleston,
South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana. It would then go to Memphis
and Oak Ridge Tennessee for "processing" and the remains transported to
Utah for burial. 

Comments submitted so far and the docket can be viewed on the NRC
website www.nrc.gov <http://www.nrc.gov/>  and searching in the
electronic library ADAMS under the docket # 11005711.

Comment to NRC (secy at nrc.gov) re: Application No. IW023 by March 12,
2008; Contact NIRS (dianed at nirs.org) to join requests for hearing(s) and
to intervene.

This is NIRS' 30th anniversary year: we've been helping grassroots
groups and everyday people fight the nuclear industry for 30 years now;
help us kick off our next 30 years, and support our work to build a
nuclear-free, carbon-free energy future, with your most generous
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https://secure.campagne-online.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=2927&L
angPref=en-CA

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Climate, please do so here: http://www.nirs.org/petition2/index.php (but
please don't sign multiple times!). If you have signed, please pass this
address on to your friends!

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