Sure, Simmons May Bury Nuclear Waste in West Texas. But It Has To Get There Somehow.

By Robert Wilonsky Thu., Dec. 23 2010 at 3:29 PM

Categories: The Environment

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Nuke-Free Texas

We've noted a couple of times in recent days that Gov. Rick Perry's appointees to the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission are but days away from closing comment on Harold Simmons's permit application to bury 36 states' nuclear waste out in West Texas. Ah, but see, Public Citizen's Tom "Smitty" Smith and the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition want to point out one more thing before comments close on Sunday, which is: Sure, the waste'll get buried out in West Texas, but it'll hardly be out of sight, out of mind. Who knows -- it just might wind up in your town too!

Down in Austin this morning, the Nuke-Free Texans held a press conference during which Santa Claus himself rolled out a black waste barrel -- the very kind that could rumble through Texas towns should the commission give Simmons the okee-doke to bury the radioactive waste out in Andrews. To the release!

While routes are not yet designated, potential routes would take waste from the Gulf Coast area on Interstate 10 through Houston and San Antonio; waste from southern states would be trucked on I-20 and I-30 though Dallas and Forth Worth; Midwestern and Northeastern waste would be driven on I-40 and I-27 though Lubbock and Amarillo; and waste from Western states would be driven though the cities of El Paso and Odessa taking I-10 and I-20, according to Martin Resnikoff of Radioactive Waste Management Associates. ...

"Truck crashes occur all the time on our highways," Smith said. "This plan would dramatically increase the amount of radioactive waste traveling through our communities. We believe that if people know what is at stake, they will contact state officials and demand that the compact commission drop the proposal."

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules provide that class "A" wastes can be shipped in so-called "strong tight containers," barrels that do not have to pass any integrity test. About 10 percent of these containers that have been involved in accidents have failed. Of those, about 90 percent have released their contents, according to the NRC.

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If the company stabilized or pretreated the waste before transportastion the risks of further contamination would be minimized. We need clean energy nuclear power offers this. None of us can have our cake and eat it. How much revenue will come into the state in these economic times the safe disposal of wastes can only help all of us in Texas an the State. The area where the dis[posal will take place is one of the most perfect "Is there is a perfect spot for anything" in the U.S. move on the world has to go forward or shpu;ld we all look for a cave some where ??? Robin
So, how do the opponents of this plan believe that low-level radioactive waste should be disposed of? Seems that whenever the issue of nuclear waste disposal/storage surfaces, I hear all about why it shouldn't be stored here, there, or anywhere. So what should be done with it?
Every thing except the fuel rods
Only 16 hours to submit your comments to keep Texas from becoming the nation's nuclear dumping ground http://bit.ly/fwxEm9 Please re-post and re-tweet
re-Rick Perry's nuclear money machine http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/12/rick-perrys-nuclear-money-mach.html Greetings fellow Texicans, THIS is typical timing of such an event. This is how our Government gets bills and reports passed by the public. They usual do it late at night, on a Friday night at that, so it will be only late weekend news. they got it down pat too. Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, but the rats they were a stirring, right in the House, Their pockets were lined, with money and greed, in hopes that St Nicholas would not have seen. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in there heads. And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap, and again, our good Governor from Texas Rick Perry, stabbed us in the back. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash, there was a bright glow from a far, in the west, it was a big bright flash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but train load after train load of Nuclear Prolifer. With a little old driver, his hair in perfect affair, all groomed and combed over, like a multi-millionaire, was atop the train of nuclear prolifer. The glow was so bright, it lit up the whole night. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, bring more, bring more, we will light up the whole game. "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall, thanks to Governor Rick Perry, we may all glow like a great big fire ball. AS dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with this fire ball in the sky, the money the received will be their final cry. So UP the house and the senate i say, and to you rick perry, i better not say. end I wrote about our good Environmental Friendly Governor Rick Perry and his willingness to bring nuclear waste from Ohio to Texas back in 2008. Seems the money is so good, he wants to now include 38 states to the list of states able to pollute the great state of Texas with Nuclear Proliferation waste. at a boy governor, you single handedly made Texas a toxic dump for nuclear waste. Course, which is worse, the air quality or the nuclear waste, which will kill you first ? This Governor has shown time and time again where his heart is, and it's NOT in Texas. ... Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Company advances on plan for West Texas nuclear dump (railcars loaded with MOUND COLD WAR NUCLEAR AFTER-BIRTH headed to Texas see photo) http://sciencebushwhacked.blogspot.com/2008/08/company-advances-on-plan-for-west-texas.html Wednesday, July 30, 2008 TEXAS WINS TO BE NEXT BIG DUMPING GROUND FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS RADIOACTIVE WASTE (see more photo's of railcars loaded with MOUND COLD WAR NUCLEAR AFTER-BIRTH headed to Texas) IT seems a more correct headlines would have read ''Company bribes Governor Perry to bury nuclear waste and contaminate Texas''. Waste Control Specialists. The company is owned by Harold Simmons, a ''TOP DONOR TO GOV. RICK PERRY, WHO APPOINTS MEMBERS TO THE TCEQ.'' The good governor has sold out to the citizens of Texas for train car, after train car of nuclear waste from 'the mound' Monsanto plant in Miamisburg Ohio. It just so happens, my father-in-law, who is down visiting now with us, has pictures of those railroad cars just sitting and waiting to come down to Texas. Odd how I was watching the news today, about this small plane that had crashed, it had showed pictures of where it had crashed right up near a bunch of tractor-trailer cargo container boxes in a parking lot. What would keep this from happening with those radioactive toxic containers in Ohio, at 'the mound', and or in route to Texas? You see, it's been killing my father-in-law, he has been on oxygen for years, but his breathing is getting more and more labored now, even with the oxygen. He worked at 'the mound' for years and years, and he is now dying a slow death from asbestosis, among other ailments caused by working at 'the mound'. NOW here is what I just cannot understand. This material is so toxic, in trying to gain further medical assistance from the DOE, the evidence that was needed to show that indeed my father-in-law worked their i.e. work records, paperwork records, payment records etc., they told my father-in-law, that they could not dig those records up, that they were buried due to high nuclear contamination, it was just too toxic, and that he had to prove that he had worked there. In which he did finally prove, and did gain further assistance. Also, ''Soward said a contested hearing could either rebut or support allegations that the agency ignored it's own scientific evidence that the site is geologically unsuitable to store material that will remain radioactive for tens of thousands of years.'' This is typical of the Bush Administration, and it happens all the time. The only science that the Bush administration knows, is junk science, bought and paid for by industry scientist. This has been proven time and time again ; Reports and Research Interference at the EPA Science and Politics at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency snip...see full text ; http://sciencebushwhacked.blogspot.com/2008/07/texas-wins-to-be-next-big-dumping.html I think the title should have read, "TEXAS LOOSES TO BE NEXT BIG DUMPING GROUND FOR NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION RADIOACTIVE WASTE", thanks to Governor Rick Perry. update on my father-in-law Dana (RED) Ashcraft of Miamisburg Ohio, and my best fishing buddy, and Poisoned AT THE MONSANTO MOUND, hospice has now been called in. ... Friday, December 24, 2010 TEXAS NUCLEAR DUMP VOTE SET AMID HOLIDAY RUSH THANKS TO GOVERNOR RICK PERRY NUCLEAR DUMP VOTE SET AMID HOLIDAY RUSH CRITICS PROTEST TIMING OF MEETING ON 38-STATE WASTE FACILITY IN TEXAS http://sciencebushwhacked.blogspot.com/2010/12/texas-nuclear-dump-vote-set-amid.html Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518
Define "low level" radioactivity.
The comment deadline on the Import rule is Dec. 26th. PLEASE SEND IN PERSONALIZED COMMENTS RIGHT AWAY! http://www.dontwastetexas.info They plan to vote on January 4th, with an attitude of "sue us" if you don't like it...
why isn't this stuff used to heat water for the town or somesuch? I imagine this stuff having some radioactivity, just not near enough for a critical mass or to give strong radiation displays. But, it evidently has energy, hence the radioactivity issue. So, is it kinda warm? Why not bury that deep under ground in colder climes and run water pipes through it for low level radiant heat? They use the volcanic fueled hot water under NZ and Iceland to heat those homes, why not adapt these facilities and capture some of that (reduced) though problematic fuel?
If there is an accident, the market will somehow, magically sort everything out to everyone's satisfaction.