Government lack of transparency about interim storage of nuclear wastes

Lawmaker says he can’t get info on waste plan https://www.abqjournal.com/1195897/legislator-citizens-deserve-to-have-answers-about-nuclear-facility.html, By Maddy Hayden / Journal Staff Writer July 12th Albuquerque Journal

A legislator says he isn’t getting any answers out of the administration of Gov. Susana Martinez to questions about a proposed interim storage site for spent nuclear fuel in southeastern New Mexico.

Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, chairman of the Legislature’s Committee on Radioactive and Hazardous Materials, sent nearly 60 questions to the heads of several state departments in April.

Only one responded.

“It raises the obvious conclusion that this governor and her administration have done no analysis on this project,” Steinborn said. “The citizens of the state deserve to have answers on our state’s ability to handle this facility.”

The senator wrote in a July 9 letter to the governor that the New Mexico Environment Department did respond to his questions “but without providing substantive information on the issues raised.”

The Environment Department provided that letter to the Journal.

In it, department Secretary Butch Tongate said NMED would review the Environmental Impact Statement in progress at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission “and provide comments to the NRC as necessary.”

“The Senator’s questions should be directed to the NRC – the agency overseeing the process,” NMED spokeswoman Katy Diffendorfer said in an email.

Diffendorfer also said it is still unclear what role the NMED would play in the permitting and oversight of the proposed facility.

Questions were also directed to the Department of Transportation, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department and Department of Military Affairs, which did not respond to Steinborn’s inquiries at all, he said.

Steinborn asked for details about transporting the waste through the state, safety protocol should a leak or other event occur and how the state’s oil and gas industry could be affected by the project, and other issues.

Martinez has expressed support for the project.

The facility, proposed by Holtec International, would house spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants around the country.

The NRC is considering the facility’s license, a process that could take years.

1.This month

For international news go to https://nuclear-news.net/

I continue to be amazed at the achievements of Aboriginal people. For decades they have fought off the nuclear industry’s attempts to turn South Australia into a nuclear hub, always starting with its plan for importing toxic radioactive trash into this beautiful agricultural and tourism State.

This past week the Barngarla Aboriginal people won the injunction to halt nuclear waste dump vote.

No – it’s far from a final victory, but it’s a start. I guess that the colonial masters in the past, and the nuclear lobby now, hoped that the Aboriginal people would just conveniently die out. But they didn’t. And they are a force to be reckoned with. And dedicated non indigenous Australians are working with them against this foul nuclear industry.

DON’T FORGET – it’s probably worthwhile to send submissions in to the Department of Industry Innovation and Science. They didn’t like the majority of submissions to the Senate being so firm and articulate, and against the dump. You can resend a Submission that went to the Senate, or write a new one, or both.

The Senate Committee has now released its Report . It is a wishy washy support for the process– quotes extensively from the submissions, but has little idea of its own. Greens Dissenting Submission packs a punch, as does Senator Rex Patrick’s Additional Comments.

Read summaries of submissions to the Senate, re the Selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in South Australia. Each summary has a link to the full submission. Obviously the Department of Industry Innovation and Science (DIIS) was not happy with the majority of submissions opposing the process, so now are trying to get a better (for them) result

SUBMISSIONS CALLED FOR – about “Broad Community Support” for a nuclear waste dump in Kimba or Hawker, South Australia

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science wants submissions between 1 August and 24 September 2018. People can resend the submissions already sent to the Senate Inquiry. Submissions to the department will only be made public where permission is provided.

http://radioactivewaste.gov.au/news/making-submission

Making a submission

Submissions will be one of the factors the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia may take into account when determining broad community support for the Facility.

Submissions can be made by:
Email: radioactivewaste@industry.gov.au
Post: The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
National Radioactive Waste Section
GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601

NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP – Senate Committee of Inquiry

********************************************************************************************************

THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS USING THE DROUGHT TO PROMOTE THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

Yes, I know this sounds bizarre – BUT. Under the thumb of the nuclear industry and the military, the Australian government is working to promote the nuclear dream.

They’re taking advantage of the effects of the drought on agriculture – to push the idea of a “lucrative” nuclear waste dump, to two agricultural communities in South Australia .

So – the nuclear lobby is actually benefiting in Australia – from the effects of climate change.

It seems that Australia’s politicians are too stupid or self-interested to bother about climate change or about the nuclear threat.

The Senate Inquiry on Selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in South Australia. has now 112 submissions published

Read the brief summaries of submissions – 55 anti-nuclear, 41 pro nuclear (13 confidential) , with links to each full submission published on this Antinuclear website.

**************************************************************************

Earth Climate System: Tipping Points to Hothouse?

Hothouse Earth: Has climate change reached the tipping point? | DW English

**********************************************************

EVENTS

More info on these at Action Australia

August 22 – Adelaide – “Nuclear Weapons and the Peace Movement in Australia – Where to Now?

August 5 – 2 Sept – Western Australia – WALKATJURRA WALKABOUT

September 8 – Adelaide – Symposium on South Australia’s nuclear history

September 11-Perth – PROJECTIONS at PARLIAMENT

September – Nobel Peace Ride

See our page: Submissions on Radioactive Waste Code 2018/ Submissions published by ARPANSA are overwhelmingly critical, and in opposition to the Federal nuclear dump plan for rural South Australia. [not to be confused with the current SENATE INQUIRY Selection process for a national radioactive waste management facility in South Australia.]

************************************************************************

PETITIONS

Online Open letter requesting ACTION to enforce South Australia’s law against nuclear waste dumping. http://petition.dyndns.org/

Say no to the federal plan to dump and store nuclear waste in SA.

Don’t Let Frydenberg approve Yeelirrie uranium mine or extinction!

No Nuclear Bundabunda at Brewarrina – bad poison [SIGN THE PETITION]

Pages

Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items