Farmers and ranchers across the State of New Mexico rallying against “temporary” nuclear waste dump

Opposition rallies ahead of public hearing on Holtec site Adrian C Hedden, Carlsbad Current-Argus . MT July 17, 2018

Thousands of tons of nuclear waste could be coming to southeast New Mexico, and state lawmakers are asking the public to speak up – for or against.

The Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Committee of the New Mexico Legislature, a bicameral committee made up of state senators and representatives to analyze the facility during its permitting process, called its second meeting for 9 a.m., Thursday at the Center of Recreational Excellence in Hobbs.

The committee was tasked with providing state-level oversight to a proposal from Holtec International, to design and build a consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility to hold spent nuclear fuel rods temporarily as a permanent repository is being devised.

The only proposed permanent resting place for the waste, Yucca Mountain in Nevada, was blocked by Nevada lawmakers as federal funding was cut, but President Donald Trump included $120 million in a recent budget proposal to restart Yucca’s licensing process.

But that could take decades, and Holtec hopes to provide a safe location to hold the rods – away from large bodies of water and dense population centers – in the meantime.

Environmentalists worried the Holtec site, about 500 acres 35 miles from Carlsbad and Hobbs, could become permanent.

Rose Gardner, a Eunice resident and founder of the Alliance for Environmental Strategies said the opposition outweighs public support.

She cited concerns from local farmers and ranchers and residents in the area and across New Mexico, during multiple public hearings held by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the agency overseeing Holtec’s permitting process.

Gardner said local governments are also in opposition to the facility, pointing to resolutions against the facility passed in Bernalillo County, Albuquerque, Lake Arthur, Jal and by the statewide New Mexico Cattle Growers Association.

“There is growing opposition to the proposed radioactive waste project” Gardner said. “There was overwhelming public opposition at five NRC meetings.”………https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2018/07/17/opposition-rallies-ahead-public-hearing-holtec-site/793687002/

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Comment by A Green Road Daily News | July 23, 2018 | Reply

1.This month

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

Not too late to send a quick and easy submission to the Department of Industry Innovation and Science. Heck! Send a few – that’s what the pro nukers are doing.https://nowastedump.good.do/radioactivewastesubmissiontodiis/radwasteDIISsubmission/

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

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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.

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Earth Climate System: Tipping Points to Hothouse?

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

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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.]

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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