Rust never sleeps, and neither do the NRC and nuclear industry. In their annual effort to sabotage public participation, NRC scheduled its 12 “waste confidence” hearings before the holidays, as did the Illinois State IDNR on fracking issues. Now, it seems Congress wants to get in the act by moving the disastrous nuclear waste legislation, S. 1240 – the “Nuclear Waste Administration Act,” currently in Sen. Wyden’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee – for a December vote.Don’t let our bureaucratic rulers get away with this sabotage – take action one more time to stop irresponsible radioactive waste policy.
And finally – realize that it takes money to bring these Alerts to you. Please consider renewing your membership or making a year-end contribution to NEIS so we can start 2014 on solid and secure financial footing
Stay well, and thanks for all you do! Happy Holidays!
–Dave Kraft—
1.) Stop Mobile Chernobyl – Stop Senate bill S.1240
Your U.S. Senators need to hear from you — NO high-level radioactive waste shell game!
The Nuclear Waste Management Act of 2013, S. 1240 would set up so-called “temporary” storage sites for high level radioactive waste (HLRW) from nuclear power reactors with no guarantee of a permanent disposal site. If storage is “centralized” that means the waste will move twice, doubling the potential for transport accidents.
“To or through,” Illinois has become a target for the unnecessary transport and storage of HLRW. A 2012 study done at Oak Ridge National Lab suggests that Illinois would be the ideal FIRST candidate for these “parking lot dumps” – adding as much as 9,000 more tons to Illinois’ present 9,000+ ton inventory of HLRW.
The legislation also mandates a “volunteer” system. Would your community WANT to be the nation’s temporary or permanent garbage dump for highly radioactive waste?
CALL NOW — 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard); or, call Sens. Durbin (202-224-2152) and Kirk (202-224-2854). Tell them: Oppose S. 1240!
Sign-on-line at: http://www.nirs.org/ .
Download a handout on S. 1240 from the NEIS website, and pass it out in groups you attend.
2.) WE STILL HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN NRC’S “WASTE CONFIDENCE”, PART II:
By a 2 to 1 margin, the citizens of Illinois made it clear to NRC on Nov. 12th that they do not have confidence in NRC’s claims that high-level radioactive waste can or should be stored indefinitely at U.S. reactor sites. Citizens at other hearings after Chicago echoed both those numbers and sentiments.
If you have not sent NRC your comments opposing the NRC’s “Waste Confidence” Rules, you still have several opportunities. Please select from among these options, and get your comments in ASAP:
- Attend the NRC online webinar, scheduled for Dec. 9th. You can make comments at this session; Public Teleconference to Receive Comments on Waste Confidence DGEIS and Proposed Rule (Teleconference only – facilitated and transcribed.) Prior to the start of the meeting, please dial 1-888-603-9749 and provide the operator with passcode 5132332 Meeting Notice
- E-mail comments opposing NRC’s waste confidence rule before Dec. 20 to: Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov, citing Docket ID No. NRC–2012–0246
- by fax to 301-415-1101; by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff
3.) STOP THE ILLINOIS FRACK ATTACK! PUBLIC COMMENTS ON IDNR FRACK RULES DUE JANUARY 3, 2014; 4 MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED:
Upwards of 350 people attended the first of five public meetings scheduled by the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources on their proposed fracking rules. Of the 40+ people called to give comments (three from NEIS!), not a single one spoke in favor of the IDNR rules. If you were not there, you still have a chance to have your say on the fracking rules:
- Make comments online: As if scheduling all the hearings around holiday time was not sufficient to discourage public input, IDNR now reports “problems” with accepting online comments. Keep persevering; your comments will get through;
- Attend one of the remaining four public hearings.
4.) NIGHT WITH THE EXPERTS, SPECIAL EDITION, THURS. DEC. 5, 7 P.M.:
The NEIS Night with the Experts program will be different this month. Instead of a speaker, we invite our members to attend this program and participate in the discussion afterwards:
NIGHT WITH THE EXPERTS — Atomic States of America film showing
Where: Film Studies Center (Cobb 306) of the University of Chicago, 5811 South Ellis Avenue,
The showing is part of the Energy Activisms film series, presented by CIS and the Program on the Global Environment.
5.) ATTEND CAPOW’S WATER CONFERENCE, SAT. DEC. 7:
Water is Life! Facing Our Water Crisis II: 8:45 am – 4:00 pm, Mertz Hall, 1125 W. Loyola Ave., Loyola University Lake Shore Campus, (near intersection of Devon Avenue and Sheridan Road)
REGISTRATION: $10 adults, $5 students; To register for conference in advance, make check out to CMW with CAPOW! in memo line and mail check to: Chicago Media Watch, 1030 Asbury, Evanston, IL 60202
6.) AND…IF YOU SUPPORT OUR WORK, SUPPORT OUR WORK!
Consider making a year-end, tax deductible contribution to NEIS today. Thanks in advance.
