Sunday (12/26) Deadline: Don't let Texas become America's nuclear waste dump

[man4allcats]

more here...

Texas could become America's nuclear waste dump if action isn't taken immediately.

The Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission (TLLRWDCC) has proposed rules that would allow importation of nuclear waste from 36 states across the country into Andrews County. That's a massive expansion from the current rules that only allow nuclear waste from Texas and Vermont. In fact, the volume of waste transported, imported and stored could go up as much as 19 times.

- snip -

The proposed dump would be operated by a company called Waste Control Specialists (WCS), which is owned by Harold Simmons, a powerful Republican donor who has given Gov. Rick Perry $1.12 million over the past decade.

- snip -

Earlier this year, the TLLRWDCC proposed similar rules and received signficant pushback from concerned citizens like you. This time, they've voted to propose the rules without public input and during the busy holiday season. Clearly they're counting on a distracted public not speaking out. Texas could become America's nuclear waste dump if action isn't taken immediately.

Don't let this happen! Click here to Act Now!

[sonias]

1. Thanks for the action post

It probably does need it's own thread!

:kick:

Another action is on Nuke Free Texas via e-mail.

Nuke Free Texas
Prevent Importation of Radioactive Waste From Around the Country! Comment by Dec. 26th

A proposed Compact Commission rule would let waste from around the country go to Waste Control Specialists’ Andrews County site in West Texas instead of limiting waste to the Compact states of Texas and Vermont. Radioactive waste means increased financial, health, environmental and security risks. The vote could come soon.

Please send comments to [email protected] by Dec. 26th.

We’re requesting

* a comment period extension – A 30 day extension would be reasonable considering the holiday season.

* that the vote be postponed until the legislature can examine Texas’ financial risks and ability to respond to accidents or contamination.

* that hearings be held in all major Texas cities since radioactive waste could travel down highways throughout the state and

* that Compact Commissioners to vote no to bringing in more radioactive waste

:kick:



Sonia

[man4allcats]

3. Thanks. I hadn't seen that one.

I followed the link you included and emailed the letter they suggested to the indicated address. Best of luck to us. We'll need it. It's not as if these guys act in or even have any concern for the public interest.

[sonias]

4. Horrible deal with the devil!

The poor people so badly in need of jobs will support jobs that will eventually kill them. They would rather have a job and die from the toxic sludge.

I can not for the life of me understand that sentiment. Big polluting corporations love to dump on poor communities because they know they will get a set amount of people hooked on the "job creation potential". These people just sacrifice their lives, their health and their kid's future on the same.

:kick:

[man4allcats]

5. Re: they know they will get a set amount of people hooked on the "job creation potential"

You couldn't possibly be more accurate. The corporatists know exactly what they're doing. Their strategy is: "Give them a job so they can get a little cash, and they'll fold. After all, they're already desperate." It's a sad situation really. This local issue is just one example of the kinds of things that are happening all over this country. Forget about government of, by and for the people. Regrettably, this entire nation is now for sale to the highest bidder.

[sonias]

2. Vote due soon on OK'ing radioactive waste from more states

AAS 11/23/10
Vote due soon on OK'ing radioactive waste from more states
Commission to decide before incoming Vermont governor's inauguration, chairman says.

Potentially sidestepping political obstacles, a commission overseeing radioactive waste disposal could decide in early January to open a radioactive waste dump in West Texas to 36 other states.

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission will meet to decide whether Texas can import radioactive waste from outside Texas and Vermont. In a political and geographical peculiarity, the two states are the sole members of the compact, which grew out of federal laws encouraging agreements between states to dispose of the low-level waste.

The commission consists of six Texans — all named by Gov. Rick Perry — and two Vermonters.

(snip)
The commission will meet Jan. 4, two days before Vermont's governor-elect, who has expressed reservations about expanding the site to other states, takes office. The inauguration "was a consideration, but not the sole basis for choosing that date," said commission Chairman Michael Ford.

Typical Perry puppet appointee behavior - meet at the most inopportune time for public comment and ram through some horrible decision for average Texans - all to benefit Perry's biggest contributors. :puke:

[sonias]

6. kicking it for the last day to take action

Do it Texans!

:kick:

[onestepforward]

7. Done. n/t

[white cloud]

8. Pass or fail?

Anybody?

[onestepforward]

9. UPDATE: Judge orders halt to radioactive waste dump

http://www.oaoa.com/news/orders-57876-radioactive-waste.html

ODESSA AMERICAN

AUSTIN A Texas judge has ordered a temporary halt to plans that could allow three dozen states to dump radioactive waste in far West Texas.

Judge Jon Wisser, siding with environmentalists, signed a temporary restraining order Thursday against the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission. The commission was scheduled to vote Jan. 4 on rules that could expand how much waste could be processed at a dump in remote Andrews County.

The ruling preventing a vote came as environmentalists and critics on the commission accused regulators and a politically connected company of rushing the proposal past Texans who are too focused on the holidays to notice.

We still have an uphill battle, but now we have a little more time!

[sonias]

10. Awesome news!

:woohoo:

At the very least this moves to the next Texas Legislative session, and if Texas is going to become the nuclear waste dump for the U.S. all the tea party types that were swept into office in Nov are going to have to stick their necks out publicly on this.