Texas receives first shipment of federal radioactive waste

[G_j]

http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/the-stream/the-stream-officialblog/2014/4/2/texas-receives-firstshipmentoffederalradioactivewaste.html

The first truckload of radioactive waste from New Mexico arrived at a storage facility in Andrews County, Texas on Wednesday, as environmentalists and local residents raise concerns over the state becoming a haven for the hazardous materials.

Up to 420 truckloads of radioactive waste from the federal government’s nuclear weapons program will be sent to the Waste Control Specialists facility in West Texas over the coming weeks. Though this move has Texas environmentalists up in arms, recent developments suggest the state may be on the path to becoming a major home for radioactive waste.

Much of the radioactive material currently sits in Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, one of two laboratories where classified work is done regarding the U.S. nuclear weapons program. The transuranic waste, some dating back to the 1940s, consists of items such as clothing, tools and debris which have been contaminated by radioactive elements.

The federal government has been under increased pressure to eliminate the materials from the laboratory's grounds since wildfires came within 3.5 miles of the premises in the summer of 2011. This pressure culminated in an agreement with the state of New Mexico to send the waste elsewhere by June 30.

Originally, the materials were meant to remain in New Mexico, with the first considered destination being the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant – an underground nuclear waste site near Carlsbad. But a Feb. 14 leak, which exposed 21 workers to radiation, led to the facility's temporary closure and to the federal government seeking out other options.

..more..

[99Forever]

1. Somehow...

... sending the worse waste on the planet to Texass, seems like poetic justice to me.


(With sincere apologies to the fair number of good, decent progressives that are stuck living in that awful place.)

[blogslut]

7. I certainly hope you don't live in the 7 other states that could be affected

[99Forever]

9. I don't but my...

... adult children and grandkids do. I'm not sure what it is that you would have me personally do. I've been anti-nuke all of my life, but like most other issues, since I don't have hundred$ of million$ to bribe our "leaders" with, I'm pretty much inconsequential to them.

[COLGATE4]

2. It really needs to be pointed out that this

waste is what is known in the business as 'low-level waste', i.e. clothing, tools and construction materials that have been in contact with radiation and are thus mildly contaminated. This type of waste doesn't present public health issues like the really dangerous stuff like spent nuclear fuel rods. It just needs to be kept away just like other things like old asbestos insulation, certain chemicals, etc.

[G_j]

3. where do you see that?

from the article:

When the Texas Legislature allowed for waste storage more than a decade ago, the facility was only meant to accept low-level radioactive waste from within the state and Vermont.

In October 2013, however, a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality staffer wrote, "WCS is presenting that they are going to request to dispose of greater than class c [radioactive waste]. … They are also saying they expect us to approve [depleted uranium] may 2014.”

Some suggest WCS was able to swiftly expand its waste intake, despite environmental concerns, due to the donations and influential lobbyists of the company's former owner – the late Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons.

In a letter dated March 28, Texas Gov. Rick Perry wrote that, since the federal government has yet to find a long-term solution to storing the nation's radioactive waste, "We have no choice but to begin looking for a safe and secure solution for HLW [high-level radioactive waste] in Texas."

[COLGATE4]

4. From the posting

"Much of the radioactive material currently sits in Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, one of two laboratories where classified work is done regarding the U.S. nuclear weapons program. The transuranic waste, some dating back to the 1940s, consists of items such as clothing, tools and debris which have been contaminated by radioactive elements."

[G_j]

6. "much of"

pretty vague

[COLGATE4]

10. All the stuff that's handled in this fashion

is low level waste. The really toxic stuff is put in hardened containers and is guarded 24/7. And note that the "much of" refers to the stuff being store by the Feds, not the stuff that's being shipped to Texas.

[KoKo]

5. +1

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Took us 6 years to defeat a proposed waste site in our area.

Bunch of folks from Fla. showed up, wanted to buy a few thousand acres of land and turn it into a "landfill" that would take garbage from most of the Eastern states. Later it was revealed they wanted a permit to also take "low level" nuclear, and mercury and abestos.
The proposal did not explain the type of protection the landfill would use, nor how it would prevent leakeage into a near by waterway.
They DID manage to get 4 of the 6 County Commissionors to vote for it.
People from the surrounding towns and counties took it to court, where it dragged on, and meanwhile the County Commissionor elections came around, and the 4 landfill supporters were voted out.
Finally the proposal was defeated, the fla. guys slumnk away.

What was great was this was a true grassroots rebellion from a bunch of average folks, most of them Republicans.
But they valued the land and clean water more, and wanted their grandkids to have the same.

County Commissionors usually have a postion for life around here.
everybody knows everybody else, and/or is related to them.

BFD that these guys were voted out. Huge deal.

[winter is coming]

11. They've already got Ted Cruz; how much more can one state contain? n/t

[RobertEarl]

12. Big problems at the WIPP?!?!?!

It's been weeks and no crew has been able to go down and inspect the place.

There may be some very serious issues with that huge hole in the ground.

But hey, given that the nukers have been upfront, open and honest about nukes and all that, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. It ain't like nuke waste can heat up too fast and get out of control.