ML18355A008
| ML18355A008 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Consolidated Interim Storage Facility |
| Issue date: | 11/19/2018 |
| From: | Public Commenter Public Commenter |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/FCSS |
| NRC/NMSS/FCSS | |
| References | |
| 83FR44922 | |
| Download: ML18355A008 (6) | |
Text
1 WCS_CISFEISCEm Resource From:
Stephanie Thomas <sthomas@citizen.org>
Sent:
Monday, November 19, 2018 8:43 PM To:
WCS_CISFEIS Resource
Subject:
[External_Sender] RE: Docket No. 72-1050; NRC-2016-0231 Waste Control Specialists LLCs / ISPs Consolidated Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility Project Attachments:
Texas Faith leader letter November 2018.pdf Please accept the attached letter in regard to Docket no. 72-1050; NRC-2016-0231 Waste Control Specialists LLCs / ISPs Consolidated Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility Project.
- Best, Stephanie Thomas Stephanie Thomas, Ph.D.
Public Citizen 3914 Leeland Street Houston, TX 77003 Cell: 832-840-6464
Federal Register Notice:
83FR44922 Comment Number:
26894 Mail Envelope Properties (833e4d11660c481d8c66ef53a780437a)
Subject:
[External_Sender] RE: Docket No. 72-1050; NRC-2016-0231 Waste Control Specialists LLCs / ISPs Consolidated Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility Project Sent Date:
11/19/2018 8:43:26 PM Received Date:
11/19/2018 8:43:37 PM From:
Stephanie Thomas Created By:
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citizen.org Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 321 11/19/2018 8:43:37 PM Texas Faith leader letter November 2018.pdf 29941 Options Priority:
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To: Rick Perry, Secretary, Department of Energy Kristine L. Svinicki, Chairperson, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Members of the Texas Congressional Delegation
Dear Mr. Secretary,
Madam Chairperson, and Members of Congress:
We are faith leaders from many religious traditions, and from many diverse communities in Texas, New Mexico, and across the United States.
We are greatly concerned about an issue that will affect our communities, our future generations, and the wonderful state we call home. As Pope Francis stated in his 2015 encyclical addressing climate change and the economy, As faith leaders we take seriously the responsibility to help discern what is equitable, just, and for the common good of Our Common Home.
We have deep concerns about the proposed Consolidated Interim Storage project proposed by Waste Control Specialists (WCS) and ORANO. Their license application would allow for storage of up to 40,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste in Andrews, Texas. If approved, spent nuclear reactor fuel could be shipped from around the country to the Andrews County site for above-ground storage.
Texas would also be impacted by the proposed Holtec/ Eddy Lea Energy Alliance high-level radioactive waste storage project that seeks to store up to 100,000 tons of spent fuel just a short distance across the New Mexico border. This capacity would allow for storage of all the nuclear reactor waste that has been produced in the entire country, plus all that will likely be produced in the future.
We question the wisdom of importing high-level radioactive waste to either site, waste that will remain dangerous for millennia, putting our children and future generations at risk from transport accidents and potential contamination.
The West Texas / New Mexico region is not a good place for this dangerous waste.
There have been earthquakes, intense storms, tornadoes, extreme temperatures, and wind-swept wildfires. The regions geology includes underground holes and pathways through which contamination could migrate. Large sinkholes in West Texas are expanding and the latest Southern Methodist University study reports that a 4,000 square-mile area in West Texas is sinking and uplifting, with new sinkholes forming.
People, wildlife, ranching and agriculture in eight states use water from the nations largest aquifer, the Ogallala. WCS is near this major water source and sits above the Dockum aquifer. Radioactive contamination could harm waterways, soil and businesses, including the oil and gas industry. Leaks or an accident could lead to disaster for all life in the region.
Radiation exposure can lead to various kinds of cancer, genetic damage and birth defects and exposure to unshielded spent fuel rods is lethal.
Moving high-level radioactive waste from where it is currently stored in order to store it at another location creates health and safety risks while accomplishing little.
The proposed Texas and New Mexico storage sites could become dangerous de-facto permanent dumping grounds if damaged waste canisters cant be repackaged and moved later, if no viable permanent repository gets built or if there are inadequate funds or political will to move the waste to a permanent site.
Moving the waste now is unnecessary. Licenses allow the waste to remain secured onsite for up to 60 years after nuclear reactors cease operating. It should remain at or near the site of generation, and be moved as little as possible. In the meantime, more robust containment systems should be developed. The thin canisters typically used in the U.S. include half an inch of steel, while other countries use canisters with nearly 20 inches of steel.
The risks of transporting high-level radioactive waste are significant enough that four Texas County Commissions passed resolutions opposing consolidated interim storage and transport of waste through their county, including Bexar, Dallas, Nueces and Midland Counties. The City of San Antonio passed a similar resolution as well.
Serious train accidents have occurred in West Texas, including a head-on 65-mph train collision in 2016 that created a huge fireball. What if one of the trains had been hauling high-level radioactive waste?
Our religions have ancient roots, and this ancient wisdom calls us to care for Creation and Community. We are called to be responsible and to speak out to protect lives and our communities when they are threatened.
Therefore, we urge that consolidated interim storage efforts be set aside and that less risky options be pursued instead, with a focus on minimizing transportation of high-level radioactive waste, more robust containment systems and a geologic location better able to isolate radioactive waste for millennia to come.
On behalf of the following faith leaders and organizations, thank you for considering our concerns. Please act to protect creation and the people of our communities.
Sincerely, Reverend Lora Brandis Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church, Carrollton, TX Reverend James Caldwell Coalition of Community Organizations, Houston, TX
Reverend Joseph Ogbonna Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Andrews, TX Pastor Phil J. Marroquin Apostolic Worship Center, Andrews, TX Rev. Isai and Letty Garcia La Nueva Jerusalem, Andrews, Tx Pastor Isaac Uvalle and Flor Uvalle Jubilee for Jesus Ministries, Andrews, TX Rev. Hozan Alan Senauke Clearview Project, Berkeley, CA Roshi Joan Halifax Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, NM Joshin Byrnes, Sensei Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, Middlebury, VT Rev. Jerry Maynard The Peoples Church, Humble, TX Nancy Sterling, Lay Leader Chapelwood UMC, Houston, TX C. DeBakey Seminary Student Sondra Kaighen Dharma Spring Buddhist Temple, Friendswood, TX Jean Berolzheimer Puget Sound Zen Center, Vashon, WA Aly Tharp, Program Director Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, Austin, TX Elizabeth Mount, M.Div.
First Unitarian Universalist Church, Columbus, OH Rev. Angela Caruso-Yahne Upaya Zen Center Chaplain, Kansas City, MO.
Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director GreenFaith Kogen Glen Duval, Former co-Head of Practice Houston Zen Center, Houston, TX Rabbi Mordechai Liebling Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, PA Janice Rubin, Chaplain Congregation Brith Shalom, Houston, TX Rev. Stephanie Thomas Houston Zen Center, Houston, TX