ML20044E835
| ML20044E835 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Claiborne |
| Issue date: | 04/16/1993 |
| From: | Schmidt K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9305260191 | |
| Download: ML20044E835 (3) | |
Text
,
7 5555 Oakland Rd.
Balto., Md.
21227 April 16, 1993 Ivan Selin, Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Mr. Selin:
I am writing to urge you to deny Louisiana Energy Services' application to build a uranium enrichment facility in Homer, Louisiana.
Homer, Louisiana vill face many grievous dangers due to the byproduct of 4,000 tons of radioactive Uranium-238 waste (most likely stored on the 450 acre site) that will be produced annually.
The environment would suffer permanent damage.
Water such as Lake Claiborne will be contaminated for years.
Uranium hexaflouride mixes with air to produce hydrogen flouride.
People fear an accidental UF6 discharge.
The LES project will also have devastating social repercussions.
The United Church of Christ's reports show that a large number of toxic waste sites, incinerators, and industrial operations are often placed near poor, minority communities. Environmental racism may have been a factor in deciding to site the plant near two small, low-income, black communities, Forest Grove and Center Springs.
Les plans to close and reroute the only road leading to these communities.
40 homes near the facility rely on the wells for drinking water that will be contaminated by uranium enrichment.
Also, elderly residents of a nearby retirement center worry about their inability to flee from an accidental UF6 discharge.
LES' use of centrifuges to spin the gaseous uranium hexaflouride to separate U-235 from U-238 is the same technology used to produce uranium for nuclear weapons.
Similiar centrifuge designs were discovered by United Nations investigators in Iraq; centrifuges designed by Urenco. Projects such as these only encourage nuclear proliferation in a time when we're trying to come closer to peace.
Finally, Department of Energy is considering using advanced technologies that pose no proliferation threat.
DOE's uranium production is cheaper than LES'.
There is a worldwide oversupply of uranium and so there is no need for LES to produce uranium.
By rejecting LEF application, NRC can make a stand against environmental contamination and racism.
In these times nature 9305260191 930416 bNd PDR ADDCK 07003070
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.needs people to stand strong and oppose its destruction.
I hope NRC can stand up for nature's rights.
Sincerely, htifw,
u,YO Karyn A.
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