ML20044E859
| ML20044E859 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Claiborne |
| Issue date: | 04/15/1993 |
| From: | Ahrendsen S AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9305260216 | |
| Download: ML20044E859 (3) | |
Text
/
J 845 12th St. SE Le Mars, IA 51031 April 15, 1993 Ivan Selin, Chairman U.
S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Selin,
I'm writing in opposition to the construction of the United States' first privately owned uranium enrichment plant.
It is my understand-ing that the Louisiana Energy Services (LES) has submitted an ap-plication to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for permission to build its plant in rural Louisiana.
The enrichment facility will convert natural uranium into fuel (U-235) for nuclear power reactors.
My first concern with this plan is that the plant will be located near two low-income, predominantly black communities.
In 1987, the United Church of Christ's Commission for Racial Justice released its report Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States.
Statistics from this report and other studies indicate that an overwhelmingly dis-proportionate number of toxic waste sites, incinerators, and hazard-ous chemical and industrial operations are sited in poor, minority communities.
A coalition of national and regional groups, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, are opposed to the construction of the LES facility in Forest Grove and Center Springs, the communities targeted.
They have denounced the nationwide pattern of siting hazardous vaste dumps and dangerous industrial operations in economically and politically disadvantaged communities.
LES*
selection of the two predominantly black communities is perceived as environmental racism.
I am also concerned about the environmental hazards of the facility.
A byproduct of the enrichment process will be the production of approximately 4,000 tons of radioactive uranium-238 waste (U-238) annually.
I understand that the U-238 - which remains hazardous for millions of years - will probably be stored on the plant's 450 acre site.
Also, polluting water from the plant will be discharged into the Lake Claiborne watershed, although 40 homes within 5 miles of the facility rely on wells for their drinking water.
Additionally, LES will use gaseous uranium hexaflouride (UF6) to separate U-235 from U-238.
UF6 mixes with air to create toxic hydrogen fluoride.
In the event of an accidental UF6 discharge, residents near the plant may be in danger.
Lastly, I question the need for this proposed facility.
The Depart-ment of Energy enrichment plants are currently operating at only 50%
capacity.
There is already a worldwide overcapacity for producing enriched uranium.
Mr-Selin, I urge that the NRC licensing board deny LES' application to construct a uranium enrichment facility in Louisiana.
90 1 9305260216 930415
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Any comments you may-have in regard to this matter are welcome.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
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