Rep. Bart Gordon (D-6) continues his push for the Radioactive Import Deterrence Act (RID). The House bill authored by Rep. Gordon would protect our state from imported low-level radioactive wastes that were recently found leaking from a truck on its way to Tennessee. Sen. Lamar Alexander is the sponsor of the Senate version of this bill.
“Fortunately, the spill was small, and I commend the HAZMAT response team’s quick action,” said the Murfreesboro Democrat, who has led efforts to ban the practice. “However, this incident only serves as a reminder of the risks involved in disposing of toxic chemicals. By allowing companies to import and dispose of other country’s radioactive waste, we are only heightening the possibility of a harmful spill occurring.
“The fact is, foreign waste is trucked from coastal ports to Tennessee and Utah, increasing the volume of waste on our nation’s highways.”
According to Gordon’s office, the spill occurred on March 31 in Carbon County, Utah, when a leak sprung in a hose attached to a tanker transporting 3,000 gallons of low-level radioactive waste, in addition to marine pollutants, Benzene, Phenol, Butyl alcohol, PGIII, and PCBs. The tanker was transporting waste to Tennessee for EnergySolutions, the nation’s largest radioactive waste company. EnergySolutions was billed for the emergency response and clean-up.
In early January, Gordon authored the Radioactive Import Deterrence, or RID, Act, which would prohibit the importation of foreign-generated low-level radioactive waste unless the president deems the importation would meet certain national and international goals. Gordon says the bipartisan legislation is supported by 79 members of Congress.
“We are the only country in the world that imports other countries’ radioactive waste for disposal, and we dispose of it in American soil,” added Gordon. “EnergySolutions — who claims to have an ‘unparalleled safety record’ — is one of the companies arguing that international waste will not increase the likelihood of a toxic spill occurring. Not only will it increase the risk, but with limited space in the United States for this kind of waste, the last thing we should be doing is allowing other countries to dump their radioactive trash in our country.”
EnergySolutions proposes to bring 20,000 tons of “low-level” and “medium-level” radioactive waste from Italy to Tennessee for processing. You should note that when “medium-level” waste reaches the U.S., it is reclassified as “low-level” by American definitions. Some of this stuff will be pretty hot. This is what will be on trains and trucks heading our way. All of it will be deposited in the U.S., perhaps some in TN landfills.
Furthermore, EnergySolutions is involved in other foreign countries besides Italy, including Canada and the U.K. Already Oak Ridge is processing waste from Canada, perhaps from elsewhere. If the Gordon bill H.R.515/ Alexander’s S.232 do not pass and the NRC allows this waste to enter the country, it will be the beginning of a deluge.
There is no safe, acceptable way for dealing with nuclear waste. Why else would everybody be wanting to send it to us? Why are Tennesseans so foolish as to allow this pollution of our state? Why isn’t every mother and father and grandparent acting to stop this insane practice???