Nuke Free Texas: Waste Dump

May 7, 2012

A District Court ruled today that Texas’ environmental agency should have allowed a contested case hearing prior to licensing WCS low level radioactive waste dump in West Texas

Waste Control Specialists – Radioactive Waste Dump

April 16, 2012

Burnam Requests AG Ruling on Disclosure of TCEQ Documents Related to Possible Radioactive Contamination

TCEQ preparing to allow site to open despite massive water presence underground at site in violation of license terms

(Austin, Texas) Today, Rep. Burnam called on the Executive Director of the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to protect public health and safety by not allowing the low-level radioactive waste disposal site in West Texas to open until key questions are answered about the presence of groundwater inside the 100 feet buffer zone around the facility.

The private company licensed to operate the facility, Waste Control Specialists (WCS), which stands to reap millions in profits in disposal fees once the site is operational, is pressing for the agency to allow the site to open even though documents show significant groundwater present at the site, confirming the worst fears of TCEQ scientists that objected to issuance of the license five years ago due to the likelihood of groundwater intrusion at the site in future years.

Read more…

Issues with Radioactive Waste Legislation

Why we oppose SB 1504
Testimony of Tom “Smitty” Smith, April 4, 2011

Stop Texas from Becoming the Nation’s Radioactive Waste Dump!

Public Citizen Director Tom Smitty Smith, State Rep Lon Burnam, SEED Coalition Director Karen Hadden, Burnam Chief of Staff Craig Adair

Nuclear Waste From as Many as 36 States May Rumble Down Texas Highways if Texas Nuclear Waste Importation Plan Is Approved 12/23/10

Texans Say No to Importing Radioactive Waste From Around the Country; Comments Accepted Until Dec. 26th 12/10/10

Read the proposed radioactive import rule here.
Transportation of Radioactive Material
NRC Reactor Training Center Manual
Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission Action Letter
Governor Ann Richards says the Compact would limit waste coming to Texas April 19, 1993

Texas is at risk of becoming the nation’s radioactive dumping ground. Governor Perry knew that Texans don’t want to be dumped on, and kept this issue out of the spotlight during election season. Now that the elections are over and the winter holiday season is underway, the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission is rushing to approve rules that would open Andrews County in West Texas up to radioactive waste from around the country.

Loopholes abound when it comes to laws regarding radioactive waste. While excluding radioactive waste from international sources, the proposed rule doesn’t require processors to document the origin of waste that they handle. International radioactive waste could get re-labeled as Tennessee waste if it was processed there. Texas could become the international radioactive waste dumping ground as well.

Learn more and take action now…

Andrews County is poised to become the nation’s largest and perhaps one of the most deadly radioactive and hazardous waste dumps, mainly for nuclear power and weapons waste.