The Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission will hear feedback in Austin and Andrews on a proposed rule allowing the importation of so-called low-level radioactive waste into Texas from across the nation. Under the proposed rule, Waste Control Specialists would be allowed to import additional radioactive waste from other areas of the country and potentially the world into Andrews County, Texas.

Please come to the public hearing to tell the Compact Commission you do not want Texas to become the nation’s radioactive waste dumping ground!

• Austin Hearing – April 5, 2010, 1:00 PM at the Texas State Capitol Extension Auditorium, E1.004
• Andrews Hearing – April 6, 2010, 6:00 PM at Andrews High School Little Theater, 1401 NW Avenue K.

An environmental analysis performed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found problems with the site, including possible pathways to underground aquifers. The politically appointed TCEQ commissioners ignored the scientists? findings and issued the license anyways
and three TCEQ staff members have resigned as a result.

You can also submit written comments on the import rule.

• Take Action Now!

Even though the license granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been appealed by the Sierra Club, and the site has yet to be constructed, the eight-member Compact Commission is rushing ahead with this proposed rule at the behest of WCS and nuclear power plants, who are both desperate to find a place to send their waste. The Compact Commission does not even have a staff to review proposed importation agreements. A coalition of groups is opposing the rush to approve this rule. The groups are urging the Commission to deny the ability to import any waste other than Texas-Vermont compact waste or to put much stricter rules in place on how waste might be imported on a case-by-case basis. The present license does not even have enough capacity for waste from Texas and the other compact state Vermont.

You can find more information about the proposed rule at http://www.tllrwdcc.org/rule.html