Compiled by leaders of groups from communities located in the shadows of U.S. nuclear weapons sites. The report card grades looks to the future and lays out an agenda for the next administration.
2008 Radioactive Report Card Grade Book
Press Release
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| | | published Thursday, May 05, 2011 | 2608 Views | |  |
For Immediate Release: May 5, 2011
Contact: Scott Kovac, Nuclear Watch NM (505) 989-7342, scott@nukewatch.org
Joni Arends, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (505) 986-1973, jarends@nuclearactive.org
Susan Gordon, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (505) 473-1670, sgordon@ananuclear.org
Santa Fe- Following the release this week of the Department of Energy's (DOE) draft Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project-Nuclear Facility Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement thirty non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from New Mexico and around the country wrote to DOE calling for three additional public hearings, and an extension of 75 days for the comment period past the proposed June 13 Deadline. New Mexico Senators and Representatives have been approached for assistance with the requests.
Because billions of dollars will be needed for the proposed construction of a Nuclear Facility, funding for the nuclear weapons complex and the CMRR–NF in particular has been a central focus of a significant national debate. Currently only three public hearings are scheduled for Los Alamos, Espanola and Santa Fe, beginning May 24. The letter demands additional public hearings in Albuquerque, Taos, and Washington, DC. Citing the growth in project size, construction options and complexity, and the overlapping conflict with another DOE public hearing process, the NGOs insist it is absolutely necessary for NNSA to grant a 75-day extension for the comment period
Given the importance of the proposed CMRR-NF and the past demonstrated large public interest, the endorsers believe that a substantial number of people will turn out to provide public testimony at all of the hearings. The additional hearings are necessary so that the public can provide comments at reasonable times and locations.
Operations Director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Scott Kovac, said, ~ “Not only is there a 500 page EIS, but there are thousands of pages of reference documents. It is too much to ask for the public to read and understand all this material then comment on it in the proposed given time. Also, additional hearings will allow ample time for all comments to be heard without any hearing lasting into the night.”
Joni Arends, of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, said, “DOE heard our concerns about the possibility of three EIS processes involving LANL going on at the same time and they reduced the number to two. Now we are asking for additional time to provide informed comments about the proposed Nuclear Facility. We urge DOE to do the right thing and grant a 75-day extension.”
Susan Gordon, director of the national Alliance for Nuclear Accountability says, “During the comment period for Complex Transformation, DOE received more than 120,000 comments. A hearing in DC would provide the opportunity for national organizations to speak to these national issues.”
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The May5, 2011 letter signed by 30 organizations and several individuals can be viewed at http://www.nukewatch.org/facts/nwd/CMRR-SEIS_extension_request.pdf
The official CMRR SEIS website is at: http://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/cmrrseis
Currently Scheduled Hearings:
· Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at 5 PM to 9 PM, Holiday Inn Express, 60 Entrada Drive, Los Alamos, NM
· Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 5 PM to 9 PM, Santa Claran Hotel, 464 N. Riverside Drive, Espanola, NM
· Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 5 PM to 9 PM, Santa Fe Community College, Main Building, Jemez Rooms, 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM |
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