Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: Senator against waste import

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Senator against waste import

Alexander moves to bar incoming nuclear leftovers

By Frank Munger (Contact)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., announced Tuesday he will co-sponsor legislation in the Senate to bar the importation of foreign nuclear waste.

The legislation, which apparently will be introduced after the Senate returns from recess, is designed to prevent the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from allowing EnergySolutions to import up to 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Italy. The company wants to transport the waste to its Oak Ridge plant for processing and then dispose of the remnants at its nuclear landfill at Clive, Utah.

Alexander's bill is similar to one introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., and others.

In a statement distributed to the news media, Alexander said, "There is no reason to take in the world's low-level nuclear waste when we have not figured out what to do with our own. I agree with Congressman Gordon that the United States shouldn't become the world's nuclear garbage dump."

The Senate bill is being introduced by Alexander and U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland. Both are members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Jill Sigal, EnergySolutions' senior vice president for government relations, said the legislation is misguided.

"We believe the legislation, just like the House legislation, is unnecessary," Sigal said Tuesday in a telephone interview from Wyoming. "We don't believe that Congress should strip the NRC of its jurisdiction. The NRC bases its decisions on safety and health issues, and we have full confidence in the NRC to do its job."

The NRC is reviewing the company's application for an import license. The public comment period closed in mid-June, but the NRC is considering holding a public hearing on the proposed project.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Public Statement by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (TurtleIsland). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshone dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message.

In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime.

Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.