How could this be ?
On June 7, 1995, the Ohio legislature passed a law, Senate Bill 19 , which forces Ohio to become the disposal site not only for its own radioactive wastes but also that of five other states: Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. The Senate Bill requires Ohio to take these radioactive wastes for 20 years or until a limit of 2.25 million cubic feet of waste is reached. However, if the time expires or the limit is reached, the decision can be made to extend both limits without citizen approval.
Whose waste is it?
Most of the waste has been produced by nuclear power plants in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. 1989 figures show that they account for 80% of the volume and 95% of the radioactivity. Don't be fooled by talk about the large volume of waste coming from medical and research facilities! The vast majority of it comes from commercial nuclear power plants.
Is that the whole list of possible dumpers?
The orginal gross capacity set for the the dump was 1.75 million cubic feet, which has been increased to 2.25 million cubic feet. There is well founded concern that if Ohio builds this dump first we may well receive the "low-level'' wastes from the whole eastern half of the country!
What is the meaning of the term "Low-Level Radioactive Waste?''
"Low-Level Radioactive Waste'' is a grievous oxymoron. The term serves as a catch-all to denote any radioactive waste not considered high level (the expended fuel elements of nuclear reactors). Specifically, it runs the gamut from relatively mild nuclear garbage (e.g., contaminated rubber gloves from nuclear medicine) to the intensely radioactive and deadly containment vessels of shut down nuclear power plants! Some of these wastes will require monitoring for periods in excess of several hundred or even thousands of years -- an incredible feat for a state that has only been in existence less than 200 years! Moreover, nine of the eleven operating nuclear power plants in this six-state region are scheduled for decomission during the time frame Ohio will host this dump, meaning that we will bear the initial brunt of the deadliest wastes, such as reactor containment vessels. One plant in this Compact region has already been decommissioned.
How dangerous is it?
Some of these wastes are tainted with plutonium, one of the deadliest substances known. All are hazardous to life. Many substances in these wastes remain radioactive for thousands of years, yet the law requires monitoring for only 500 years! To date, in all six states where low-level radioactive waste dumps of this nature have been established, leakage has already occurred. In addition, government studies show that nuclear waste dumps are best sited in dry areas with a low water table. A humid area with lots of surface water like Ohio is arguably the worst place to site such a dump!
What is the time frame for building this dump, and how much will it cost?
With the fast track schedule of SB 19, this dump could be sited and built within a time frame of ten years, at an initial phase cost of $75 million dollars. SB 19 says the cost of the dump will be paid in full by the generators -- meaning nuclear utilities such as the Centerior Corporation which runs the Perry nuclear reactor in Northeast Ohio. But if one of the generators should go bankrupt (Centerior has come close!), you can bet that we, the taxpayers, will be hit up for the money!
Please Help Us!
Citizens working together across Ohio will make their voices heard in state government over the clamor of nuclear special interests. Please join us. We are in great need of people to circulate petitions. (Each petition has room for 20 signatures.) If you want to help, send your name, address, phone number with area code, email address, and the number of petitions requested to the address below or email us. We are an all volunteer organization running on a meager budget -- we would welcome any and all financial contributions to our campaign (though since we are a Legislative Political Action Committee, these are not tax deductible). These can be mailed to:
Citizens Protecting Ohio
6403 Clark State Rd
Blacklick, Ohio 43004
614-294-8206
Thank You!!
Paid for by Citizens Protecting Ohio Against a Six-State Radioactive Waste Dump
Margaret B. Gray, Treasurer, 3119 Essex Rd., Cleveland Heights OH 44118
Copyright © 1996-1998 Citizens Protecting Ohio
http://www.freepress.org/c-pro -- Revised: 1/10/97
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