Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

(Office of file (aobernor
Geoar Pusbe kflanta, (.onrgia 30334 Ms. Ruth Clusen
GOVEnNOR Page 2
September 24, 1979 September 24, 1979
Whereas, the State of Georgia is not opposed to the general
concept of geologic disposal, the State is unalterably opposed to
Ms. Ruth Clusen the specific concept relevant to a waste managenent strategy in-
Assistant Secretary for Environment volving bedrock storage at the Savannah River Plant because of the
U. S. Department of Energy potential contamination of the Tuscaloosa aquifer. It is quite
Washington, D. C. 20585 apparent that DOE is proceeding to further develop a bedrock storage
facility at the Savannah River Plant. Although the USEPA and the
Dear Ms. Clusen: National Academy of Sciences have opposed this SRP waste disposal
concept and the State of Georgia has stated its position on numerous
The State of Georgia appreciates the opportunity to review and occasions regarding this specific issue, it is the position of the
conment on the Department of Energy's draft "Generic Environmental State of Georgia that the Department of Energy has been neither
Impact Statanent on the Manag-emnt of Cammercially-Generated Radio- sensitive nor responsive to Georgia's concerns in this matter. The
active Waste," DOE/EIS-0046-D. State of Georgia will exercise all available options relative to this
issue in order to protect its natural resources and the health and
This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has serious safety of the citizens of our State.
implications upon the welfare of future generations and the
of the environment in our State, the Region and
quality
the Nation. The Sincerely,
stated strategy that "program emphasis should be on the establishment
of nined repositories (in geologic formations) as the operative
disposal technology" is of particular concern to the State of Georgia.
It is George Geor ge Bus appropriate to reiterate our position on this matter: We are
usee bee
unalterably opposed to those waste management operations which could
result in the eventual contamination of groundwater sources. Although GB:rpj
this DEIS acknowledges that groundwater "is a valuable and widely used
resource" and "presumes that a repository should not affect the quality cc: Dr. C. A Heath
or availability to an unacceptable level," it concludes, ho~ever, that Division of Waste Isolation, USDOE
the migration of wastes into groundwater is potentially very high. Acceptance
of any contamination of these resources would be irresponsible.
DEIS
The
statanent (p. 3.1.49) "Site selection will probably avoid areas of
known major aquifers initially" should be responsibly changed to read:
"Site selection must avoid any areas of aquifers." Our great natural
groundwater resources are vital to the projected orderly growth and develcprent
of Georgia.
Our review of the DEIS identified several other serious inadequacies.
These comments, cnpiled by Georgia's Environmental Protection Division,
are attached.