EIS-0113_Section_9 - Hanford Site

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3 Inland
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Regional
Conference
RESOLUTION
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JUL 1A 1986
WMOIJISION
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Hanford .Nuclear ReservatiostRECEIVEi'r DOE-RL
Statement by
JUL 14 1986
LION HONKER
WM DIVISION
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3 . 3 . 2.1
WHEREAS: the Department of Energy has issued Its Draft
Environmental Impact Statement on disposal of defense waste currently
stored at Hanford: and
WHEREAS: the two basic options are to continue to stare the present
and future nuclear waste at Hanford or to ship it elsewhere: and
WHEREAS: continued storage at Hanford means the transporting of
future defense nuclear Waste to Hanford and storage elsewhere means the
transporting of existing defense nuclear waste from Hanford; and
WHEREAS: any transportation of radioactive material poses some
danger: and
WHEREAS: transportation through urban areas creates more risk than
through less densely populated areas; and
WHEREAS: the Draft Environmental Impact Statement indicates that
the Department of Energy will make available money to ensure adequate
emergency response and that federal support is also available from Federal
Emergency. Management Administration, Environmental Protection Agency,
Food and Drug Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
and
- WHEREAS: local governments bear the ultimate responsibility for
emergency response planning; NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY
RESOLVED BY THE INLAND EMPIRE REGIONAL CONFERENCE:
1. The Department of Energy is urged to employ the most favorable
technological means to solidify and store hazardous wastes at their point of
origin, and
. 1.. The Department of Energy Is urged to choose that option which
creates the least risk and requires the least amount of nationwide
3.4.2.2
transportation of defense waste, and
3.4.2.24
3. The Department of Energy and other federal agencies are urged
to make available to local emergency response providers the support
prom; setl in the Draft Environmental impact Statement.
Adopted by the Inland Empire Be I Conference May 21. 1S IA.
My name I. Don Banker, United States Representative from the
Third District of Washington State. I am sorry that I cannot be here
personally to comment on the Drat Environmental Impact Statement on
the disposal of Hanford Defense High-level Nuclear Waste. This issue
is very important to all of us and the decision we make on how to deal
with the defense waste at Hanford will potentially affect our region
for centuries.
I em pleased that the people of this region have become s
knowledgeable about this. issue. It is my hope that this increased
level of knowledge and awareness will help to create better policies
and decisions in the future.
Ln making a decision on what to do with the roughly 43 years of
defense nuclear waste already stored at Hanford, the highest priority
must be the protection of the health and environment. nt. Presently,
forty-five million gallons of high-level radioactive wastes are stored
at Hanford, mo stly in 149 aging underground tank... More than 500,000
gallons have Leaked from these tanks, posing a serious threat to the
safety of the region. In the wake of these problems, Hanford must be
brought into compliance as soon as possible with state and federal
standards for nuclear and hazardous wastes.
I share the concerns of Governor Gardner and the Washington State
Advisory Council towards the draft EIS. More attention most be paid
to a number of issues, including the geologic instability of the
Columbia Basin, Yakima Indian land claims, and compliance with current
state and federal laws on nuclear waste management and clean-up.
The question of military nuclear waste storage at Hanford must
also be Considered in the context of other nuclear activities at the
Reaef,az iou: Ongoing production of plutonium for weapons procurement
is increasing the amount of high-level defense wastes. Large amounts
of low-level wastes have been dumped in open trenches and crypts which
permit same radioactive wastes to leach in groundwater supplies.
Hanford Continuesto -be a leading candidate for the dubious
distinction of the nation's high-level commercial waste repository.
In my View, it is dangerous and unwise to make one site the nuclear
junkyard for all of the nation's military fired commercial nuclear
wastes.
3.1.4.26
2.4.1.1
2.4.2.1
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2.3.1.14
2.2.10
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