A new report in today’s issue of the journal Science indicates that the region around Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is much less stable than some scientists previously had believed. According to the article, the earth’s crust at the proposed high-level radioactive waste site is stretching some ten times faster than expected, leading to the possibility of stronger earthquakes and/or volcanic activity.
“It would be pure folly, and scientifically irresponsible, for the Congress to move ahead with the nuclear industry’s legislation that would begin transports of high-level radioactive waste to an ‘interim’ site at the mountain,” said Michael Mariotte, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS). The legislation, S. 104 and HR 1270, commonly known as the “Mobile Chernobyl Act,” has been approved by both Houses but currently is the subject of procedural maneuvering due to differences in the two bills. President Clinton has promised to veto the legislation if it reaches his desk. “It makes no sense to move the nation’s lethal nuclear garbage through cities and towns to a site whose suitability for nuclear waste storage has come into severe doubt.”
“These new revelations add to those of former DOE geologist Jerry Syzmanski, whose research shows the possibility of “superheated” water emerging from the mountain,” said Mary Olson of NIRS’ Radioactive Waste Project. “The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board and other agencies must fully examine the implications of this research.”
“It’s well known that the Yucca Mountain area is riddled with earthquake faults,” added Olson, “but the biggest fault here is with the nuclear power industry which wants to send its atomic waste to Nevada regardless of the science involved.”
“The new doubts about Yucca Mountain make one issue crystal-clear,” said Mariotte. “Any responsible nuclear waste policy must address the generation of radioactive waste as a central principle. It is irrational to continue to manufacture this deadly material when we have so little scientific assurance of its long-term containment.”
Note: Mariotte returned this week from Ahaus, Germany, !QW! he witnessed last Friday’s transport of six high-level radioactive waste casks to the small town and the accompanying massive protests and police activity. For more information on these transports, contact him or view his report and photos on NIRS’ web site (www.nirs.org) beginning on Tuesday, March 31.