Before the state Senate now is a resolution of major importance to all Virginians and of particular concern to Southside residents as it appears the Governor and the General Assembly have picked us to be the "Sacrifice Zone" for matters relating to uranium. The resolution follows:
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 133AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules on February 1, 2008)
(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Senators McEachin and Cuccinelli [SJR 100])
Requesting the Department of Health to study long-term options for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. Report.
WHEREAS, as of June 30, 2008, the disposal facility in Barnwell, South Carolina, will no longer accept certain classes of low-level radioactive waste from Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the Barnwell facility is currently the only facility accepting this waste for disposal; andWHEREAS, due to environmental and health concerns, disposal of this low-level radioactive waste is preferable to long-term storage; and
WHEREAS, Virginia has less than a year to find alternative methods of dealing with this waste; now, therefore,
be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Health be requested to study long-term options for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste.
In conducting its study, the Department shall, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, investigate alternative methods of disposal or storage of Class B and Class C low-level radioactive waste, taking into consideration both industry needs and public health and safety concerns.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Department by the Department of Environmental Quality. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department for this study, upon request.
The Department of Health shall complete its findings by November 30, 2008, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2009 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
This may be an eye-opener for those who favor U mining... Those of you that were on the uranium E-list early on may remember concern that was expressed regarding low level radio active waste issues. http://www.secompact.org/ Above is a link to a "compact" of states comprised of Alabama, Florida, GA, Mississippi, TN and VA. whose mission is: MISSION OF THE SOUTHEAST COMPACTCOMMISSION "To ensure that adequate, reliable, and appropriate services are available, now and in the foreseeable future, such that low-level radioactive waste generated in the Southeast Region can be safely managed in an efficient, equitable, economical, andenvironmentally responsible manner in order that each party state may meet its responsibility for providing for the availability of capacity either within or outside the State for disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders (Article 1, PL 99-240). " After the closure of the Barnwell facility, Waste was to have been taken by North Carolina for a period of 20 years. Notice that NC is not listed above. They pulled out of the compact after years of trying to site a LLRW facility and findingopposition every where it went. Numerous hearings were held. If I'm not mistaken, the compact sued NC for leaving the compact. Barnwell continued to take the waste until the next state in the seguence was due to participate...Guess who's next? You got it...Virginia. Virginia's representative on the Board has been Sen. Charles Hawkins over the years. He is still listed as Virginia's representative on the above website. So, I guess you may want to address Qs to him. Much of Virginia will be desirable for this activity. The coastal area will be too wet, the mountains potentially inaccessible during inclement weather. That leaves areas like ours. How convenient to dispose of LLRW in an area that already has a U-mine. I can hear the legislators now, "Gosh, SS's already *@#&ed up...lets just put the waste here. "One stop glow and go!
When you look at the bill above, notice that there are no public hearings mentioned. Information I've found in the Virginia County Supervisors' Manual re: Radioactive Waste Management states"
"The Governor is authorized to enter into agreements with the federal government to permit the state to assume responsibility for low-level radioactive waste. (code sec. 10-282). The Virginia Waste Management Board, with prior approval of the governor, is authorized to enter cooperative agreements with the federal government, other states, or interstate agencies to perform inspections or other functions relating to the control of low-level radioactive wastes, and to establish training programs for personnel involved in these activities. The Board is also empowered to aquire and maintain sites for low-level radioactive waste management. The right of eminent domain may be exercised by the Board for this purpose, subject to the provisions of the Condemnation Act, Sectoins 25-46.36 (code sec. 10.283, 10.285)"
I have not checked these code references as of yet.
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