NRC Deems Nuclear Waste Site Safe

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

NRC Deems Nuclear Waste Site Safe

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A plan by American Indians to lease reservation 
land to a consortium of electric utilities for disposing nuclear 
waste was deemed safe on Friday by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

But the NRC still must hold hearings on a final environmental impact 
statement, still to be issued, and the project must win approval of 
three other federal agencies. 

Up to 44,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel could be stored at Skull 
Valley in the desert 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City if the plan 
is approved. 

``For them to say that this is safe is just unacceptable,'' said Gov. 
Mike Leavitt, who is among the plan's opponents. ``Their analysis 
ignores or inadequately addresses many issues that could have 
significant affect on the health and safety of Utah citizens.'' 

Leavitt accused the NRC of lacking objectivity because it is under 
pressure to find a site to store the country's nuclear waste. 

Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of eight electric utility 
companies that made the agreement with the Goshutes Indian 
Reservation, praised the NRC's finding. 

``The NRC is very demanding so we're glad to see that the report is 
completed and that it is favorable,'' said Bruce Whitehead, 
consortium spokesman. 

The spent fuel rods would be stored in canisters that are welded shut 
and placed in two steel shells encased in concrete. The casks would 
weigh 180 tons when full. 

The NRC plans to make its final decision sometime in 2002. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
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Personal Website:  http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net
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