Re: Barnwell facility and politics

[mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU (Michael P. Grissom)]

Am I the only one to receive this posting AT LEAST 3 TIMES today?  Granted,
it is a very important issue regarding the compacts issue and radwaste
disposal in general.  However, once is really enough here!?

>I have a copy of a press release from the South Carolina Govenor's office;
>the following are remarks made by Govenor David Beasly at a April 13 1995
>press conference.
>
>"There is a situation in South Carolina that we need to deal with
>immediately, otherwise, on January 1st, it will become a crisis.
>In letters between me and the govenor of North Carolina, I have gotten no
>indication that our neighbors to the north will site a low-level waste
>facility any time in the near future.
>Through the eight state Southeast Compact Commission, North Carolina has
>been given nearly 700 million dollars for site evaluation and development.
>The North Carolina legislature has paid lip service to the project, and has
>appropriated a minimal amount of money for a new facility, but it is not
>expected to appropriate any more.
>North Carolina is not only putting the Compact agreement at risk, but has
>put South Carolina in an untenable position.
>The Compact Commission is obviously growing weary of North Carolina's empty
>promises, with some states indicating a reluctance to continue giving site
>development money to North Carolina. 
>As a matter of fact, the Commission is so sure that North Carolina will miss
>its next milestone for action on December 31st of this year, that it is
>already holding the next five million dollar fine in escrow to be paid to
>South Carolina on that date.
>North Carolina announced a schedule of mid-1998 for having an operational
>facility, but that's assuming no one challenges the site or the facility in
>court.
>It's becoming more and more clear: North Carolina will not have an
>operational low-level waste facility in this century.
>Part of the problem is that the North Carolina Low Level Waste Authority
>can't even deal with its own state bureaucracy. The North Carolina Division
>of Radiation Protection says it's trying to protect the public. 
>Well, I have a message for North Carolina bureaucrats: we're trying to
>ensure public safety in South Carolina, and if Barnwell has to close on
>schedule, there won't be any public safety in at least an eight state region.
>The Barnwell facility has a life of ten more years. In its history, it has
>never been cited for any safety, health, or environmental problems. 
>Other states are looking to us for leadership due to the dismal failures in
>North Carolina's leadership. And I say we should lead.
>There are those who insist that Barnwell be shut down. That's just flat
>irresponsible.
>In South Carolina there are 350 businesses and organizations licensed to
>process and use radioactive materials. There are at least 30 generators that
>would have to store waste on-site at a tremendous risk to the public.
>Ask the people of Charleston if they want waste from the medical university
>and other generating facilities stored right there on the peninsula, only to
>be washed through their streets when the next Hugo hits the coast.
>The issue here is public safety. Today, I am calling the South Carolina
>General Assembly to action. I am saying we must be responsible in the face
>of North Carolina's irresponsibility.
>I am calling on the General Assembly to extend the life of the Barnwell
>facility to help us keep the Compact strong, to keep pressure on North
>Carolina, and to keep us from having hastily constructed storage sites
>around the state run by inexperianced operators.
>I am also calling for storage fees to be imposed for all generators at a
>rate of 220 dollars per cubic foot.
>The income should be used only for non-recurring expenses in education. I
>propose using 30 percent of the 140 million dollars generated annually for a
>scholarship fund for South Carolina students. It will eventually become self
>sustaining and is similar to what Senator Setzler has proposed with the
>money he has placed inthe Tuition Grants fund. 
>The remaining 70 percent will be used to pay for new schools where they're
>needed in every district in the state. We'll create a bond pool for
>construction, and use the interest to develop a strong technological
>infrastructure for the state wide system.
>As soon as North Carolina opens its facility, Barnwell will close. But in
>the meantime, the potential 1.4 billion dollars generated until it reaches
>capacity in ten years will help us address problems in our public schools
>and in higher education.
>We have a broad base of support in the House and Senate for this action
>because those you see with us today, and many others who couldn't be with
>us, recognize that this is a public safety issue above any other consideration.
>If, in the course of protecting the health and safety of all South
>Carolinians we can get revenue from sources outside the state, then I
>propose using the money for specific non-recurring expenditures in education.
>I have written all of the govenors in the Southeast Compact States and have
>asked them to join me in sanctions against North Carolina, which will
>include denying access to the Barnwell facility, and I have made it clear we
>will not expand the Barnwell site beyond its current capacity.
>Each of the govenors in the Southeast Compact states are facing the same
>public safety and health issues we are facing if we don't have a safe and
>proven facility in which to store low-level waste. 
>As I said earlier, this is an issue that must be resolved immediately. We
>can't wait until the General Assembly convenes next January. At that point,
>it becomes a public safety crisis."
>
>If I remember correctly, there was a message posted here some days ago
>stating that the SCC refused to exclude North Carolina from using the
facility. 
>
>W. Robert Newberry, IV, IHIT, CHMM
>
>The views expressed in this message are those of the writer, and do not
>reflect the views of Southern Research Institute.
>
>
>
Michael P. Grissom
mikeg@slac.stanford.edu
Phone:  (415) 926-2346
Fax:    (415) 926-3030