re: AP LLRW Story

[MVala@USCCMAIL.uscc.bms.com]

     Radsafers -

     I was wondering when people where going to notice that we have spent
     almost half a billion dollars on this "process" with nothing to show
     for it!  When the Supreme Court struck down the "take title' provision
     to the Siting Act, the states had no reason to seriously pursue siting
     with any sense of urgency.  As a result we (taxpayers and llrw
     generators) have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on
     consultants, lawyers, state siting boards, regional compact
     commissions, and other bureaucracies so the sited states would not
     deny access to their facilities.  Well, South Carolina bailed out of
     the process last year.  The Midwest Compact has voted not to pursue a
     site and Illinois has delayed everything for nine years.

     It has been seventeen years - it's time to admit the process has not
     worked and never will.  Since I cant' think of any way to fix it, the
     Siting Act should be repealed.  Let the free market determine how many
     disposal sites are needed and where.  South Carolina is earning about
     $80 million a years in surcharges alone.  Perhaps somewhere in this
     nation there is an enlightened community willing to accept a disposal
     site for a mere $40 million a year.

     The larger pharmaceuticals has begun discussions among themselves to
     address this issue at the federal level.  We have not decided on a
     course of action yet, but I suggested to repeal the Act.  I would be
     greatly interested in hearing anyone's opinion or ideas.  I am
     particularly interested in how South Carolina may react to the repeal
     of the Siting Act as well as Texas and California.

     We will be better off with the Siting Act or without it?  Hope to hear
     from you.

     Mike Vala
     Bristol-Myers Squibb
     mvala@usccmail.bms.com

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     Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 05:11:03 +0000
     From: Jim Muckerheide <muckerheide@mediaone.net>
     Subject: LLW status according to AP: a fair story

     Nothing to show for millions spent toward nuclear waste disposal

     The Associated Press

     RALEIGH, N.C. (July 5, 1997 12:38 p.m. EDT) -- It's the same story
     everywhere -- regional compacts Congress created 17 years ago to bury
     low-level radioactive waste have spent hundreds of millions of dollars
     with virtually nothing to show.
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