Time to protest waste incineration
According to a recent report by The Associated Press, federal authorities have approved licenses allowing up to 1,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Germany to be brought to Oak Ridge, Tenn., for incineration. The following are quotes from that article.
“Tennessee is the only state that allows commercial burning of radioactive waste, licensing six incinerators. The state already receives 75 percent of the nation’s low-level radioactive waste – about 41 million pounds per year, according to state records.”
“With German waste now permitted to enter the U.S. and come to Oak Ridge, Tennessee can become ‘the destination for processing radioactive waste from all over the world.’ The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) is supposed to oversee much of this type operation.”
If you have concerns about the disposition of hazardous waste in Tennessee, please contact the manager of radiological health in the Knoxville field office of EPA at 615-594-5516; Mr. Chetan Gala with the Environmental Protection Agency, 800-241-1754 and the office of Environment and Conservation at 423-634-5781 (a state of Tennessee agency that is involved with the quality of air in the state of Tennessee). Legislators: Sens. Andy Berke, local 423-266-5171; Bo Watson, local 423-488-2353, and Rep. Eric Watson (Cleveland), local 423-339-0939.