No High-Level Nuclear Waste in New Mexico

MISSION: Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations.

The Blue Ribbon Commission is looking at New Mexico

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Voices from the Earth

New Mexico May Be the Dump for More Radioactive Wastes

UPDATE (Sept 2011): DOE has now decided to delay the GTCC process until after the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future submits its final report. SRIC agrees with that decision but continues to believe that the GTCC process should not have proceeded during the Commission's lifetime and that process has further damaged trust and confidence.

(JUNE 2011) The United States has created nuclear waste that we don't know what to do with. For a large portion of that waste - 160,000,000 curies - from commercial nuclear power plants, the Department of Energy (DOE) is considering burying it in the ground - likely in New Mexico. But people can speak out against DOE's plans!

What are DOE's Plans?
DOE has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste. Current regulations say that GTCC wastes should be disposed in a geologic repository. The only such site considered is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), east of Carlsbad. Some other sites - including WIPP-Vicinity and Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) - are being considered for near-surface burial in "enhanced trenches," vaults, or intermediate-depth boreholes. Other sites are Nevada Test Site, Hanford (WA), Idaho National Lab, and the Savannah River Site (SC). The DEIS also states that some non-DOE sites might be considered, but no such site is identified.

What Can I Do?
Voice your opinion at upcoming public hearings and submit written comments.

Public hearings in New Mexico will be held at the following locations and times:
o Carlsbad: Pecos River Village Conference Center, Carousel House, 711 Muscatel Avenue, Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. (Public comment begins at 7 p.m.)
o Albuquerque: Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco, NE, Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. (Public comment begins at 7 p.m.)
o Santa Fe: Cities of Gold Hotel Conference Center, 10-B Cities of Gold Road, Pojoaque, Thursday, April 28, 2011, 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Public comment begins at 7 p.m.)

The deadline for written comments to DOE is June 27, 2011. Submit to:
Arnold Edelman, Document Manager, DOE GTCC EIS, Cloverleaf Bld., EM-43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585,
or E-mail: gtcceis@anl.gov.
More information can be found and written comments also can be submitted at: http://www.gtcceis.anl.gov

For more information:
Southwest Research and Information Center. (505) 262-1862. www.sric.org
Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping. (505) 266-2663. www.cardnm.org
Concerned Citizen for Nuclear Safety. (505) 986-1973. www.nuclearactive.org
Nuclear Watch New Mexico. (505) 989-7342. www.nukewatch.org

Fact Sheet

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Southwest Research and Information Center
105 Stanford SE
PO Box 4524
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505/262-1862
fax: 505/262-1864

For further information contact Info@sric.org.