Item c. 11 Consider, and discuss r~esolutian in apposition to Radioactive Waste Dump in West Texas. tCounty Judge? The Court took no action an item today. Cammissianer~ Lett is to get mare infar^mation an this matter°. 9?10E1:99' ~@: =? 915'5783~~ ~RA'JL~+~LL'~hJt_E F~aE X31 F~'~~ Rr~~trd t3aren ~/S- 757- SOO S To: Tv a Denson ~R~ ~u~. ~8~"@~,'":'39' ~~:=? 91~%573'~Q5 3Rw'JOe~LLIAhJ~_E Fr~uE ~7? ~OIJ`Y'I~VEBT TOXIC WATC$ PU $OX 3367 EL, PASO TX 79828 {B1S) 787-SQ05 TO: Kerr County.Judge B,obert Denson FROM; Richat•d Boren, coordinator Southwest ToariC Watch DATE: August. 6, 1987 RE: resolution in opposition to proposed nuclear waste dump in Sierxt~ Blanca, Hudspeth County, TX Dear Judge Denson, My organization, Southwest Toxic Watch, hag been actively opposing the plans of the state of Texas to build a nuclear waste dump in Sierra Blanca, TX, 90 miles east of E} Pasa. The dump would primarily receive radioactive waste from nuclear power plants in Ea4t Texas and Maine and Vermont. West Texas vrould contribute less than 1~'0 of the waste. Eleven counties and seven cities in West and South Texas have passed resolutions appo4ing this project (as well as twc~ Mexican states), I would like tri ask you tv also consider passing A similar resolution in your county. I am enclosing one of the previous resolutions that you could use as a guide. Your county lies directly along the ta-ansp~~rtation route to the dump, If the dump opens there will be a dramatic increase of radioactive wastes passing through your community which will greatly increase the likelihood of an accident resulting in a spill. Emergency regpor~ders and hospitals are generally not adequately prepared to deal with a seriouq accident involving radioactive waste. Aiso it has been shown that transpartxtion of radioactive waste can cause a devaluation of property values (see attached articles. There are many other reasons to oppose this project, t am including information for you to review that details problems with the site such as the potential for earthquakes (Sierra Blanca is in the state's mast active earthquake zone). I hope your county will join forces with the other counties and cities that oppose turning West Texas into a dumping ground for radioactive waste. If your county dies pass a regnlut:ian, plea4e send it to Governor Bush at~.d to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commissint~ (the agency vvhiclx will decide whether or not to grant the operatazxg }icenses. The addresses are listed heXow. Please call me i.f you have any questions at 91.5-757-8405. I'll call your office in a caup}.e of weeks to 4onfirm you recezved this packet. Thank you far your consideration of this matter. addresses; Sincerely ~~ Richard Boren Governor George V~. Bush State Capitol, Room 200 Austin, TX 78701 (800) 252-8600 faze-(512) 403-1899 TNRCC attn: Camrnissioners F4 Box 19087 Austin, TIC 7$711-3087 (512) 239-1000 9B,'95/_99~ 19:1_ 91'5«995 BRF11,+ri~L~1:-~•d~E FEE ~4 R~,SdLUTION THE STATE p1~ TEXAS C4[~T+TY OF SliTTD!v & 4VI-IEI~E.~ S, the Scate of Texas has chvaen Sierra Blaitea, Hudspatll County, for the site df a love-level nuclear waste dump which would recoive wastes from Texas, )tlaino and Vermont; and WHEREAS, the wastes will be ionic for thousands of years, and VVFiEREAS, a radioactive release from the project could threaten the residents of Sutton County, Texas; and W~TEF EAS, precious underground water supplies for the enure region could be contaminated by this facility; and WHEREAS, Sierra B[anca is a poor, 7C-°!Q Hispanic community and studies have shown that toxic waste dumps ara often situated in poor nunority communities; and WHEREAS, four afthc six existing (ow-level nuclear waste dumps have leaked radiation into the surt~ounding environment; and VVHFRF_Afi., safe alternatives exis# for the storage of nuclear waste such as aboveg•outtd monitored rt~trievable storage; NO~'V, TI-iERFFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sutton County yudge and Commissioners oppose a nuclear waste dump in Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth Gounty, Textts. Sigred this 28th day' of July, A.D 1997. • ~~.-,. CARLA GAR'~ER, Suttcn County Judge ,~jy !~ ~ PIKE 4~Li. AIv[JE V ~~, Commissioner BILL. L, Commissioner Cc~ ~~~~, BELIA CA6TAIV"EDA, Commissioner ~ WADE, Ct~trsttissioner Attest: , BOBBIE SMITH, Sutton County Clerk y.. 'P~ ~ K a ni n~.i4,.~ . '3 ~r fi. -~ :a @~I6~,'.997 :.x:13 31575+S~t~5 E~r~~+'C~LL=::NLE P~uE t~3 RESQLUTtONS IN ~DPPOSITtON TO THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR 1NAS1'E DISPOSAL FACILITY IN SIERRA BLANCA HUDSPETH COUNTY TEXAS RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY COUNTIES PRESIDIA CalINTY JULY i0, i995 JEFF DAV1S COUNTY AUG. 14, 1995 CULI3ERSON COUNTY SEPT. 11, 1995 VAS VERDE COUNTY FEB, 28, 1998 WEBS COUNTY PEB. 26, 1998 STARR COUNTY MAR. 11, 1998 HIDALGO COUNTY MAp, 19, 1996 CAMERON COUNTY MAR. 26, 1996 ZAPATA COUNTY APRIL 8, 1996 EL PASa COUNTY APRIL i5, 1996 REEVES COUNTY APRI4 22, 1996 RESCLUTIONS PASSED BY CITIES CITY QF AUSTIN CITY OF DEL RIO CITY OF BRACKETTVILLE CITY t?F MApFA CITY dF VAN HORN CITY 0-F EL PASO FEIN. 9, 1995 JUNE 27, 1995 JULY 11, 1995 AUG. 24, 1995 NQV. 7, d 995 APRIL 9, 1996 RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN MEXICO CITY COUNCIL OF JUAREZ JAN. 26, 1995 STATE CONGRESS OF COAHUIIA AUG. 2, 1995 STATE CONGRESS CyF CHIHUAHUA NOV. 29, 1995 [~9.''~~; .99' .7: "~3 91575-g~E~S ~;+ rr~~ii ~EtRmJC~.^,•L~~:'sISCE Tfl~ sz'A-r~ or• T~xA s ? COUNTY O}= R~Si:vp'.S WH~R~'AS, the ltetc of Texas h~.r che,se» ~ierrn ~1111t:l, Fittdfiptch Cc+lt„t~, ~c1r t~t$ kiiE ~ St 1(+w-}tvCl htr(`iCRt' cvRSfc dump ~ti•hich ~vt+trlt! r~:ei~~r. ~-~itslsfs tresnt 'I'extw` ~trtitt~, Rint1 ~1c.nncmt end Whcrcn~ il+e*. wt+ti~cK +ri}! be ft+xic~ fnr the+tt~t+nds of ~•ccere; tend, wF~RCAS, a n~clic+nctit•c rclcnsc /ro+n tltc prajcct.covld thrcrfcrt tha rasidante rt~l~eevGt Cvtrnty; snd Naw Ti-i1~R~F(JRl~, R~~,1'!' 1tF*.~C)1,,V11~, fh~+t lire, lire+~c• t'c+crnty .1uc1Ke un(t Ccsunty Ccm+miypi<~+tcrr a~ec q nuclear ~eastr. clurnla fn ,9icrrn 8ixnce, Hudsitcth cottttty, 't'eic~, • ~, ~: •y,'w WFtp'.tt1=AS, vadet)~ nl+t.rnativri r~isl for the atc~rR~r nt nvrie~r ~+•eGte auah 0S el~tYti~t' grc+unc# ~,„ ~ ~;r ~ mcmilbrcd retncvablc. stor•~+gc. ~ . "•~~'`~'~~' ~. Dint H. D.+lindt7, Cot+nty.tltctge _ ,~ ~•~. l~lcr»e,t '!'urin, t'rnmniz+¢inttct #';~ WHP,Rp;I~~~ ixccicn+s unclc.rgrt~tmd water fiut~ttilrs io+• the, rcFipn could be contarltinetcd by 1hi~u i:tc+fity; nrxl, ~. ~. WNFRF.A9, Slf.ff'f+ }31Al1G~+ in R ~'1(1!1f, 7t1'#t }~lisE+anic rarnrntittlty and btudiCS Itt+vc ~hoct+n ~ ~ ' t` -~ 11+,+1 In~cic We~tc d(+rit~>S Arc c+lter+ Sights~sw •tb40t,lr9+Y rf _ _.~. il'1T~w~ast~ transit Erna hint land vales ~. The slat department consulkants e highway nr ^uzwnnsr~ iultraa iOVRNAL 5'AFF WRITER ~ b ~ hired - t0 CQn(~UCt a public perc~pttan study to help set land values along the route of Santa Fe's W25t-Stile bypass. .~. .~ N-waste hansit may hurf land values Fndrty tfr1Qri) r _. supreme Court has ruled that the ]arid owners trust: be comptasated. The bypass is intended to cut trAt fie eorfQtstlon on th~ rtity't: tzuyjor north~out)7 tbtsraughlarG9, 5t Fran- cis drive and Cetrsllas Road. But it ~l also accptnmodate trucks harJ~ lag t~clioactive waste 5-om Los A1srrlgS :Vatiaoa? l.ttbcratory to the Waste Iaolatioa Pilot Plant near Carlsbad. A Poo two years ago by A.tthrneys fQr landowiief3 near the futurehigh- wayindicated more thxtt haH of Ssn- ts Fe residents wouldn't consider bt,q=ing a hoote site along the route. 'iltc land o•vners,loM and Luau via ICnrnirs, sought damati;~ for what they predicted would be detl[nittr propttsty values orate the trusts car ryin~ radioactive waste began rolSn~:. ~ . A Sang Fe Jury its 19D1.,vardad Ma lSattrittea $884,1921 (uclvdiut $337,$LS., bi Lc pcrxpdoa" da;nages; Vie. is 1999 hs~d volt deatmad l3.i ecrea and the lmT faeaud the iemaittine 434 .tree had loaf eattie:1 ..:" ~ ~ . The ttt#e Sttprcme Court upheiQ the award, t"l>~ s isadosr<. 'l:ltt r•taad lA sbottt three t4 five yeah"` h'aW ; vampietiott 'sad is expected to t~t'1'y' ,t?Ob vthictCl a clay 69 thelrear 2019. Hirthwt~y and Trut~r±orlatitxt Deparuttert's deputy acneraS coun~ sN. He said eht results 'brill affect what taspaycrs are paying for rrat estate tae the high+ay tf the department uquirrs part c( a tract of land !ar the highway and !here arc darraACS to the rc!n+tining properly due la public pnrcrptit+n about thr hill;way. the ta:.ta Set' ~1-wAStrilt - PACE 3 --~ ~~~ f ~l u jL~ ~~ ~~ ~~ 13y Nlm I(novrkori Guest cokannui Texas waste site built The propvrted radioactive waste facili- ty near Siem Blanca will cantata mate- rials that will be haxatdaus for teas of taottaands of years. The job muss be done right. After reviewing the license application, we are faz from reassured about this site's ability to conrain radio- activity or to protect the health of the citixeas of West Texas. Many uchnical problems cast grave doubts an arhether one state (let alone tbret or more) sbauld be able to bur)• radioactive wasu at Sierra ~~anca- The pJ»posed waste "facility" is Ja re- ality .e landfill, with concrete waste "barrels," ar canisters, covered with an asphalt anti earthen cover 16.5 to ]? feet thick. That mattes ibe corer shirt enough for J~airtwater to eventually penetrate tt and begin to corrode the concrete caraic- ters. Ground water under the site. does move, .albeit clow]y,~toWard the Rio {iraade. The Texas Low Lael Radioeo- tivti Waste Disposal Authority admiu this. The probleJs could start long br [ore the Rio Crattde, however, in any rural areas where wdl water is used for domestic or livestock aonsumption_ if waste-coataminatedTainwater aetys inW ibr oyuifet, these wells could tarry ra- dioactivin• inW livr stock, crops and hu• mans. Thrre is evidence that surface water does taUVe down iota the aqui• fec We know this be- cause hJph levels of KItoYMOan tritium have been found 6511 to +50 feet deep Jn the aquifer under the site. Tritium is a radtoactire form of hydraRen. created in the atrno- sphere naturally by cosmic ra}•s, but cre• aced to for hrgher amounts by nuclear bomb testing to the last 4U or so years. There's just oat: source for the bleb level o! tritium one sees in the site's ground Water. Rainwater over the last 40 W 5U years {since bomb tests began} bas aorbe- how bran able to srep hundreds of feet downward, rather.quickly_ The earthen cover could be extremely susceptible to quake damage, Evtn if the canisters aren't broken wide open by a quake, eoil eettliag and cracking Jn the cover in response to quake motions could allow water during f]ash floods w seep m and eventually corrode the wtJ- Crete Can15LN5. • This corrvston, in turn. aught allow .4 n.ri~ „ ~~ ~~~.~. rJV+T ~~FIt~ Y ~7 rndiascavity to tontamirtate infiltradiagr"= rainwater, ac it tnovea toward ttte'rigili:w; ter. As April's strong earthquake inrtriW~= pine (just l00 miles froth Sierra Bla~ha';; and 2t10 miles east of E] Pawl xemotxitt'~I us, this is a very scismic>ally stave a1-b~.` Remember, we're talkin6 about r6HpJ`~~' scanty that will last tens of thouJiriade~° at years, buried under just 16.5 feet'hF~" eroding soil. Hundreds iE not thousait;~°~ of quakes of vatyirtg magnitudes will ot~"'' cur over that cline. ~' ~~^~"' L 1Y. Waste generators ,have an obviolis- vested interest in seeing radtoarxive'}a cilittes get licensed, Almost all the i~- , dioactivity will come from nuclear powe>yQ~ reactors an the eastern side of the state. Just because there has been "i3t] millinn'~' already spent by Texas in planning, and developing this site" does not ~ustify"gt~` ins through with a plan for `pp~tinz::; wastes where s reasonable easureJteabRJr, safety does not exist. lsn'! the heaJ~o}',;T future gcneratioas of West Texans wo at leant LhaL tuuclJ~ . '~~ .~.-rvrtr.'st~ Kim Knowtlan, a geaiagsi at Rad~oacUve'rtu;:u. Wasde Assadates. a carraucting a study o6tNt'~=~' Srerra $tanW waste tdtihty tar the [I 'l'r 1, ti Paso-0ased Alert Ciizens for Ennroomenml'~;;-:, 5aiety She has a masttr's r ennronmerUat„ M trealUtsciettce. , . •,:.n. OJ u~ F~ LO rD t~ ~v ,_, ~o vI ~r N .~ m N O is m D G1 m J E'=,'~_~ -~~- -~~-_ -'-~ mil= '~5 _Fd;',iCie~L! _'~F![-= ~I Pasp 'limes Sunday June 23, 1996 Politics, not science, behind waste dumu Ey R1c~sN llorsn Guest columnist Many have criticized the Texas IVatr oral ~eaauree Conaervatian Commia- sian for allowing New York City setw age sludge to be dumped on 50,000 acres in Sierra $lanca, 9D miles east of El Pasa. Now the canamiasion has also given preliminary appraval for the state's nuclear waste dump to he built next to the sludge ranch. Welcotno to VYaote Texas. April 1, the comrnisaion relenaed its enr•ironmental analysis for Ehe dump. It concluded that "the proposed project will not pose an unacceptable risk to public health and safety." I guess they're referring to the public in Aus- tin. Most of the radioactivity to be bury led in the dump would come from nu- clear power plants in East Texas, and pwsibly from plants in Maine and Ver- mont. Vest Texas would contribute less than 1 percent of the waste but will suffer all the consequences of leaks and accidents. The upcoming public hasarings on the dump will be a stacked deck. The final decision will ba made by three eortamis- gion officials, appointees of our pro- dump Gav, George W. Lguah. The state a ency applyyttag far the permit is thv ~exas Low-I.eva1 Radio- active Waste bi;aposal Authority. The authority is ao comfident they're plan- ning to build a a3 miliian bridge to Ehe site long before the dump receives final approval. If thv dump is dafeatetl, the bridge will stand as a monument to governmental stupidity. It is well known that Sierra Blanca is in the part of Texas with the moat earthgt;ake activity. In April 1985, a quake measuring 5.6 on tll¢ Riebter scale ehonk West Texas. There is also a fault directly under the proposed site that could provide an expreBa totals far radioactivity contamination to reach the undergrnund aquifer and eventual- ly the ltio Grande. Another fatal flaw is that the con- - _ -. 1~ ) arvte Canirter shat will held theivtraate will decay Iong before the waeis:'doeb. Part of the waste will remain radioac- tiva for kundreds of thau$ands o1 years. Attnost et+arv eaieting low-lever nuciaaar dump in tote United States is already leaking. Hardly a good track record. ' Mexico's pretests against tt~t~~ dump are based on a 1988 asreement wath the United $tatea that commits both roun- triea to prevent new sources oj~ polio Lion within B•l miles of the border~,The dump site is only 16 miles Lxoiia .the' herder, but 1 gu~a motif poCtictArs ~ler@ spore concerned about ~oc~,xing~ the dump f-00 miles away from Austin, It's no secret that politics has ~ Yiyed a bigger role than science in p citing Sierra Blanca for the dump site: EZ Paso attorney Carmen Rodrigo- ~+ho served on the authority's bat>~ until re®igning last year, stated in her reoiy~ nation letter that "Sierra 8latt.~'e ~~as selected because it is without p*oli~icai or ecocsozttic clout or influence txi Aus- tin,." . + If Austin insists ozt forcing tl':e dufi1p on West Texas, I think it's or.Iy,, ~r that the first Ioad of waste be' buried under the state capital and the ~ot~ea- nor's mafsa:ion in order to prove hoyv safe the dump will be. ; ~,,,,.- A few West 2'exaa politiciaaa .have rolled out the red carpet for the.dup}p. but Y1 counties and seven cities ,ice Wost and South 'Y'oxae, includirf ..L#; Psao County and the City of EI_~aso,~ have passed resolutions oppoaiiigatlip. dump. In fact, no issue has united our region like this in s long time.,,.,, ,.., The state can keep on wasting mon- ey trying to convince va that we should accept the dump, or they can ~do the right thing and pull the plug on this dangerous project. Richard Boren is the bl PBad coOrdiripd(]r of the lrrtgrnartipnal £nvir4nment Atliart~ Ut, tttP Bravo, an activist oeslition of aiz organ3rstlons in West Texas and JubrrSZ` " dedicated to the pratCCi~an of the braraer's environment. ft~rs~'~7.- ~~~ F:;~;E [~ fJ9Jr1o/199-' 1-1: i3 9i5?5?8~t@5 BR«~'JGr=tiLL=ANCE RL1GE E~9 .~ - .. ~ r ' E1 Paso Herald-Post ~1r.._ . , ~'1 r { , tk ' ' lG7ED4! rle'/WAIrD ~i .: t~} !,''~ Dive light >~nd #fts file will tlnd theft own way. , ~~ ~TaM King, t:ditor end Pre~sldent iiabble Farley-Yfitalobos, Fdltnr}al Page i_dltar., Edltortal Boaf~ peter Brvck '~ -• Robbie F$rley,Vlllalt7bos ~~~ ~~.. . Tvm Kln~ !' ~., '.., 1 ~ ' ,' ~ u a ke a r~~~r~ d i -- ~ i, }, n ucl~~r tr~g~dy ~at ~i~rra Blaric~ ., ('nrt,(+nrrtl In lhr~ rrr•rrlf..)ttrnnrpr rnr~~,~,~~i1 tlunkr that rlrvn^lnlr+l Knhe anti nr.ltrr dr- r;,s nF .1,l~,nn, '1'hur>;Jny'a fi,R rn.,t;nilnrlrt ' trr'mnr AC /11r~~nr, Tr,xna, was nci;liRihle. rnml>rtrecl tr, who' tni~ht hn;,~cn"~iF t.}lrre'A r.n r•nrt.hgi,nict? in thr nrrt 1iRv ~r;1rR nrar Blotto ITinnca, only R(? miles frcrn Alriinc And in IhP AAme kr}nrrnl FriB• mic-fault ~.nne, the Alpine gltakl: ie ea{~- cinlly miner, - VVhy? TtPCAl1At' P~Ir}1 n glrnke Cvultl lr,n~e nnt•lrr,r t.r_rrnr ira Wtrnt Trxn9. -". 'I'11P. ~f'I~Y::,q {.,'iw T,rvrl l:a~#ittint-4ivr Wn~.lr 1)ic;,n~ai Anlhority wants to loft n nunin- nr-worse trump nrar SlrTrrA Ellnncn, 1csR tf,;,n 1t~Q mi1rR fmm F1 I'AFO. Anrl the'I'rx- ns lianas vr,trri last vt`oek to taprrd ul, thc~ l~roCrgg elf ~rtl.inc the dump in frlnce, ' i7pjlnnert-v c,f tflr rl-rmp have for gniile , Vrr,ra, !n nr> n~~nil, 1~rrn lrliin~ Ihe,wn~lr r:ullx,rily anti nilrPr alnt.e n~rnrrrG -- uhf j,r, nor( il,ciurli-;~+ rllrn l,3nv. 11nn liichr~I'r1R -- 111:11 tilt Rlt•` rPa~,q atrrlr.Rrl.'111llCi,I1V A(`tivr ~;raioolf;li nrrilR . ~. .. i'.,r w .-~ . Thl~aln4e, in itR hoe#e {o abide by federal rrRulations and timetA6lea mAndating EX'd~ ~ ~ rlulnr, hAA chosen to ignore valid eCiehllFic'' + evidence -• inciurling the preAeric9 of Aa- ; sores that occurred ar recently AR 19$5•r-' j RhnwinR that the Arc~R hA8 begirt re9~miCelip; ..1 rtctivo in fhe pAet And kAe file potentlnl tv' . i cxpcrirn~e An onrthquako. .. ' ~: i ' .~„ i , i Such nn enrthquakotQvpn of.it,wor~;e•~ ~'• -~-rrlntirrl~~ nrilrl pe'I7ltnetlay'e; would inevl+^~ I:nhl,v Rp111 riuc~ebr materlel.~errsUte t?fe ;. ~~ rlermp rratA clone tb aqul!'et'ett. et are pn~: trntiA) rsnurcetl tSl' WAtOt`` for EI PARR and 1 i nlhpr Arent, the rtadiaactivity„Ea~,tld,COn-t ! tamlttAte lhe.wstel',~F';~ t,y, ~ f+M,'i,, .~ ,~ And hecnuae o~ the omniprenent~Weetl r Tr.xa1 windr+, rArliOACtive material could bt>!.i , tnnved fewilZ.ly to EI Fdeo and other pOpu- Inled areas, ' • ,,, .t 1111 tl~ear ~ORn1~TiIItiOR hour ~ i,O~ri t AhrtiltReci off by the Radioactive Waste Au~1 Ihflrity, the Rtate and everyone else what hna n peraenal er politicAl stAka in seeing the rilfmp opened. '' ' I , •„-r1 taut l,rr'n,ItaC et Thnreday'a c+ArthquAko, i thr I,nR>;ihility of A nuclear trA~edy at Sier~t ' rn lil,lnca can na longer be ignored., , ,) i1t,rlirn surd nq file ~! roan I~rlhlic Sett- . vice ISnnrcl, which overseees ollr water aujs- i ptier~, thr. Caunt~ CoritmiEaionere Cnt>FI.} thA City Ca+mcii fdnd ~4ery Concerned c~tS°', ran for hundreds of Miles etdund should Iir,'1 clrlle~in~- wA9tp•AIIthDClty Ant} other aitf„ta nfficlala v~ith heated protelrill. ~. , Write tv your IAwmakerlr, both stale and Ior.Al. Write to the gdv~rriot~~ to fire E~die- nttive Waste /~uthbrity!'Teli th~,+t it's timA to stop the political And ppsi=eanAi Apetldna Ihnt hove the state! end the AuthorUy en- R:Igerl in A single-minded, dAtlgcroUd effort tr, ,nf1ict till dump brl Sierra FllencA -- anti thin on A11 pf West Texas and a good , hunk of New Mexico. 1 'i'he A}pink enrihqunke should hAVE1 ev- rrynne i1t FI I'AAO acnrc+tl --- not o~ what' hnptrenofl At Alpine, belt what coUid, ~ euaily l,apprn to ue in~the futaro. ;,:(i'pi Anci n,nyf,g ti,e nnt-i.tld-tiisterlt fultut'~; 03I1~6/199? ~a:~= 9157~rrS~F1~ ., ~•, ..1 +u.>, I~ut i+W~ to NI~IL LNI a4liat.e nittsl .Klr. Giti t~itltq • ~, }~~ °..-_ ~ rise proposed figlity within a drainage whirl could coedua t'tditutttiviry in d,• raw. W aJudpa toward Ftarloin Ranch, RadiotwcJidp yra~lwd downsusun lYom Marta duri, aiorrtu et;yht interfere with assnittxirls u Faaklts Ranch. 1~A1)1C)AL'TIVI~: Wn$TE MANAG$MENT ASSt]ClATES Review of the License ApplicAtiaa for the Proposed LLRW Facility Near Sierra Slasttca, Texas prcparetl for Altst Citizetsa for Enviroptaegtal Saftty by 1{im Know[too, Marvin Reaaikofi, aAd Phyltiy Fuc6atnan Radioactive Waste MAna~emmt Assotiatey November 30,1995 Rsdiosclivt Waste Mtm•~esaeet Aaaociata 526 West 26th Street, Aoom Sl7 ,tc~, ~~~ Ncsv Yatit, tVY I0441 Rttau (211) Sao-osxb Executive SurnrrtatY The Ttrsu Low-I.evd Radioactive Wasu pilpoaal Authority tees pr9powd thu s rtttiwtsiva walla di~ora! Ddlicy ba built at Fatlda ttaaei. oast Sierra fala„ta, Tara, The lyclfilyr is iafera0ed to accept " low.iavePwdiaataive rape 8nn Two, Mauve, end Ve'itnom, teiici loyathar taraprite the prvpsied 7tItN t..oenpaa The Taeas AtnhoritY a pteviouely ptopaed sits, id nearby Fort Htrpoock oral tt~octad baratrr i! wauinad fissures and pouwielty a+tsiva tatsts and war stt4teta6ls to tsne(m sad tieodittg. The Sieera airtoa.aifs is atrttlady Oswrtd. Oe beiaft•f Alert Caiasaa &at lla.ireee~ai Sateq (A(Tss}, w her. aniufed the Aratiastge's I.ioanae Appieatioa far Uts fiiarra glaen a&a, with paniouter sttaaiott to the tita'a gteotogy. We ttaw oho rtesaisad the daaiyn of the proporad datflity, ttsa amotira of rsdio•caive afacaial it k likaar b oortteie. sad the tvsmul ndiatioo dory to the ptditit. w wail as isattei of rllerlcar aaptp atad eransportatieat risk. L gaararal, tiro Audgrlty ha) ttaderstattl tlr ticks aaaoeiatad with el» propoard facility. T•aw aegui•tiooa squire that "Atwa oleo ha ttvaittad rrftsta taatreiC prtfcww such as htdiblg, folding. aaiarnie aclivlty. aruaknispt rage oeats- wkA atria baquanty one adaee to a'yratie.ady stfiot tst• abiliyr attha tNspoaal ak- a aw•t rir prLor>e.moa ahleeflvae -.. elr atl~ ptpksdtt daArriWe'odat±gg and prttdfuiprta[ loey.tsns it»pacta.` tiowytw, the Slsrsa glaa•t rite it irceted is tar aopu iaROaieapy sAirr area la 7exa~ whore a bSh trpY11 rW, reaaal •dseti~, ud hi0ir bat tIOM maY ~~ ~~ atxivity or as irttiyura riA woe. Fttnbcr, A appan that s hurled fault 4d ditealy baeeat6 the papvwd :tor. '[his Ault doer trot appwr oa We Acnlrwisy't tn.pa of tin ficitity. 8atvraer 1423 sbd 1441. b4 eatthqualtea t>f a tita~tlttlde 3.0 or fF~ oon+rtsd xlltiin 20o aar7A of tfta properrd t3cail'uy, luttas aarthquaicaa ooadd b• v asvre as tsays~aude of 7,6, ~ tiro tin maptituds she Attfltst.l.;~y i1rut used is aatimafiai Pam Iaetage w th• ~aiitr. Fissrrtrs stay M telwd a tetxoeie arxlvify end are aaoflsrt fiatuM oCtlte lawl yaology. lrusurar opmiag above the tturiad oesils dui could atxfou.ly o•atprootise the intasrity orate propoasd ACiILty ~'eeaioa a atwtbQ ttewtu cotictstt, std Ithtaa requ(atiaot atipttlata ihet "Areas Ault fte aoidad wbao s»rfaee t praeeaara lard u steer wucin0, rcr>.iort, altrmpia0, faodalidia~ tx weatietny txea,r .ritb weft s3agtretwy and moan to aigai8caatly alfeot tin abr'Oty atlf]e disposst sits m moat tlr pafaretat-e• ahjactivas -.. or may pret:kade delarak modeiisg a[ lorry-taro imp.ai.' tGy6 Hues o[erosvaa have already bean obtKrvad u Foaldn ltaerb whtea the darter t-ufacs hat boas diatstrked - ttdoog >laas+res. fwcdinet. roedst, and gullies atfjaaata to IM propaad rite. Wod.blrywn saada ua$srlying Lratt poatiaet ~th• propowd shedGty an ale potcetially uapabis. Tbs lOpysar Dtrodpleia of eeuby Graytoa lwfu ties a4i~ to the preptrsed sierra 84ncs site. ShtJbw pe',taeabia scoot at tl,a rite awil a>m ooalaraiastioa ttoer tic fadlity ieto this Ooodplaie_ Wa an alas oor-oerard tbu wataabd ditrtgatian ataoattued write the maasuetiott of tts propoaad radiorwir+.rapa tktla' y aoA a propoasd sowaya tra•sarnte fadiry could Ind is Aood+I+j oe the eit+t ihdCduritsg m itttetfae anrnn. Tama nguluiotu atata that use of ywtr+ra w.ia recharge atat•ttd be awldad, add tie Atatosity claiwa tlW the ptopoaad fidlit)' would be virGtaUy taaftsed Aurs ttr water table 700 foot baiow, fi•wevK, the bedrock u loll feat or ins blow qta tsutaca ewe crraytee Lake, tuiara twlution piul, Etydfs, and tracLaLa could fev+'~ pfeftrtatiai pathways toe yroned weer Aaw. The Autbarby'. Souod waif madeline dfarta do sal a'~fe~tiVefy asoetpaaa dtale taarrlpte7Otisa, a+d li>ty des cot tIC-0f74at far fetpartutt dart Oe trittula ler6i. Tritium, a radiasossve flavor of lsydrog•4 L vviad a.lwrJly in ibe reoapltea btr the tarot •~•,••,••~ • of srit:ust tbsv+ed try es+rear w~r•os Latina wake it a uaat3tt eJpOmt is dir>Vttiag mound tiara aSa Er6h Nilson fvett in ilia greuad wale!' below alit tiro iadlCat! trial yrbued water m the area ie b:aas re•hetged 6f ~cstiaa elatar ttatth Bets tins the A+nhority bat . >xaesuaa pitirm hen a4esdy ieaited iota tic ynwatd crates u atha bw.lavl radiaaalive Tara dirpuael iuae in avid segitwa, wa are to•astned tLt a eatdd ~ppw here, too. is u ir~prtattt r0 aetplrsin that the IYUaiwr ttegui•tory Goavniuion raquir+ a diapoaa! tits M auitabl•, re;yatdl•u et'tM as~lrtaarina daaipt of a prop4aod St31iry fitcitity'a deaiyn rftotdd pttrvlde a aeooed lien of ddynae in itplatieQ radivaotbrt ware. the mrirortettarlR but tva haw ide+nifssd aavwai ways is which the propoted Sirs B Gdlifyr dedaet U da8dw. TM utsdtae taro sypam w ba eanttrudad when rata G clo.ca a aaeatiel io iaoEreirta ttr waatar, and rrydatian b aarnial ie o0atrottiey aro old reeq+rtrta water lhroualt evapotsastrpkatio•. Haararer, aVt the tang term it k t potaibk to tidsmilts which pf•ai rpsdee wi0 irdttbit the ate. The Atditoriq'a wau bt111trstioe nlotlationa my ar+ eprirsiatk e:armptiarrs about the vegetative wver. 7 also do not aetOUnl far Gttaly oottwuclioa Glawt or evWttal rnekitts. White too tittle vryratioa watdd lead to hawed arvron and water is5luat the wrong Idttd af+raetatlon, ouch Y ntrgtrlta and tAlt i+edar, rantd avettlttaLY Pw 11te rover and te•d roots ia-a tl» wat4e. $arrirwing aninstia are oleo of cotrtYra, T71 Authority cattsot sale out the pooa3iliey of prairie dog; bedRaa rsd rabbiu beWtttin aetabtistrd at the site, and it tw lerrdy iyrwrad rtes patantial cEacts of burrowing rq and im~erteptata To decrwte flee liitafiieod of bioiemrwioq the Aurhotity hat 1XOp a very tf-ick awntten tots (17 fast deep}, ieeit+diny a barrir of etaphalue cancme. S ea+rar world raattrd btu not preratt blokurusiprt, std it would greatly compliwe rnonitariey, retrieval, and rturtediadan eQbru. Tptaa raysitaiiwr.uta thu "No low• wore tray 6a disputed of N • laedtitl below the sytttiral feval of dsa disposal :te tuttC wane W tonuirted in ouch a tlWltter that u is ca-abla atbaittj maitored and retrieve We rue Giro eonoettted about ooeesw degradation. Radinapire waste at the propaad tltciliry will be ooafairt•d is coerce!. but OOnaa• air vtsytctbie to eprrosuve a:tack by radmtew and rlettrtda in intiltt7tittg wit wets. Srtfatt kvda in x of the on-ai4 twih. to b• treed in aonrteuexirtg the g-dliry's sartheq coves, ue ewch h than the uppv limit Quad in tlr Authoeity't Lf+amee AppBt:atioe su hoary satiLhle for baeittif! Natarid. t:Noridr levers atY slao>tijh. la additloq the Authoriry'a calartarie eorersta dtgtadatioe run ptatuia t0 a type of ooneraa forsaduad to raaiat sulfate m but their Lioaue Appticuitm'a tpaatleatioos caU Coe the use of soaerets type that u• rrriaurlt to wltaus. Our Walarioru ofa wtoru.cere aexeurio,lww Clue the lid ova concrae caairtar u the proposed title could aoeroda dawn to the rdnfocritsy heel ban jual 30 goon. To obtain aA opcttttny Strnry the Atsdtority mtlri daototurrua thu radiation dots to the public due !a the proporad Gleility wt'll mt cooed resulatcry Iknita over ~ kits tom. In oot~deutlae with site eharaeratinias and LaiifY daai~ a• aaourate epirsau of the ptwttltiw of rtdioaetive a+uai.ls s>syaeted to be deposited u ills tarn easrrtial to pradiaktg ILeure /coca. Howtva, the Authattity'a aatuoatea t3it tq include aevtxa imparuta tottrcea eKtttaats. Wstatx gatwwd tht'oualt dsoodaetinuiny aerie rtattats la txltftd tttdr opaatittg lion aM dseaastiasioeieg than ono they twee aht: down have trot brae sooouttted for. Hugs vdiittlM ofindwtria[ KQRl41 rvarte (jex7+ in opaationf involvfn0 uttually «r+rn;ng ndipaetiva raaletlah) Nava hee>t l rd out o! .urtstavity'a ~•'~.~~~^ v have wales gsnerstd is elaaear~ tip aafatGtg ooeuaatiryto altos witb[n rtes proposed Teaalt Cdnpatx. T!r invduories of grei6e r.dioratciidp k aloe hart undadtim.tad. Wean paet6tadatiy wneerttad about Ntletalae a[ ptultleiur and radioat:tirs iodine. A roan otMa!lrtaiw ratfatate of the ipdLs-129 invpttory wa likely show a radiaeetlvs done to tar thyreial to eette:+ of raytdatory limiU. it rhasld , b• noted that there u no ptramea drat the ore of ttr propoasd aua7ity win d Gttt ba iirnited b the se+tlatr Ot tie Tatar Cotitpact in the firetue. It yartaruan in otter aorta i rxeaa a the faulity, aA taltatlationa of wore invtettory will hsw to yo back to the dewing board. By apparatily tlnde,ewmatlrtg ibs propoaae V.~plity's invrtlory, rtes aita'agra wow Bow volaeity aed tacbatYa true, a-d Ibs dag:edatioa rats of twnenit as dr taail the Autlydty's •parfarmrK+e Watataptt' itaa gtaeatad tytftaata of radiation do,as t rive pubfw that w too low. la additls4 ltr Atrtiorfty'a dole esttiraata haw trot uxauu.d for proocaw awMioned above that eetild atlaw tsdbnltdidea m raseh the ntrtloa wvirowrle/tt, lsrrb ore asipnic activity, tisauriag. coaioq floodirta, and biotic plnsfrrtloa of rite at~y_ 'the Autbttchy hw also wed a computer teodd that wan dtsriyrasd only ro otia~pare venous dupnui tneltods, not to aeaurtdy estimate dose nstoeiated with a ptrtkttlar Gaotity. Fatally, yes are oortedY+ed about tttrtsporusioa rleka ud rartain iauta tegardin oparatioes .ad worker aafgy, warka dates mould be urtauceptably high in the var. a ,euiiuealioatsy c::na, artd the Atxtosisy has cot Ettly a~lttred ttte efforst of ratd+efag defeetivs oaetuttx twl ore tatdiosative want. TM Atnherlty'a c+lwatlsadona of orator inliNratitm lira trot addressed the operatitttg period, during which time Navy rturo will rii:tettly onto epee uaadkx. We lrvs etplared the ietrre oftaw-lcvc! t'ad;oa.'tive wasG trartq+cxtatio6 is Taus u an t~rlrlier report, sJso wnt+rwitad awe. ]n yerter7l, the Authority hu tatdaraetimatsd tht aurebsr of people Wtaly to be aAriwiad by trwportaci impacts, the Ukattttood of traespartatios acoid.nia, and the potts+tiat seventy of a trujw taddeet artd it !rs not adegt:.taty addraeaed the eooesosuc wa of a aexiow at:cidat. we eartduda thu the yttology of tar proposed gism S;iLnca site is mt wi:.bla • rsdioacli~x waste d'itptraai fadliry. that tin fadlity"s dasiyn ~ mt adequate: w isolate Wapea OYCr Ilte tOlStt tetrl4 and that f!r Attthoriry fW sasdaeKienatt'd fits amceutt Of.rs to be cortakird In the fadliry, the radiatioe dora to the pttbGa and lire oaks aa~otiate;Q w,+1d sdvasdy %+nPaot the ~7 0~ the dtte m mtrt tic parfamatrx o6j.otivaa ... or aipi8at+ely mast she a+vitonmeosad rtwaiteratly rmiu+m" Marco rein Yattttats'dispwsl' otMew Yor1a ICrty aawapr ahtdya upatraapt Dom 1W peaPaa+e (hcllity, ..~..wa~i wws~s wuata frva nem @fuM so cmas wiatis ra~agsd3dw as S~e~~ m jh mouth w Le pichd uD its yaial urvcyr. Yd ]VtRa~ it nit tiquind b w~oit routine tronitorina dau Er9t tadioa+dian ist wuc, a:r, wdirmoc„ or veju~Uon to FodenQ a~ 5tuo COMMISSIONERS' COURT AGENDA REQUEST PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND FNE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT. MADE BY: Robert A. Denson OFFICE: County Judge MEETING DATE: Au~st 11, 1997 TIME PREFERRED: SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC) Consider and discuss resolution in opposition Radioactive Waste Dump in West Texas. EXECUTIVE SESSION REQUESTED: (PLEASE STATE REASON) NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: County Jude Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 551 and 552, Government Code, is as follows: Meeting scheduled for Mondays: 5:00 P.M. previous Monday. THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: All Agenda Requests will be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court Meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards you request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. See Agenda Request Rules Adopted by Commissioners' Court. and tion 2.11 Consider in opoosi Item resolution Dump in Discussoactive Waste to Radi West Texas• Discussion only August 11, 1997 Vol. V pane 329