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SCIENCE & ENGINEERING REPORT
for a
Geologic Repository for the Disposal of
Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level
Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain,
Nye County, Nevada
REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS
Taken on Wednesday, September 5, 2001
At 6:00 p.m.
At Elko Convention and Visitors Authority
Elko, Nevada
Reported by: Deborah Ann Hines, CCR #473
| APPEARANCES: |
CATHERINE TICE
Moderator |
| |
CLAUDIA NEWBURY
Department of Energy |
MS. TICE: Good evening from Elko. I'm Catherine Tice, the meeting moderator here tonight. We have three commentors on deck. We'll start with Dana Cassadore. The next commentor will be Joe Carruthers. And if we have time, we'll be going to Lois Whitney.
DANA CASSADORE: My name is Dana Cassadore. I'm a Shoshone Indian. Thomas Pinchon wrote a Screaming Comes Across the Sky. This really reminds me of Yucca Mountain. But as I see it, Yucca Mountain is just a bad idea all around. You know, a moronic idea that comes from Washington but, you know, that's a surprise.
But it's the same old story, you know. Create this nuclear power but forget it, you know. The nuclear waste is a problem, let somebody else solve it, and that's why Elko is here. It's just a garbage dump for the rest of the country.
But, you know what, I think about this and I think about how the DOE is holding these hearings and how everybody is complaining about the issue. You know what, welcome to the world of the Indian, man. Federal policy just crammed down your throat. Just -- just -- just welcome to the Indian -- Indian's world. The BIA does it to us, and I think, you know, the state of Nevada now knows how we feel with this whole idea of nuclear waste being shoved down your throats, so welcome, welcome to our world. Thank you.
MS. TICE: Thank you, Dana.
Our next commentor is Joe Carruthers.
JOSEPH CARRUTHERS: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Joseph Carruthers. I'm a resident of Eureka County residing in Crescent Valley, Nevada, and I am here on behalf of the citizens of Eureka County and the citizens of the state of Nevada. And here's my presentation to you tonight.
The bulk of my comments are taken from Eureka County Commissioners in response to the Impact Assessment Report on proposed shipments of nuclear waste to Nevada. Nevada's primary responsibility is to protect the health and the safety of its residents.
The proposed shipping campaign, which Congress and President Bush may impose on Elko and Eureka Counties as well as the citizens of Nevada and the United States, involves great risk. It would have numerous impacts which have not been fully disclosed. Since DOE's risk analysis assigns higher waste to urban areas than rural areas, it downplays the impacts that would be felt by the rural people. That is us.
A rural population received damaging dosages of radiation in the '50s and '60s when nuclear weapon tests conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission. The current proposal would continue the pattern of placing disproportionate risk on our residents.
The issues of transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high level nuclear waste has fallen greatly short of the adequate information and detailed analysis in the Environmental Impact Statement. And I must say having read that impact statement for our county I am appalled how shortsighted it is. I find this extremely offensive, especially when so many restrictions have been put on ranching and mining and not to mention road closures to protect endangered species.
The construction of a rail line through Eureka County via Crescent Valley would affect wild habitat from mule deer, pronghorn antelope, sage grouse and other species too lengthy for discussion with the present amount of time given now.
Concerning the human environment, the proposed rail line would irreversibly alter a historic way of life of the rural west, one that we all depend on. Within Eureka County the proposed rail line would have an affect up to 59 percent of private land along the corridor. This would convert a large amount of private land to construction and protection of the rail line, not its residents, having adverse impact on the county's tax base and accounting, and that means real estate as well. We'll have people who live just by meager means in our county and our towns will be displaced. Where are they going to go? They cannot afford to go anywhere else. Do you not care?
Once again mining and ranching and private enterprise, property values would be diminished. For example, who will purchase beef with possible radiation exposure? No one. If an accident were to occur, numerous impacts such as contamination of the Humboldt River would affect almost the entire northern part of the state, not to mention the Crescent Valley aquifer and soil contamination way beyond any financial means we could possibly take care of. The cost burden on Eureka and Elko Counties would be potentially far greater than our county's ability to pay in liability.
I would also like to make a mention on this energy crisis, as you will, as we're being told. I would like to reply on this because I have felt this and heard this from many people just in Northern Nevada alone.
Our energy crisis is a crisis made by those who control the energy as well as our own consumption due to wastefulness. The current price gouging at the pump should speak for itself. Solar energy and wind generation go unpursued financially due to profits over common sense. My friends, that is bad science and I'm going to get real on this real quick so fasten your seat belt because here's my comments.
If Washington, D.C. is the mother of her children, then Nevada is the abused child, defecated on by a government that no longer can take care of its own. For too long it's dumped on its problems the perversions of the human mind. I'm sorry, I'm a little emotional at this point but I'm working on it. I'm sorry.
As I overheard in the conversation on a recent trip to Denver, Colorado, a couple gentlemen said, Nevada is like a high price prostitute. If you throw enough money at her, she'll lay down and open up her wings. Personally I do not find that very amusing.
MS. TICE: Joe, I need to ask you to wrap up your comments, please.
JOE CARRUTHERS: Okay. I'm sorry I'm being cut short, but I'm going to wrap it up.
Gentleman, members of the DOE, over 75 percent of the residents of Nevada, our governor and our senators oppose Yucca Mountain. If you don't remember our words, we will surely remember you next election time and for 10,000 years to come. We will be keeping our eye on Washington. Strong words, you bet, but you should remember, we Nevadans are a proud and strong people.
MS. TICE: Thank you, Joe.
JOE CARRUTHERS: Thank you for your time.
(Break in the session.)
MS. TICE: Welcome back to Elko. Our next commentor here in Elko tonight is Lois Whitney followed by Thomas Jefferson. Time permitting we have one final commentor here tonight, Don Decker. Lois.
LOIS WHITNEY: Good evening. Yes, my name is Lois Whitney. I was born here in Elko, as were my children and grandchildren, my mother, my brothers and sisters. All of them, they were born right here.
Yes, we live in the northern part of the state, and just because we do doesn't me that we're not affected. I've also had an opportunity to work with the nuclear risk management program in Ely, and it was comprised of native people who wanted to study the effects of the nuclear testing in our territory.
When we studied and we compiled the research, it was a horrendous experience for me. I had no idea what my people had gone through. And just because we live in northeast Nevada doesn't mean that we will not be affected as adversely as the people were affected in central Nevada.
Western Shoshone is my territory, that means all of it. The Nevada Test Site, Yucca Mountain sits in the middle of home land, my heritage. I speak for my voiceless relatives, not only for my family, but I speak for the voiceless relatives who will be affected by the dangers of Yucca Mountain. What affects one affects all. All life is a continuous circle.
Nuclear waste, transportation, storage is not safe. It will never be. What I've not heard them say tonight is how about the half lives of these nuclear products. They haven't told you about the half lives. Well, to date we haven't even exhausted the half life of nuclear matter, and it's very dangerous.
I was reading in the paper tonight, and I just -- I don't read the Elko Free Press very often, but what I do read I touch upon and think through. But the mission statement of Elko, because I know I have read counts where Elko, the city fathers of Elko want to bring nuclear transport through here because it will be economically feasible for us. Well, I think they need to think this through because their mission statement says to provide for its citizens a clean, safe community that offers economic opportunities through economic diversification, positive and proactive planning. That's just a part of it. There is no planning if you decide to support Yucca Mountain. It is not safe.
I think we have to consider that we may not be here in a few years, but we will have a future. Those are our children if we think carefully, if we are serious about promoting a clean, safe, healthful place to live.
What I don't understand is why is it necessary for us as citizens and humans to exhaust immediately all the resources of our poor Mother Earth. She is the one that nurtures us. We leave nothing for tomorrow, but what is for certain is that nuclear waste will be here long after you and I are gone. And isn't that a horrific legacy to leave for our future? Thank you.
MS. TICE: Thank you, Lois.
Mr. Jefferson, come up to the podium. Thank you.
THOMAS JEFFERSON: I'm Thomas Jefferson. I'm a 46 year resident of the state of Nevada. I have spent all day today in Carson City and Reno area at meetings. I was at the Federal Courthouse today in support of the ranchers that had their cattle confiscated. I'm a little bit tired. It's been a long, hard day.
I heard a lot of comment tonight from north and south about the dangers of transporting this nuclear waste, and I'm sure that you don't want to hear any more about it. I have my own ideas about it. No sense in me putting in my two bits worth.
But if you're really concerned about we're on short notice with the Department of Energy, why we're being pushed into holes that we'd rather not be in, making decisions we'd rather not do, it's a very, very simple solution. Nevada lost this battle four months ago in Carson City.
Most of you have heard, or may not have heard, of the bill AB 391, which is the Nevada full statehood bill that passed the Assembly on a vote of 38 to 3. It then advanced to the Senate for passage where it was defeated. And right there is where the battle was lost over Yucca Mountain. Had that bill been and passed in the Nevada State Senate, the Department of Energy would now be negotiating with the State of Nevada. Nevada would not be negotiating with them.
The Constitution is very clear about who owns these lands in the west, and it surely isn't the federal government. They had assumed the control of them through lack of action by the State of Nevada and the other western states. We had a remedy for it four months ago in Carson City and we lost it.
I want you to know in no uncertain terms the Republican leadership in the state Senate of Nevada destroyed the sovereignty of this state and I hope that everybody listening to this program will remember them in the next election.
Thank you very much.
MS. TICE: Thank you, Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Decker. Mr. Decker is up next, thanks.
DONALD DECKER: Thank you very much. I'm Donald Decker, a geologist who lives here in Nevada, in Elko. I've only been in -- primarily in Nevada since 1963.
The proposed Yucca Mountain project is an ideal opportunity for the State of Nevada to take a proactive approach to developing several issues which where critical to Nevada. I propose the State of Nevada step up and say yes to the Yucca Mountain Project in order to allow to address these issues.
As we all know, the U.S. is a major -- a primary producer and user of electricity, which obviously comes from nuclear power. At the present time approximately 20 percent of our needs in the U.S. are produced by nuclear energy. Nevada is a prime producer of renewable resources of electricity. Senator Reid recently put more funds to ensure our renewable geothermal energy production. Nevada is a progressive leader energizing local and state, national -- and national needs.
So the issues that could be addressed through the Yucca Mountain Project, one is national security. The products that are to be stored at the Yucca Mountain Project should be and need to be localized from a national security standpoint in order to be more secure.
Two, patriotic duty. For over 50 years Nevada has approved of and benefitted from the research and development of military and civilian uses of nuclear energy. The Yucca Mountain project is simply an extension of this policy. The nearby Nevada Test Site has been productive in this regard for over 50 years.
And I would like to suggest that perhaps the Strip population in Las Vegas has progressed at the same rate as the testing on The Test Site. It doesn't seem as though The Test Site has negated the visitation to Las Vegas.
Number three, economic diversity. The state of Nevada is in a precarious position to develop economic diversity and long-term economic viability. That's primarily because of the federal control of the state lands as just mentioned by Mr. Jefferson.
This is well recognized by our elected officials, especially in the numerous legislative acts which allow privatization of more land in the Las Vegas Valley area. Private land is always essential to economic diversity and viability. And it seems like our elected officials recognize that about every two years. It seems like when we hit an election year, they have to find some more land to sell.
The Yucca Mountain Project can be compared -- from an economic standpoint it can be compared to the beginnings of the space program in the late 1950s. With the Yucca Mountain program the opportunity is at our doorstep to develop the best nuclear research facility in the world. Through this many spin-off benefits will be realized.
As we saw in the late 1950s and '60s there was many, many things which were developed through the space program which we had absolutely no idea what they were going to be. Through proper controls and scientific research we could benefit as a state in having this research facility to develop throughout the world.
We need to take this opportunity to develop, to spur our elected officials to step up to their responsibility to become proactive in securing the Yucca Mountain Project for Nevada to ensure economic sustainability and diversity for our state.
This should include privatization of public lands of the state for state controlled rather than people from out of state, including consideration for the Native Americans living within the state. And I would like to suggest that we look at this and encourage our elected officials to consider taking Yucca Mountain for the state.
The Yucca Mountain program entails about one percent I believe of the land that's covered by the Nevada Test Site, and I think that we need to look seriously at that. Thank you.
MS. TICE: Thank you, Mr. Jefferson.
DONALD DECKER: Decker.
MS. TICE: Mr. Decker, I'm sorry. That's or last commentor.
(Break in the session.)
MS. TICE: I do know that Mr. Carruthers has requested to be able to conclude his comments, and we have the court reporter here to do that. Is there anyone else who would like to make a comment this evening?
If not then we'll go ahead and conclude with Mr. Carruthers and then we will be adjourning this meeting at this site tonight. I do want to remind people that this is -- the broadcast will continue live on the website, www.ymp.gov.
Mr. Carruthers.
JOE CARRUTHERS: I'm not quite sure where I left off when I rudely kept going. I'm sorry if I absorbed other people's time. I'd like to make that apology at this time to you all.
We're now reading from the Eureka commissioners. I'll start there and then I'll have my own. If an accident were to occur, numerous impacts such as contamination of the Humboldt River would affect almost the entire northern part of the state, not to mention the Crescent Valley aquifer and soil contamination. The cost burden on Eureka County and Elko counties would potentially be far greater than our county's ability to pay in liability.
These next statements I am to make are of my own and my own writing. Fasten your seat belt, folks, because I'm about to tell you like it is. If Washington, D.C. is the mother of her children, then Nevada is the abused child, defecated on by a government that has for too long dumped on it its childish problems and perversions of the human mind.
As I overheard in a conversation on a recent trip to Denver, Colorado, a couple gentlemen speaking said concerning Yucca Mountain, Nevada is like a high class prostitute. If you throw enough money at her, she'll lay down and open her wings. Personally I did not find that very amusing. This fueled me with renewed vigor and determination to stop Yucca Mountain from becoming a reality for the people in Nevada and the United States.
And I state firmly if our present commander in chief and Congress has any conscious, they will strike down Yucca Mountain and make amendments with the state of Nevada and the Shoshone people, just as an abusive mother would do who has been in denial for too long for the damage she has done to her child.
Gentlemen, members of the DOE, over 75 percent of the residents of Nevada, including the residents of Crescent Valley and Eureka County and our governor and our senators oppose Yucca Mountain. If you don't remember our words, we will surely remember you next election time and for the 10,000 years to come. We will be keeping our eye on Washington. Strong words, you bet, but you should remember, we Nevadans are a proud and strong people.
I'd also like to put some additions in here that I did not have written down before. In the future, because this is such a heated debate, there probably will be protests. And my words going out to anyone who protests is please protest in a peaceful manner and do not cause anarchy.
And one good reason of many for this is our public servants, our police officers, our firemen, whoever else may be out there will be caught in the middle of all this. Try to remember that a lot of them probably agree with you, but if you go out and you cause anarchy and you destroy people's businesses, it will not help the cause, it will only defeat it. So if we do protest in the future, I am making a request to all of you to do it in a responsible manner so we can conduct our business in a fair and sensible way. I do encourage our citizens to partake in a peaceful, and I do repeat peaceful protest.
After this meeting I'm going to be at the doorway with comment sheets for those interested to send to Washington and to Las Vegas, if anyone here is interested. I thank you very much for your time and for listening to me. Thank you.
MS. TICE: Thank you very much.
I'll ask one more time do we have anyone else in the audience who would like to make a comment tonight?
All right. I'd like to ask the court reporter to show for the record that at 9:45 we closed this meeting in Elko, Nevada.
(Thereupon the proceedings were concluded at 9:45 p.m.)
* * * * *
CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
STATE OF NEVADA )
COUNTY OF CLARK )
I, Deborah Ann Hines, certified shorthand reporter, do hereby certify that I took down in shorthand (Stenotype) all of the proceedings had in the before-entitled matter at the time and place indicated; and that thereafter said shorthand notes were transcribed into typewriting at and under my direction and supervision and the foregoing transcript constitutes a full, true and accurate record of the proceedings had.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my hand this _____ day of _______________, 2001.
________________________________
Deborah Ann Hines, CCR #473
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