* The highly controversial Waste Isolation
Pilot Plant or WIPP has been criticized by industry experts as
the wrong solution to the nation's military nuclear waste
problem. In its newly released three-hundred-page report
entitled, "The Cold War Mess," the Institute for Energy and
Environmental Research says opening WIPP runs contrary to the
Department of Energy policy which calls for prioritizing the
elimination of urgent risks associated with nuclear arms
production.
The Institute's report states that clean-up of plutonium
wastes which have laid buried in ditches, some for over 30 years,
should be given higher priority. According to DOE documents, the
WIPP site will accommodate less than 2% of the nation's munitions-
related nuclear waste when filled to capacity. DOE officials
told the Albuquerque Tribune last week that some of the
concerns raised by the Institute's report have merit, but will
not alter the department's goal of shipping waste to WIPP "as
soon as possible."
A coalition of environmental groups are threatening to file
lawsuits should the DOE persist in its plan to open WIPP this
year. Many citizens are concerned with the potential for
accidents on the nation's highways involving trucks carrying
trans-uranic waste to WIPP. These wastes will be shipped from
weapons facilities in eight states, ranging from California to
South Carolina.
* And finally, CCNS would like to invite all our friends and
supporters to celebrate with us at a "We're Not WIPP'd Yet"
benefit dance on April 5, 8:00 p.m., at Club Allegria. The
dance, which will help support CCNS, features the fabulous
Iguanas. The Iguanas have toured as an opening act with Jimmy
Buffet, playing to over a million people. It's music that will
make you want to get up and dance!
Tickets are will be fifteen dollars and are on sale at Rare
Bear Records and all TicketMaster outlets, or at the door. For
more information call 986-1973.
Back to News
Index