31st Annual Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days

Leaders and activists from across the country will come together for the 31^st annual Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days from May 19^th through the 22^nd.  With nearly 100 pre-arranged meetings, they will meet with elected congresspeople, as well as officials in the administration, such as the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration.  This year, it is especially important for Congress and the administration to hear from those who seek a nuclear-free future that safeguards communities, public health and the environment.  http://www.ananuclear.org/   CLEANUP AND WASTE FACT SHEET  and WEAPONS AND POLICY FACT SHEET

New Mexico will be well represented by staff from Southwest Research and Information Center and Nuclear Watch New Mexico who will effectively voice their concerns about nuclear weapons, power, and waste.  Rose Gardner, of the Alliance for Environmental Strategies, and two of her daughters will also attend.  http://www.sric.org/, https://nukewatch.org/, https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community-Organization/Alliance-for-Environmental-Strategies-1959311804080514/

On Tuesday evening, May 21^st, the Alliance will host its annual reception in the Rayburn House Office Building.  It will honor Ms. Gardner with the Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud “Unsung Hero” Award for her outstanding work challenging the two proposed consolidated interim storage facilities for high-level radioactive waste.  http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/356082/24557781/1395166421747/Thunderbird_TMI_March2014.pdf?token=Kn4f5a4a50Jfzz2h5KKG0VJWHUM%3D  The facilities are:  the proposed Holtec International site located half way between Hobbs and Carlsbad; and the existing Waste Control Specialists, now called Interim Storage Partners, located on the New Mexico – Texas border, east of Eunice, New Mexico.

ANA will honor Congressman Adam Smith, representing Washington State’s Ninth District.  Congressman Smith is the chair of the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees DOE.   https://armedservices.house.gov/  He has made bold statements opposing expanded nuclear weapons production.

Another honoree is Patricia Mellen, a lawyer involved with the current movement to stop public access to the Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge, a former nuclear weapons manufacturing facility, located near Denver.  She is working to release the sealed grand jury’s evidence that suggests Rocky Flats was not properly cleaned up.  http://www.patmellenlaw.com/  and https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52311edfe4b0830625de8366/t/5cdc7174b11c5700015c4d1b/1557950836407/ANA+reception+invite+5+21+2019.pdf

It is the perfect time for ANA to be in Washington, DC, because Congress is developing the Fiscal Year 2020 DOE funding bills.  This week the House subcommittee passed the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.  The bill does not fund Yucca Mountain, but does fund interim storage activities for high-level radioactive waste.  https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-subcommittee-approves-fiscal-year-2020-energy-and-water

The appropriations bill must be voted out of the House before moving to the Senate.

If you are unable to attend DC Days, you can participate by contacting your Senators.  Please tell them to strongly oppose funding for consolidated storage in the Energy and Water appropriations bill.  Please urge them to oppose Senate Bill 1234 and any similar bills that would authorize consolidated storage.  And finally, tell your congresspeople that New Mexicans strongly oppose the Holtec proposal.

1.  On Wednesday evening, the New Mexico Environment Department held a public hearing in Hobbs, NM about the Lea County Landfill for a renewal of the 20-year permit and proposed expansion to bring 2,500 tons of asbestos waste annually among other wastes.  The wastes could be coming from NM, but also from other states.  It is not clear whether the expansion could include foreign wastes.  They are proposing vertical expansions of 75 feet (which could be 7.5 stories at 10 feet/story or 5 stories at 15 feet/story).  To view the video of the hearing, go to save lea county

2.  On May 29th and May 30th, the Cold War Patriots are holding two socials for LANL, Sandia, and Uranium Workers.

On Wednesday, May 29th – the social will be held at St. John’s Methodist Church, 1200 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe from 11 am to 1 pm.  https://coldwarpatriots.org/events/lanl-sandia-uranium-workers-santa-fe-nm/

On Thursday, May 30th – the social will be held at the Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Place NE, Albuquerque from 11 am to 1 pm.  https://coldwarpatriots.org/events/albquerquenmsocial/

Cold War Patriots is a community resource and advocacy organization helping nuclear weapons and uranium workers and their families get the recognition, compensation and health care they have earned.

Tags: Alliance for Environmental Strategies, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, ANA, Congressman Adam Smith, consolidated interim storage facility, DC Days, Department of Energy, DOE, Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud "Unsung Hero" Award, Energy and Water Appropriations bill, Holtec International, Interim Storage Partners, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Patricia Mellen, Rocky Flats Wildlife Refuge, Rose Gardner, Southwest Research and Information Center, waste control specialists, Yucca Mountain