Why Shipping Highly Radioactive Liquid Waste from Chalk River, Ontario to SRS, South Carolina is a Terrible Idea

This message below comes from Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility:

The US Department of Energy wants to truck highly radioactive liquid waste from Chalk River, Ontario, to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Such liquid material has never before been transported over public roads anywhere in North America. Using official data on the radioactive contents of the liquid waste, calculations have shown that a single litre is more than enough to ruin the drinking water supply of any city in North America.  Plans are to ship 23,000 litres in 100-150 truckloads over a period of four years.

On March 14, 2017, a crash involving 15 tractor-trailer trucks occurred on a major Canadian highway (Highway 401) not far from the 1000 Islands Bridge leading to Ogdensburg NY.  This bridge represents the shortest route for shipping highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River Ontario to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

One of the trucks involved was crushed, the driver was killed, and a highly toxic liquid (fluorsilicic acid) leaked onto the highway. Fifteen first responders had to undergo decontamination.

If the highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, bound for the SRS site in South Carolina, had instead leaked onto the highway, the consequences would have been far worse. That part of the highway would have to be dug up and carted off as radioactive waste, and contaminated individuals would have to wait to be treated by a radiological SWAT team who would have had great difficulty in reaching the scene in time.

 

Here are some news clips of the crash, the crushed truck, and the spill:

1. CTV March 15: https://youtu.be/ErojMj9Smq8

2. CTV March 14. https://youtu.be/DZeSHp4V8Bw 

3. CTV March 14. https://youtu.be/w-jhbLHMrz8

4. CBC News Report: https://youtu.be/RNsZR4376sc

This troubled, covert agency is responsible for trucking nuclear bombs across America each day

As reported by the L.A. Times.

As the article reports:

“Transportation is the Achilles’ heel of nuclear security and everyone knows that,” said Bruce Blair, a retired Air Force missile officer, Princeton University researcher and founder of Global Zero, a nonprofit group that seeks elimination of nuclear weapons.

The danger is not a traffic accident — even a fiery crash is not supposed to explode a warhead — but a heist.

“In an age of terrorism, you’re taking a big risk any time you decide to move nuclear material into the public space over long distances via ground transport,” Blair said. “Bad things happen.”

Looking for consent, the Iroquois are condemning a plan to transport highly radioactive uranium through its territory

As reported by Aboriginal People’s Television Network.

Highly Enriched Uranium transport objected to by First Nations

As reported by Radio Canada International.

Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River

I R O Q U O I S  C A U C U S
 
Kahnawà:ke   Kanehsatá:ke    Akwesáhsne    Tyendinaga    Wahta    Six Nations of the Grand River    Oneida Nation of the Thames
 
Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River 
 
For immediate release

(February 22, 2017)  The Iroquois Caucus announced today that it is unanimously condemning a plan to truck 23,000 liters of highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario across the International border to the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, using public roads and bridges. 
 
This unprecedented action could have a devastating impact on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem. Depending on the route(s) chosen, there is the potential for a spill or spills into waterways flowing into the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River or one of their many tributaries.
 
This ecosystem provides drinking water for an estimated 40 million people on both sides of the border. 
 
“We have stated clearly in the past that we will not stand idly by,” stated Chief Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. “The seven communities of the Iroquois Caucus stand together in the protection of Mother Earth.”
 
“It is appalling that such reckless and irresponsible plans are given approval by the regulators and the Courts when far more sensible solutions are at hand,” added Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon.
 
“The Iroquois Caucus is well aware that liquid of a very similar nature has been routinely solidified and stored at Chalk River since 2003,” explained Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “There are processes already in existence to ‘down-blend’ the liquid in order to eliminate highly-enriched uranium by converting it into low-enriched uranium.”
 
“We strongly encourage that all persons, communities and organizations that share our concerns stand together to ensure that common sense prevails,” concluded Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict. “There is no reason to continue with a plan that puts 40 million people at risk when alternatives readily exist.”
 
The Iroquois Caucus consists of elected Councils from Akwesasne, Kahnawà:ke, Kanesatake, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga), Oneida Nation of the Thames, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Wahta Mohawks.  -30-
 
Contact: Trevor Bomberry, Coordinator   Joe Delaronde, Political Press Attaché Iroquois Caucus     Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke 519-761-7694, ic.coordinator@sixnations.ca  450-632-7500, joe.delaronde@mck.ca

Update on February 22, 2017 by admin

Note from Beyond Nuclear: In the early part of this decade, the Mohawks of Quebec played a decisive role in blocking the proposed radioactive steam generator boat shipments from Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada -- via Lake Huron, Lake Saint Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and connecting rivers; the St. Lawrence River; and the Atlantic Ocean -- to Sweden for "recycling" into the metal recycling stream. A broad U.S.-Canadian environmental coalition had resisted the scheme for many months, and the Mohawks of Quebec provided the coup de grace.

Similarly, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Mohawks of Quebec -- as well as Aniishinaabe of Ontario, such as Serpent River First Nation -- joined with a broad U.S.-Canadian environmental coalition to oppose weapons-grade plutonium fuel shipments from the U.S. and Russia to Chalk River Nuclear Lab, Ontario, for a "test burn" of MOX fuel (Mixed Oxide plutonium-uranium). Terry Lodge of Toledo, OH and Kary Love of Holland, MI served as lead legal counsel for the coalition. Drs. Gordon Edwards (Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility), Ed Lyman (then with Nuclear Control Institute, since with Union of Concerned Scientists), Francis Boyle (University of Illinois) and James David Ballard (University of California Santa Barbara) served as the coalition's expert witnesses. The lawsuit was named Hirt v. Richardson (for Alice Hirt of Don't Waste Michigan, and U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson), and was heard by U.S. federal district judge Richard Enslen in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Update on February 22, 2017 by admin

The Canadian Press has reported on this story.

Update on February 22, 2017 by admin

Anishinabek stand with Iroquois Caucus condemning radioactive shipping across Anishinabek and Iroquois Territories

UOI OFFICES (February 22, 2017) – Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says that the Anishinabek Nation is standing with the Iroquois Caucus opposing the transporting of radioactive liquid through Anishinabek Nation and Iroquois Territories.

 

“We assert inherent ownership of the water and jurisdiction within our regions and traditional territories,” says the Grand Council Chief of 40 Anishinabek First Nations.  “We will stand with our Iroquois allies to protect the drinking water.  Water is the lifeblood of Mother Earth.  Why would we put our precious resource in jeopardy?  A spill into any of the waterways would have a tremendous impact on the Great Lakes.  Millions of people would be affected – on both sides of the border.”

 

The transport of radioactive liquid waste could pose substantial threats to the environmental and human health as hazardous materials and waste cannot be disposed of by common means.  It has the potential to cause contamination to the largest fresh water supply in the world which provides drinking water to approximately 40 million people.

 

The plan is to truck 23,000 litres of highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario across the international border to the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, using public roads and bridges.

 

In 2010, Anishinabek Chiefs in Assembly passed resolutions opposing the exporting and storage of nuclear waste across the Anishinabek Nation to other provinces or countries by either land or water.

Anishinabek First Nations are the caretakers of the land, water air and resources within our regions and traditional territories. 

 

“Our water technicians will be monitoring this development closely as the Great Lakes water quality is so critical to the Anishinabek Nation.  Transporting nuclear waste poses too much risk,” says Madahbee.

 

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples  – to which Canada is signatory – States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent.

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 40 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 60,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

-30-

For more information contact:

Marci Becking, Communications Officer

705.497.9127 ext. 2290

Email : marci.becking@anishinabek.ca

www.anishinabek.ca

www.anishinabeknews.ca

www.sayyestoaes.ca

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Marci Becking

Union of Ontario Indians Communications Officer

Managing Editor of www.anishinabeknews.ca

705-497-9127 ext. 2290

marci.becking@anishinabek.ca

www.anishinabek.ca 

Anishinabek First Nations are the caretakers of the land, water air and resources within our regions and traditional territories.

Update on February 22, 2017 by admin

The Canadian Press has reported on this story.