URGENT: Many Ways to Comment during Public Hearing about Proposed WIPP Expansion
Monday, May 17th, begins a five-day virtual public hearing by the Hazardous Waste Bureau about the proposed new shaft and doubling of the size of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a dump for plutonium-contaminated waste from the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
You are invited to provide your written comments between now and the end of the hearing to the Hearing Clerk. You can make oral comments on Zoom during the hearing. https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/wipp/ , scroll down to March 10, 2021 entry. The hearing is scheduled to begin each day at noon and end at 9 pm Mountain Time, with a two-hour break between 4 and 6 pm Mountain Time. On Monday, May 17th, oral public comments will be heard between 6 and 7 pm Mountain Time. On subsequent days, public comment will be heard between noon and 1 pm and between 6 and 7 pm Mountain Time.
Each person can make oral comments only once during the five-day hearing and they are limited to five minutes. You can sign-up to give comments using the chat function on Zoom. You will be called on to speak in the order in which people signed up. If too many people sign up for the one-hour session, they will be called first in the next public comment session. https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/wipp/ , scroll down to March 10, 2021 entry and the May 11, 2021 Pre-Hearing Order.
This information is found on p. 3 of the NMED Public Notice at: https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/wipp/ , scroll down to March 10, 2021 entry and March 18, 2021 Hearing Public Notice .
The Zoom hearing may be joined through the following meeting link:
https://zoom.us/j/91728945523?pwd=YitrSUtFYnZkcE5hVGFrb2Z1UDlUdz09
Meeting ID: 917 2894 5523
Passcode:050223
To join by telephone:
For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location.
Dial: US: 1-669-900-6833 or 1-253-215-8782 or 1-346-248-7799 or 1-929-436-2866 or 1-301-715-8592 or 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 917 2894 5523
Passcode: 050223
There is no restriction on the number of written comments you can submit to the Hearing Clerk at Madai.Corral@state.nm.us.
WIPP is the only operating deep geologic repository for radioactive and hazardous waste created by the U.S. nuclear weapons industry in the world. It is located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, New Mexico and scheduled to close in 2024. But the Department of Energy (DOE) has other plans. https://wipp.energy.gov/
Where can you find more information about the DOE’s expansion plans, key issues, and how to participate in the public hearing? The Stop Forever WIPP Coalition has prepared five newsletters. Newsletters four and five are available in both English and Spanish.
The Coalition has prepared three sample public comments in English and Spanish you can use. The topics cover public participation, land use, other economic considerations, and DOE’s broken promises and misrepresentations. You can use the information to create your own comment letter.
All of this information and more is available at the Stop Forever WIPP website, https://stopforeverwipp.org/ , and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StopfvrWIPP/ , along with sample public comments you can use in both English and Spanish. They are also posted on this website in the right column next to this article under the STOP WIPP logo .
Please share this Update with your friends, family and colleagues. It’s time to raise your voice!
admin
May 14th update from Joni Arends, CCNS executive director:
Hi All,
It's crunch time! The virtual public hearing begins on Monday, May 17th at noon until 9 pm Mountain Time w/a break between 4 and 6 pm MT. All the contact information and links to sample public comments - in English and Spanish - are [above]. Get your written, audio and/or oral comments in! More details [above]!
Also, Don Hancock [of Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque, NM] and I were interviewed by the fabulous Xubi Wilson, of KSFR FM 101.1 Living on the Edge. The show will air on Saturday, May 15th from 11 am to noon MT. https://www.ksfr.org/#stream/0
Xubi reminded us that when he arrived in Santa Fe everyone was talking about WIPP. It's time to be talking about WIPP again. Check out the interview on Saturday at 11 am MT.
Don and I were interviewed by Libbe HaLevy, the articulate host and producer of Nuclear Hotseat. Don gives a history of WIPP and details about what is happening now. Check out the interview at http://nuclearhotseat.com/.
New Mexico is at the nuclear crossroads. Express your concerns! The Hazardous Waste Bureau of the NM Environment Department needs to hear from you! It's time to act!
Best,
Joni