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