U.S. Must Ban Radioactive Waste Imports

May 19, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late last Friday, May 15th, a federal district court in Utah ruled that current law can not prevent the importation and disposal of foreign-generated radioactive waste in the United States.  The ruling brings a Utah-based company one step closer to importing 20,000 tons of Italian low-level radioactive waste, transporting it to Tennessee for reprocessing, and disposing of the waste in Utah.

“The court decision highlights the urgency and importance of Congress passing legislation that says in no uncertain terms, the United States will not be the international dumping ground for radioactive waste,” Congressman Bart Gordon said. “Everyone needs to understand that our country is the only country in the world that imports and disposes of foreign-generated radioactive waste.”

Gordon is the author of legislation, the Radioactive Import Deterrence (RID) Act, which would prohibit the importation of foreign-generated low-level radioactive waste unless the President deems the importation would meet certain national and international goals.  Currently, there is only one available low-level radioactive waste disposal site for 36 states, including Tennessee.  It is located in Clive, Utah and operated by a private company named EnergySolutions. 

“We have a limited amount of disposal space in our country for this kind of waste,” stated Gordon.  “It should be strictly reserved for U.S. entities – energy companies, hospitals, and research labs – that produce low-level radioactive waste.”

EnergySolutions has been trying to import 20,000 tons of Italian-generated waste for disposal since September 2007.  However, it encountered opposition from the State of Utah.  Additionally, regional regulators at the Northwest Interstate Compact ruled the company could not proceed with the project.  At that point, EnergySolutions filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that Utah and the regional regulators did not have the authority to prevent the import.  Friday’s court ruling stated that current U.S. law on low-level radioactive waste does not apply to private entities, like EnergySolutions.  The Northwest Compact and State of Utah have yet to decide whether to appeal.
 
“At the end of the day, I am going to do everything possible to get my bill passed and stop this and similar projects from moving forward,” added Gordon.  “The message we should be sending to the other nations is that if they are going to generate this kind of waste, they have an obligation to build needed disposal sites.  By banning the importation all together, this message will be sent loud and clear.”