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A SUMMARY OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING WARD VALLEY The state of California is preparing to site a radioactive waste dump near Needles, California approximately 22 miles from the Co I orado R i ver . Radioactive waste f rl--Irn nuclear Power utilities, the medical industry, and industrial use will be buried there. The majority of the lone—lived radionuclides will come from nuclear power plants and remain lethal for'tens of thousands of years. A number of people in the United States have become concerned about this project, as well the radioactive waste dumps - proposed for four other states, because of the technology being used- trenches are to be cu t round and s tee I drums containing It"e waste simply tour i;; ti. Ir;.,St; c.t trris technology i n other areas cf the cc;Lir,; r -v �.;�: ; es,: n environmental di SasIerS of hc.rrifIC pp,rti�r;s. At West Valley, New York, the first radioactive waste dump sited in this country, thousands of barrels of highly radioactive waste are leaking into underground aquifers. Tree costs of cleaning up West Valley are estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Another site at Maxey Flats, Kentucky is closed because of leaks and is expected t,:, b i I I i on do f t ars � p s t at�;,�ther to cleanup. A third site at SheffrelG+, I I I i no i s has a l ready con t am i na ted a nearby s t rear;t and lake and is expected to cost five hundred million dollars to remediate, If the truth be known, it's doubtful these catastrophes can be "cleaned up" at any price. U.S. Ecology, the operator of the Maxey Flats and Sheffield sites, is the same contractor that has been chosen- to run the Ward Valley radioactive waste dump. Despite the utter failure of this technique, i t i s the same method that wi I I be usert at tree "'ic-2rd Val ley site in Cal i fornix. Concerned Citizens, environmental groups . �r►r� ss i or.;, I representatives and our state, I e�. concern leg i s l a t un h -ave a I i become .ed about the s i t i r-�g o f Ward 'V r; I l e �;. puss i b i I i t .y .�ri�t t. �: v;;ry reg Possibility that Its Iaaka�ae could contamlrta River. because of I Ih:` (.?IGradL the controversy, Governor Wilson promised to hold public adjudicatory hearings on Ward Valley. Despite intense pressure from all these groups our Governor is now refusing to hold these hearings; the hearings wou,Id allow scientific experts to give testimony in frt:nt of a about the many safety tugJe and technical concerns that remain unanswered. Opponents beIieVe The facts would Sri -w that Ward ,'alley is not suitable for a radioactive waste dump. U.S. Ecology, the company attempting to site this dump, has sued in state court to stop these h.arrngs from taking place obviously concerned that such he Potentially lucrative venture.ThisgcomVand Jeopardize its billions of dollars by burying o,nationsp Y stands to make our plants, which the r;cle� ur industry plans 116 nuclear power the next thirty �to dec:ornmission over Y Years , the pro jecteri I i fe ,;f ,^yard Val ley.