Letter to the Hon. Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy - Suspend Transport Of Radioactive Liquid In New York State Until Thorough Environmental Impact Statement Is Conducted

Letter

Dear Secretary Perry,

We are writing to express our concern over the transportation of liquid uranium from Ontario, Canada, through New York to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River site in South Carolina. We are concerned that there was not a full Environmental Impact Statement to examine the potential risks associated with shipping liquid uranium prior to the decision to allow these shipments to proceed. The unprecedented attempt of moving 6,000 gallons of a radiotoxic solution across over 1,000 miles requires thorough scrutiny, therefore we request that DOE overturn the previous administration's approval of the project and suspend shipments of the nuclear material until a new EIS is conducted with significant input from the relevant federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

The repatriation of our nuclear material is an important component of American national security, but without a proper Environmental Impact Statement that includes input from all relevant government agencies, the effort to protect public safety is counterproductive. Highly radioactive material has never before been transported over public roads in liquid form. The DOE is relying on reports that use old data and cites evidence from past transportation of solid waste material. The solution contains isotopes such as cesium-137, strontium-90 and plutonium-239. These isotopes have the potential to cause devastating damage to humans, wildlife, and the environment if released. On this nearly 1,100-mile trip over the course of four years, weather and road conditions will need careful consideration to prevent accidents and to address potential terrorist threats. Without a full and thorough EIS, it is impossible to evaluate the consequences of an accident or to properly identify safer alternatives.

We look forward to working with DOE on this request. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

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