For the week of Nov 26 - Dec 2, 2003

Coming to your landfill?

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The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a rule change that would allow the nuclear industry to store low-level radioactive material in ordinary landfills and hazardous waste sites.

The news arrived just in time for the holidays.

It’s true government and the nuclear industry have had problems finding places for nuclear waste. Idaho refuses to accept waste from commercial reactors. Nevada is having a tizzy about development of Yucca Mountain, a new high-level waste dump. Commercial operators hate having any of the stuff pile up around their plants.

So, the EPA decided it would be easier to spread around the low-level waste—clothing, tools, rags and containers contaminated with such appealing substances as cesium, strontium, cobalt and plutonium.

An EPA statement about the rule said, "The important principle is that any facility that might accept "low-activity" (nuclear) waste must provide protection of public health and the environment that is comparable to the protection provided by EPA and NRC standards for other radioactive wastes."

Yup. No problem for the folks used to dealing with old refrigerators and tin cans.

If the EPA were really creative, it could box and wrap the waste in old Christmas paper so as not to alarm landfill workers and neighbors. A colorful holly print can make just about any gift a welcome one.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.