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Group Challenges Government Study of Air Pollution at SRS
Calls for Action to Protect Public Health
Aug. 20, 2013: The ATSDR’s public health assessment falls short in its analysis of offsite health impacts from the toxic air pollutants emitted from the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. In our report entitled Sow the Wind–Toxic Air Pollution from the Savannah River Site, we investigated the air toxics which are emitted from large and small smokestacks at SRS and how they interact to raise downwind pollution levels in Jackson, New Ellenton, Williston and other communities.
BREDL Press Release | BREDL's Comments | Report: Sow the Wind
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BREDL comments on the Surplus Plutonium Disposition SEIS
Sept. 4, 2012: For over a decade, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League has opposed the
reprocessing of plutonium as civilian nuclear power fuel because it presents
unsupportable risks to public safety and the environment.
Read BREDL's comments from BREDL's Charles Utley
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BREDL comments on the Surplus Plutonium Disposition SEIS
March 12, 2012: BREDL opposes the US Dept. of Energy’s proposed expansion of plutonium reprocessing facilities either at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina or at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and the proposed use of plutonium fuel at commercial electric power plants operated by TVA and other utilities.
Read BREDL's Comments
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Radiation from Savannah River Site Increasing - New Inquiry into SRS
Feb. 22, 2012: A new report by Joseph J. Mangano, MPH MBA finds that in the past decade levels of most types of radioactivity at the Savannah River Site are rising, as are rates of radiosensitive diseases. A new inquiry is needed to understand why these are occurring as cleanup continues at SRS. Mangano directs the Radiation and Public Health Project research group which has assembled epidemiological evidence of a probable causal link between low-level internal radiation from the ingestion of man-made fission products and world-wide increases in immune deficiency diseases and cancer.
Read BREDL Press Release | Download the Report | View the Report Summary
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Concerned Citizens of Shell Bluff Radio
Commercials
Jan. 2011: Listen to radio spots regarding Savannah River Site
The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League released a
study in March 2007 which shows that harmful levels of air pollution
from the Savannah River Site are reaching nearby
communities. The group published its results in a report
titled Sow The Wind: Toxic Air Pollution from the
Savannah River Site.
More Details and Download the Report (posted online: Feb. 23, 2008)
Nov. 6, 2007: Read
U.S. Dept. of Energy Document -
Chemical and Radiochemical Composition of Thermally Stabilized
Plutonium Oxide from the Plutonium Finishing Plant Considered as
Alternate Feedstock for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication
Facility, JM Tingey and SA Jones, July 2005, Prepared for the
U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RL01830
Nov. 7, 2007: BREDL and Nuclear Watch South file intervenors' response.
BREDL and Nuclear Watch South File New Contention.
Oct. 9, 2007: Today two organizations announced the filing of a legal challenge that could stop the construction of a plutonium fuel factory at the Savannah River Site. Nuclear Watch South and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League uncovered information that the US Department of Energy plans major modifications to the proposed plutonium fuel factory. Read Press Release
Oct. 5, 2007 - In 2002 the US Department of Energy
discontinued its vitrification and immobilization plans for
surplus plutonium; on September 5, 2007, the agency issued an
Amended Record of Decision which said, "[e]liminating the
mission for the Plutonium Vitrification process would result in
the MFFF and H-Canyon processing additional plutonium, therefore
requiring some modifications to both facilities." Such
modification of the plutonium fuel factory (MFFF) was not
requested or granted during the construction license process nor
is it covered by the proposed operating license. This failure
forms the basis for our latest challenge.
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League's and Nuclear Watch
South's Late Filed
Contention Regarding Need to Supplement EIS for Proposed MOX
Plutonium Processing Facility
BREDL, Nuclear Watch South, and NIRS have responded to
the NRC Staff and Shaw Areva MOX Services June 11 responses.
June 27, 2007 - The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
(BREDL), Nuclear Watch South, and Nuclear Information &
Resource Service (NIRS) have responded to the June 11, 2007 NRC
Staff and Shaw Areva MOX Services responses to the Groups'
Petition for Intervention and Request for Hearing filed on May
14, 2007.
June 27 Reply to Responses and Request for
Hearing
The Groups' June 27 Reply contains five contentions
and a request for a hearing. The contentions include:
- Failure to limit emissions of hazardous air pollutants
- Accidental Release of Radionuclides
- Extended Onsite Storage of Radioactive Waste Not
Addressed in EIS or License Application
- Failure to Address Impact of Terrorist Attacks on
Plutonium Fuel Facility and Transport
BREDL, Nuclear Watch South, and NIRS have filed a
petition to intervene in the licensing of proposed Mixed Oxide
Fuel Fabrication Facility
On May 14, 2007 the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League,
along with Nuclear Watch South and Nuclear Information &
Resource Service, filed a petition to intervene in the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission's license proceeding for a plutonium fuel
factory at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in
South Carolina. We have opposed this technology since 1997 and
remain steadfast in our opposition to nuclear reprocessing.
The US Department of Energy's Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Program plans to convert approximately 37 tons of weapons-grade
plutonium into fuel for commercial nuclear power plants operated
by Duke Energy. The plan is to mix the plutonium with depleted
uranium. The $4 billion facility would include 1) a plutonium
fuel factory, 2) a facility to convert plutonium from a metallic
form to plutonium dioxide powder, and 3) nuclear waste
facilities.
Petition for
Intervention and Request for Hearing
Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility
How You Can Help
| The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League opposes
the use of plutonium fuel in commercial nuclear power
reactors. While we support the goal of putting plutonium
into non-weapons usable form, we believe that the use of
plutonium as a fuel in commercial nuclear power plants is
wrong for environmental, economic, public health, and
national security reasons. Further, the plutonium fuel
program undermines international agreements for nuclear
non-proliferation. |
May 2, 2007: The Department of Energy plans to build a factory
near Aiken, SC to convert weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for
nuclear power plants. The mixed oxide fabrication facility (MFFF)
would be built at the Savannah River Site, the nuclear reactors
are located near Charlotte and Rock Hill. BREDL and other groups
oppose this experimental project. If you live within 50 miles of
the Savannah River Site, you would be affected. You can help stop
this threat to public health by signing the enclosed Declaration
and mailing it to us before May 14, 2007.
How you can help and 50-mile radius map
Declaration of Standing (sign and mail to us before May 14, 2007)
MFFF Fact Sheet
April 20, 2007: BREDL comments
regarding Public Health Assessment, Evaluation of Off-site
Groundwater and Surface Water Contamination at the Savannah River
Site (USDOE) Aiken, SC. - The Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry has disregarded major pathways for hazardous and
radioactive substances from the US Department of Energy’s
Savannah River Site, improperly narrowed the focus of its
investigation to groundwater and surface water impacts at SRS,
and abrogated its responsibility to take responsive action by
shifting from itself the burden of protecting infants under the
age of one year.
The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League opposes DOE’s
plan, called Complex 2030, which calls for a new generation
of nuclear weapons production, for which we believe the Savannah
River Site is at great risk. Complex 2030, developed
by the National Nuclear Security Administration, is a proposal to
construct new facilities to manufacture plutonium warheads, to
conduct nuclear weapons research and development, and
to store nuclear materials. On October 19, 2006 the US
Department of Energy published the Notice of Intent to Prepare
a Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship Management Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement—Complex 2030 (Federal
Register vol. 71, no. 202, page 61731). The first public
meeting on Complex 2030 was held on November 9th
in North Augusta, South Carolina, near the Savannah River Site
bomb plant. Further meetings are being held near atomic
weapons sites in Tennessee, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and
California with a final hearing in Washington, DC on December 14,
2006. The written public comment period extends through
January 17, 2007.
Our ultimate goal is to change completely the mission of the
United States Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site
from military to peaceful pursuits. We are dedicated to
ending the toxic and radioactive pollution of the soil, water and
air of SRS by achieving a true cleanup of more than five decades
of bomb plant contamination.
Nov. 9, 2006: BREDL
Press Release
Nov. 22, 2002:
BREDL Press Release | BREDL
releases Don Moniak report: ""Does America Need A New Atomic Bomb Plant?: A
Preliminary Review of DOE's Plans to Restore Large-Scale
Plutonium Pit Production"
July
26, 2005: Read BREDL July 26,
2005 letter to Jean Sulc,
Chair, Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory
Board. Today citizens called upon the Savannah
River Site Citizens Advisory Board to use its
powers to bring an end to a pattern of delays and
waste at the old weapons plant near Aiken, SC.
Citing audits by the Department of Energy’s
Inspector General, the Blue Ridge Environmental
Defense League detailed a ten year environmental
cleanup gone wrong and tens of millions of tax
dollars wasted.
July 12, 2005:
Read BREDL July 12,
2005 letter to Robert Meisenheimer, WM Committee Chair, Savannah River
Site Citizens Advisory Board. | On March 29th,
the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
informed the Savannah River Site Citizens
Advisory Board that we believe that the
Department of Energy provided falsified data to
Congress, information which affected federal
legislation for the ongoing clean up of atomic
weapons waste at SRS. On May 23rd the League
presented supporting data to the CAB.
Subsequently, we were invited to present this
information to the CAB's Waste Management
Committee. On July 12th, we made four
recommendations.
1. Block the U.S.
Department of Energy from disposing
high-level radioactive waste in South
Carolina, a precedent which also
threatens communities with contaminated
DOE sites in Idaho, Washington and other
states.
2. Direct DOE to immediately implement an
open, transparent and public review
process on high-level nuclear waste tank
closures.
3. Grant EPA direct regulatory authority
over the disposal of DOE's high-level
radioactive waste.
4. Ensure that the external regulator of
high-level waste have the discretion to
set an appropriate cleanup standard for
the waste that protects public health and
the environment.
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May
23, 2005: On behalf of the Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League, I request to
present the information requested by members of
the SRS Citizens Advisory Board at the last
meeting. As you may recall, on March 28th I
provided federal budget documents which revealed
that the $16 billion in savings promised during
passage of Section 3116 of the 2005 Defense
Authorization for clean up of high-level
radioactive waste tanks was not evident. Further,
I said, “We at BREDL are convinced that the
DOE provided falsified data to gain an exemption
so it could add cement to the waste, leave it
underground, and reduce costs.” Some CAB
members took issue with this statement and I am
here today to provide documents which will
demonstrate the accuracy of our contention. - Lou
Zeller, BREDL | BREDL May 23
statement to SRS CAB
Mar. 28, 2005:
Citizens Groups Advise SRS Citizens Advisory
Board - Sunshine Campaign Will Allow Public To
Have Say - Today at a press conference in North
Augusta, grassroots citizens groups announced a
“Sunshine Campaign” to open up the
process of communication between the Department
of Energy, the SRS Citizens Advisory Board and
the general public.
BREDL Press Release | BREDL Statement to
the Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board
Feb. 10, 2005: Report by BREDL staffer Charles Utley
regarding the Savannah River Site Health Effects
Subcommittee meeting of
January 25th. It is a good overview of the dose
reconstruction issue caused by activities at the
bomb plant.
Nov. 30, 2004: BREDL
Report on Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory
Board Meeting of November 15-16, 2004, which was
held in Augusta, GA. (includes dates for upcoming 2005
meetings)
Nov. 3, 2004:
Project: Environmental
Pollution at Savannah River Weapons Site | Date of Project: September 4—
11, 2004 | Host organizations: Blue Ridge
Environmental Defense League, ISAR Open World
Russia Civic Program | Administered by: Open
World Leadership Center at the Library of
Congress. Associated documents: Dmitri Rybakov’s scientific paper on testing for radionuclides English Version , Russian
Version |
Risk-Based End States at SRS factsheet:
Radioactive Pollution gets a Facelift. English
Version , Russian Version
| Combat Air Pollution with Bucket Brigades
factsheet. English Version
, Russian Version
June 3, 2004 (posted online): Map of High-Level Radioactive Wastes and
Aquifers in the Southeast featuring SRS (.pdf)
June 3, 2004 (posted online): Map of Drinking
Water information featuring SRS (.pdf)
April 27, 2004: Read
Press Release and Lou Zeller Statement - Citizens
Charge US With Nuclear Treaty Violation
: Today at a press conference at the United
Nations, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense
League charged the United States with violation
of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and
called for international inspections of weapons
facilities in South Carolina.
May 14, 2003: BREDL additional comments on
Savannah River Site Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication
Facility Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
(in .pdf) (posted online June 15,
2003)
Dec. 06, 2002: BREDL additional comments, including
letter from Dr. Peter Rickards on the
unreliability of HEPA filters to control
radionuclide emissions, on the draft Title V
permit for Savannah River Site. (in .pdf)
Nov. 21, 2002: BREDL additional comments on the draft
Title V permit for the Savannah River Site. (in .pdf) | BREDL flyer for Nov. 21, 2002 hearing (in .pdf)
Oct. 29, 2002: BREDL comments
on Supplement to the Programmatic EIS on SSM for
a Modern Pit Facility at Savannah River Site.
| Excerpts
from the testimony of Rev. Charles Utley,
BREDL staff and President of the Hyde and Aragon
Park Neighborhood Improvement Association at the
DOE/NNSA Scoping Hearing on Modern Pit Facility
held in North Augusta, SC on October 29, 2002.(posted 11/12/02)
Oct. 29, 2002: U.S. Dept. of
Energy Public Hearing on Supplemental PEIS re:
Pit Facility at SRS. Hearing is scheduled to
begin at 6 pm in North Augusta, SC. BREDL Factsheet with more details
(in .pdf)
Oct. 12, 2002: New BREDL factsheet on Savannah
River Site (in .pdf)
Aug. 29, 2001: BREDL letter to Dept.
of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham
requesting information regarding the Department
of Energy’s (DOE) program for long-term
storage of plutonium and highly enriched uranium
(HEU), and the related transportation of non-pit
plutonium, at DOE’s Savannah River Site
(SRS).
Aug. 29, 2001: A Report on the
Plutonium (Pu) Situation, Promise To
"Delay" Made In Bad Faith - The
decision this week by the Department of Energy
(DOE) to "delay" plutonium shipments to
the Savannah River Site (SRS) involved several
omissions of information and was another act of
bad faith by an Agency with a long tradition of
bending federal law and misleading the public. Read
Media Advisory
May 24, 2001: BREDL May 17, 2001 letter
requesting NRC to hold hearing on Construction
Authorization Request (CAR) for a Mixed Oxide
Fuel Fabrication facility at Savannah River Site
in South Carolina. (.pdf file) | BREDL
Press Release
April 16, 2001:
GROUP REPORTS LITANY OF IRREGULARITIES IN
PLUTONIUM FUEL FACTORY LICENSE APPLICATION AND
REVIEW:
Today, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense
League (BREDL) released documents challenging the
plutonium fuel factory proposed for the
Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River
Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina. In a
letter written to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC), BREDL contends that the Duke
Cogema Stone and Webster (DCS) plutonium factory
license application is fatally flawed and should
be rejected. The group also contends that DOE
must complete a supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement. read BREDL Press Release
April 10, 2001 - Read GCE/BREDL
Press Release - Georgians for Clean Energy
and the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
will sponsor an informational Open House
regarding the Department of Energy's ongoing
plans to construct and operate a plutonium (MOX)
fuel factory at the already heavily polluted
Savannah River Site, approximately 90 miles
upstream from Savannah. If built, the plutonium
factory will generate millions of gallons of
liquid radioactive waste and increase the
potential of creating more permanent nuclear
weapons and power production missions at SRS and
the region.
Jan. 10, 2001 - Today in a letter
to US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Bill
Richardson, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense
League (BREDL) urged immediate action to halt the
plutonium fuel factory project at the Savannah
River Site. The group charged that the recently
released Environmental Report reveals that the
project’s Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) was incomplete and incorrect. BREDL
Press Release, BREDL
letter to US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary
Bill Richardson
Jan 4, 2000 - The Department of Energy issues Record
of Decision for Surplus Plutonium Disposition at
Savannah River Site.The Department of
Energy today announced its decision to dispose of
up to 50 metric tons of surplus plutonium from
the United States in a hybrid approach and to
construct and operate three new facilities at its
Savannah River Site (SRS).
MORE INFO: Southern
Anti-Plutonium Campaign
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