Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4923 Primary Sponsor:Waites Committee Number:20 Type of Legislation:HR Subject:Savannah River Site, legislative opposition of storage Residing Body:House Current Committee:Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Computer Document Number:BR1/2881.AC Introduced Date:Jun 03, 1992 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Jun 03, 1992 Last History Type:Introduced, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Waites Rogers McElveen Cobb-Hunter Barber Keyserling Manly Kempe Hodges Type of Legislation:House Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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4923 House Jun 03, 1992 Introduced, referred to 20
Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO EXPRESS THE OPPOSITION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE USE OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE FOR STORAGE OF THE COUNTRY'S INTENSELY RADIOACTIVE NUCLEAR BOMB CORES.
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy is now considering storage at the Savannah River Site of nearly one thousand nuclear bomb cores composed mainly of plutonium, the most toxic substance on earth; and
Whereas, the Governor of the State of Georgia has already informed the United States Department of Energy that he objects to the storage of the additional large quantities of plutonium at the Savannah River Site; and
Whereas, South Carolina was asked by the United States Department of Energy to provide by May 1, 1992, its position on the storage of additional plutonium at the Savannah River Site; and
Whereas, South Carolina has not yet stated to the United States Department of Energy its position on the storage of additional plutonium at the Savannah River Site; and
Whereas, plutonium will remain dangerously radioactive for at least twenty-four thousand years; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy has provided no public explanation of its future plans for the plutonium being proposed for storage at the Savannah River Site, including a description of all potential options for future processing of the materials, as well as their plans for the permanent disposition of plutonium; and
Whereas, South Carolina already stores one-third of the nation's high-level radioactive defense wastes at the Savannah River Site; and
Whereas, South Carolina already stores the majority of the entire country's low-level nuclear waste, and our role as the country's major low-level nuclear dumping ground is likely to continue and increase in the immediate future; and
Whereas, South Carolina has worked more diligently and made more sacrifices than any other state in keeping the Southeast Compact process going; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Energy has not yet completed its own recommended program of safety upgrades at the Savannah River Site; and
Whereas, tritium releases into the Savannah River from the Savannah River Site have caused economic harm to individuals, businesses, and water authorities located downstream of the Savannah River Site, and these parties have never been adequately compensated by the federal government; and
Whereas, the K-reactor at the Savannah River Site continues to have new tritium leaks; and
Whereas, South Carolina's image as the nation's nuclear dumping ground is harmful to attraction of business, industry, tourists, and retirees; and
Whereas, it is time to tell the rest of the United States that South Carolina will no longer acquiesce in continuing to serve as the nation's nuclear dumping ground. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, expresses its opposition to the use of the Savannah River Site for storage of the country's intensely radioactive nuclear bomb cores.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.