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| California Nuke Initiative Bites the Dust |
"Huge Victory" |
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November 19 – A proposed ballot measure to revoke California's nuclear safeguards law -- which prohibits new reactors until and unless there is a permanent solution to the high level radioactive waste disposal problem -- was withdrawn from circulation by its sponsor on November 19. Bridge the Gap and other groups had worked hard to fight efforts to place the initiative on the ballot, forcing a recognition that its chances of passage were dismal. "This reversal may represent the beginning of the end for nuclear advocates pushing for a revival of this terribly dangerous technology," said CBG's Dan Hirsch. |
| In Memoriam |
Three Giants in the Fight to Reduce Nuclear Risks –
Ted Taylor, John Gofman, Paul Leventehal
Read more here. |
| NY Attorney General Sues NRC Over Rejection of Bridge the Gap's Rulemaking Petition to Upgrade Reactor Security |
December, 2007 — New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has filed suit in federal court against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's failure to require protection of nuclear power plants against 9/11-type air attacks. CBG had proposed a rulemaking to upgrade such protections, a petition supported by seven state AGs, including New York's, but the NRC had rejected any requirements to protect reactors from air attack. New York has now sued the NRC; click here to read New York's brief.
- The State of New York's brief can be viewed here (.pdf)
- The State of California's amicus brief can be viewed here (.pdf)
- Public Citizen and Mothers for Peace's brief can be viewed here (.pdf)
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| CBG's Dan Hirsch Debates Nuclear Power
With Chuck DeVore |
Hirsch made an appearance on "Inside OC" (see video below) to
debunk some of the arguments behind the current push for nuclear power in California. He also appeared on "Life & Times" to discuss the nuclear initiative as well. That video is available here.
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| SSFL Bill Becomes Law |
September 5, 2007 -- Seven Republicans joined Democrats in the California State Assembly in a 50-22 vote in favor of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleanup bill. One of the only nuclear meltdowns in the world occurred at SSFL. With passage in the State Assembly and the State Senate, Governor Schwarzenegger shortly thereafter signed the bill into law.
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Community Waterboarded by Water Board
November 3, 2007 |
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After a hearing on November 1, the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board decided to relax Boeing's pollution permit. An Early Christmas for A Huge Polluter: At Boeing's request, and over the objections of the community, the Board permanently waived enforcement of violations at about half of Boeing's outfalls at its Santa Susana Field Laboratory and temporarily waived enforcement for the rest. Read CBG's comment letter here. (.pdf) |
| Boeing Pays $471,000 for 79 Pollution Violations |
Boeing has waived its right to a hearing before the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board on a proposed $471,000 fine for scores of violations of pollution discharge limits and has submitted payment. This has the effect of canceling the October 4 hearing at which members of the public would have been able to argue the fine should have been larger.
Click here for the Regional Board's announcement. |
| CBG Critiques Boeing Cleanup Plan |
CBG tears into inadequate investigation of toxic contamination at Santa Susana Field Lab. Click here for CBG 25 August 2007 Comments on "RFI Group 6 Report."
Our comments are available for download HERE (.pdf) |
| Court Victory on SSFL nuke site |
 The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has just issued its long-awaited decision in the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy by the Committee to Bridge the Gap, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the City of Los Angeles. The suit was filed over the inadequate cleanup of the contaminated Santa Susana Field Laboratory, site of one of the only reactor meltdowns in the world. Judge Samuel Conti declared that the DOE has violated and continues to violate the National Environmental Policy Act and permanently enjoined DOE from transferring ownership or possession, or otherwise relinquishing control over any portion of the nuclear area at SSFL until an Environmental Impact Statement has been completed.
This is a great news for the environment. |
Independent Panel Releases New Studies on Potential Cancers from 1959 Meltdown & Potential Migration from
Other
SSFL Accidents/Spills. |
On October 5, 2006 the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel released a series of studies about potential offsite exposures and health effects from the 1959 reactor meltdown at SSFL and other accidents, spills, and releases that occurred there. The Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel is an independent group of epidemiologists, nuclear experts, and other specialists established by local legislators to provide independent assessment of risks from the Rocketdyne nuclear and rocket testing facility.
Click here to read the Panel's report and the scientists' studies |
| EPA Staff propose rejection of National Academy of Sciences findings on Radiation Risks |
Politicized, Anti-Science Effort to Set Lax Radiation Protection Standards
The EPA requested (and funded) the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study the state of scientific knowledge on the risks to human health of "low doses" of radiation. NAS found that there is no safe level of radiation; all doses increase the risk of cancer; and "low-level" radiation is about a third more dangerous in inducing cancer than EPA currently presumes in setting radiation standards to protect the public. You would think EPA would now tighten its regulations accordingly. You would be wrong. EPA staff has now proposed ignoring the Academy's recommendations and setting lower radiation risk figures than the NAS had found. In 27 of 28 comparisons between the NAS findings and the EPA recommendations, the EPA proposals were more lax (i.e. would result in more risk to the public). Bridge the Gap, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Public Citizen have disclosed this scandal.
Click here for our joint statement.
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Witches Brew of Toxic Chemicals
Burned by Rocketdyne in Open Pits |
New Revelations of Dozens of Hazardous Wastes Burned Over Decades
Click here to read the document
( .pdf format, approximately 5.6mb) |
| Rancho Secko Nuke Plant Victory |
Bridge the Gap and the Sierra Club recently discovered a proposed contract by which radioactive wastes from decommissioning the Rancho Seco nuclear plant would be sent out of state for disposal in landfills not licensed or designed for radioactive waste. This would effectively bypass a victory by CBG in state court several years ago that overturned a regulation that would have permitted such unlicensed dumping in California, and an administrative moratorium on such practices in the state that we got adopted. CBG and the Sierra Club filed a complaint with the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) Board [click here to see our letter], which resulted in a reversal by SMUD and a commitment not to send radioactive waste to unlicensed disposal sites [click here to see SMUD's response]. This victory is important not only for our region, but more broadly, since other radwaste generators would likely have used “SMUD does it” as an excuse for exploiting the same loophole.
- See CBG/Sierra Club Complaint to SMUD Board (click here)
- See the SMUD Board's response letter (click here)
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| (both documents are in .pdf format) |
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May 11 2008
Museum will call attention to aerospace pollution
March 27 2008
LA Times: Say NO to nuclear power
February 15 2008
Terrorist Threat to Campus Reactors Cited
February 10 2008
Newcomers aid field lab cleanup with discoveries
February 3 2008
Daily News: Bill would cement future goal for field lab site
January 17 2008
More contamination found in Runkle Canyon
Daily News: Measured victory in SSFL cleanup
January 9 2008
EPA extends deadline for Field Lab
January 4 2008
Video of Sleeping Guards Shakes Nuclear Industry
December 27 2007
Daily News: Governor should let EPA clean up Santa Susana site
December 21 2007
Bill includes millions for possible SSFL cleanup
December 17 2007
Senator demands answers on security issues at nuclear plants
Nuclear's "green" credentials under attack
Nuclear power headed for a fight
Security lapses draw attention to re-newed nuclear fight
December 2 2007
Nuke plant guards routinely alseep while on duty, video shows
November 26 2007
Nuclear initiative withdrawn, a victory for the environment
City Council praises decision by state agency to look into Runkle Canyon
November 21 2007
Fresno Nuke Plant Loses Backers
Nuke Initiative Implodes
Cleaning up Rocketdyne, citizen-led cleanup effort
State body will study hillside site concerns
November 16 2007
Boeing provides cleanup schedule for field lab
State agency wants to provide oversight of Runkle Canyon
Future of lab site uncertain
November 11 2007
Field Lab pollutants found at Sage Ranch
November 9 2007
Simi Valley residents demand new environmental report at Runkle Canyon
November 4 2007
Nuclear power: Utah's "recurring nightmare."
October 24 2007
NY Attorney General sues NRC over failure to adopt CBG's Beamhenge proposal
October 23 2007
The Daily News looks at the "bait and switch" deal between the Governor and Boeing regarding SSFL cleanup.
October 15 2007
Boeing Commits SSFL to open space
October 11 2007
USAToday's view on nuclear security: "Asleep at the job."
September 15 2007
SSFL facing major cleanup
September 14 2007
Officials Aim to Gain Trust on Field Lab Cleanup
August 31 2007
Bill on Santa Susana field lab cleanup advances
Simi Valley City Council expresses support for Senator Kuehl's SSFL bill
August 29 2007
Kuehl bill would set rules for lab cleanup
July 28 2007
CA senators want Santa Susana Field Lab worker compensation
Daily News: Government and corporate secrecy and denial have plagued cleanup
Fine recommended for Boeing over compliance failures at SSFL
July 23, 2007
LATimes says no way to nuclear power
More . . .
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