Press Mention Connect Savannah March 4, 2003
SACE Quoted
Report fuels worries over new SRS mission
In this mention
Citizens for Environmental Justice and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy are mobilizing against a proposed MOX fuel plant at the Savannah River Site, citing a new Nuclear Regulatory Commission report that warns of disproportionate health impacts on minority and low-income communities in the event of an accident. The report indicates that a tritium release could result in up to 400 latent cancer fatalities in surrounding areas.
We are not reassured that this proposed facility is somehow going to beat the site's track record and not have an accident or release. It's time to protect our citizens from more abuse.
Sara Barczak
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Full transcript
City Notebook
Report, liiels"worrles over
new SRS mission
A proposed new Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX) plant at the Savannah River Site (SRS) weapons factory is coming under fire by local activists.
Citizens for Environmental Justice and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy have united in an effort to spread public awareness about a new federal report on health dangers at SRS.
Released last week by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the report says, "In the unlikely event of a tritium release at the Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility or an explosion at the proposed MOX facility, the communities most likely affected would be minority or low income."
The report further states that if a tritium release occurred, up to 400 latent cancer fatalities could occur in the surrounding area.
"The report confirmed our biggest fear and suspicion about the impact of a a-·:.:·, at-·· potential accident in the MOX process at SRS a disproportionate impact on minorities," says Dr. Mildred McClain, Executive Director of Citizens for Environmental Justice. "We have always said that African Americans, because they live in the counties near the site, are a vulnerable population. This is a case of environmental injustice."
Sara Barczak, Safe Energy Director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, added: "We are not reassured that this proposed facility is somehow going to ........ ?••..ttf,.-.. -:""/: ... .l.../" beat the site's track record and not have an accident or release. It's time to protect our citizens from more abuse."