Long a dream--and goal--of the nuclear industry, the Bush EPA is actively considering a reclassification, or redefinition, of what constitutes radioactive waste. The period for public comment on the controversial proposal expires this Wednesday, March 17.

The nuclear industry has been pushing for such a redefinition of contaminated "low-activity" waste for over a decade. Sending this waste to an ordinary landfill or hazardous waste handler (if radioactive material is mixed with hazardous waste) would be cheaper than disposal at facililities licensed to handle radioactive materials, which is what current EPA regulation requires.

In November, when the proposed deregulation was announced, a coalition of prominent leaders from enviromental, recycling, and nuclear watchdog groups wrote to EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt, warning that this change "could significantly harm the environment and public health." The group also noted that such a change could result in "public outrage".[1]

"The scientific and medical communities agree that there is no safe level of exposure to radioactive material," Ed Hopkins, director of the environmental quality program for the Sierra Club, told BushGreenwatch. "Radioactive wastes should be carefully contained and isolated, not spread throughout the environment. Only the nuclear industry benefits from deregulating and recycling radioactive waste."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's past efforts to reclassify radioactive wastes to allow for cheaper disposal, which date from 1986, have prompted strong opposition. In 1992, Congress overturned NRC waste reclassification policies, which went by the term "Below Regulatory Concern". Between 1992 and 1996, 15 states passed laws or regulations aimed at continued regulatory control over the disposal of radioactive materials.[2]

The EPA reclassification proposal dovetails with complementary proposals under consideration by other government agencies, including the NRC, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Transportation, to relax or remove regulations now governing the transportation and disposal of radioactive materials.[3]

The proposed deregulation could also threaten the ability of states to regulate radioactive wastes and protect their citizens.

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TAKE ACTION
The deadline for comments is March 17th, so act quickly and spread the word. Email EPA and let them know you oppose federal rules that would deregulate and exempt nuclear materials from regulation. Send a copy of your comment to EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt.

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SOURCES:
[1] Coalition letter to Mike Leavitt, Nov. 17, 2003.
[2] Diane D'Arrigo, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, dianed@nirs.org.
[3] Ibid.